Deborah Chan
The wedding tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue is a well-known phrase that originated from a Victorian-era English rhyme. The rhyme, which first appeared in the 19th century, is believed to bring good luck and fertility to the bride's marriage. While the specific items may vary, they often include vintage jewellery, a new wedding dress or veil, borrowed earrings or a ribbon, and blue ribbons or shoes. The lesser-known final line of the rhyme, a sixpence in your shoe, adds a touch of good luck and wealth to the bride's special day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The tradition originates from a 19th-century English rhyme from Lancashire, Victorian England. |
| Purpose | The items are meant to promote good luck and fertility in the bride's marriage. |
| Composition | The tradition includes "something old", "something new", "something borrowed", "something blue", and "a sixpence in your shoe". |
| Symbolism | "Something new" symbolizes hope and optimism for the future. "Something borrowed" is about bringing good luck and fertility to the marriage. "Something blue" represents love, fertility, and purity. "A sixpence in your shoe" is meant to attract wealth. |
| Examples | "Something old" could be a piece of vintage jewellery. "Something new" could be the wedding dress, veil, or bouquet. "Something borrowed" could be a happily married family member or friend's earrings, wedding ribbon, or wedding dress. "Something blue" could be ribbons, shoes, or bridesmaids' dresses. "A sixpence in your shoe" refers to a sixpence coin placed in the bride's shoe, but a penny is often used as a substitute today. |
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Something old
The "something old" item is one of the elements of the wedding tradition "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". The rhyme originated in the 19th century during the Victorian era and is meant to bring luck to the bride on her wedding day. The belief is that carrying something old offers protection for the baby to come and symbolises a connection to the bride's family.
There are many options for what can be used as the "something old" item. One idea is to wear a piece of heirloom jewellery, such as a necklace, earrings, or a ring passed down from a grandmother or aunt. Another option is to incorporate a piece of fabric or trimming from a family member's wedding dress into your outfit or bouquet. For example, you could use a piece of heirloom lace from your great-grandmother's wedding dress as a veil or wrap a trimming from your grandmother's dress around your bouquet. If you have a family member who has passed away, you could wear a piece of their clothing, like a shirt, as a wrap or use it to create a rose for your bouquet. Alternatively, you could carry a family heirloom, such as a prayer book or a watch, with you on the day.
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Something new
The "something new" in the context of weddings is typically interpreted as an item or element that symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and optimism for the future. Here are some ideas for "something new" that the bride or groom could incorporate into their wedding day:
- New Jewellery: The bride could wear a new piece of jewellery, such as earrings, a necklace, or a bracelet. This could be a special gift from the groom or another significant person in her life, adding an extra layer of sentimentality to the item.
- New Perfume or Cologne: The bride or groom could choose to wear a new fragrance that they've never worn before. Scents are strongly tied to memory, so this new perfume or cologne would forever remind them of their wedding day.
- New Wedding Dress or Suit: The bride's wedding dress or the groom's suit is inherently something new, as it is typically purchased or tailored specifically for the wedding. Wearing a new outfit symbolizes the start of a new chapter in their lives.
- New Family Heirloom: The bride could incorporate a new family heirloom into her wedding day, such as a new piece of jewellery or a new garter that she plans to pass down to future generations. This item would become a cherished memento of the family's legacy.
- New Handwritten Vows: The couple could write their own unique and personalized wedding vows, expressing their love and commitment to each other. These vows would be something new that they create together, setting the tone for their future together.
- New Rituals or Traditions: The couple could incorporate new rituals or traditions into their wedding ceremony, such as a unity candle ceremony, a tree-planting, or a wine box ceremony. These new rituals symbolize the blending of their lives and the creation of new family traditions.
These suggestions capture the essence of "something new," adding special touches to the wedding day that will forever remind the couple of the joy, hope, and excitement they felt as they embarked on their new life together.
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Something borrowed
The "something borrowed" tradition is intended to bring good fortune, fertility, and lifelong bliss to the couple's marriage. Here are some ideas for items that can be borrowed for a wedding:
Clothing and Accessories
- A wedding dress borrowed from a grandmother or mother is a popular choice. Renting a dress from a fashion rental website is a modern spin on this tradition.
- Sew a piece of fabric from a loved one's wedding dress onto your own gown.
- Wear a hair accessory borrowed from one of your bridesmaids, such as hairpins, headpieces, clips, pins, barrettes, ribbons, or tiaras.
- Borrow a pair of shoes from a female relative or friend, especially if they wore them at their own wedding.
- Wear a piece of jewellery borrowed from a mother or grandmother, perhaps something they wore on their wedding day or a gift from their partner.
- Borrow a veil for good luck, working with your hairstylist to find the best placement for your chosen hairstyle.
Sentimental Items
- Borrow a family heirloom, such as an amethyst ring.
- Borrow a photo of grandparents who are no longer alive and place it in a prominent spot at the ceremony.
- Borrow a wedding cake topper from your parents or grandparents and display it at the reception.
- Use mismatched borrowed crockery for a vintage vibe at the post-wedding breakfast tea or late-night snacks.
Other Ideas
- Borrow a perfume from a mother, sister, grandmother, or friend as your wedding-day scent.
- Borrow a classic cocktail recipe from a friend or a bar and serve it as your signature wedding drink.
- Borrow your first dance song from your parents, grandparents, or another loved one.
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Something blue
The "something blue" tradition is a fun and meaningful way to add a pop of colour to your wedding day. Blue represents love, purity, and fidelity and is meant to ward off "the Evil Eye". Here are some ideas for incorporating something blue into your wedding:
Blue Accessories
Add a touch of blue to your wedding ensemble with accessories. This could include blue shoes, a blue necklace or earrings, or even a blue ribbon in your hair. If you're looking for something more subtle, consider a light blue flower in your wedding bouquet or a blue handkerchief to wipe away happy tears. You could even dye your furry friend's ears blue with dog-safe dye!
Blue Details
Incorporate blue into the smaller details of your wedding. This could include a blue tag with your initials sewn into your dress, a blue wax seal on your wedding invitations, or a blue guest book at the reception. If you're having a winter wedding, a blue shawl will keep you cosy during your reception.
Blue Drinks and Food
Add a festive touch to your wedding with blue drinks and food. An acai-blueberry vodka cocktail will give your guests a unique drinking experience, while light blue flowers in your wedding cake will make it stand out.
Blue Transportation
Make a fun escape on your wedding day with blue transportation. This couple pedalled off on a blue tandem bicycle, while another bride wore a blue lehenga for her wedding outfit.
Blue Surprises
Surprise your guests with unique blue touches. This couple set off a blue smoke bomb during their elopement, while another bride included a blue sixpence in her shoe.
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Sixpence in your shoe
The rhyme "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" is often recited by brides on their wedding day. However, many forget the final part of the rhyme: "and a silver sixpence in her shoe". The sixpence in the rhyme is a reference to the British wedding tradition of placing a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe. This is usually a gift from the father, slipped into the bride's heel before she walks down the aisle.
The sixpence is said to bring good luck and symbolise the father's wishes for his daughter's happiness and prosperity in her marriage. In Sweden, the mother of the bride gives her daughter a gold coin to put in her right shoe, which is said to bring wealth to the bride and her husband in their marriage. In Spain, Latin America, Poland, and Lithuania, the groom gives his bride a coin after the rings have been blessed, which symbolises his willingness to share all that he has with his new wife.
The tradition of placing a sixpence in the bride's shoe is not as common in the United States as it is in the United Kingdom. However, it is still observed by some couples as a way to incorporate a traditional good luck charm into their wedding day. The coin is usually glued into the bride's left shoe, either by herself or by a bridesmaid.
The sixpence can be gifted to the bride or groom ahead of the wedding, such as at a bridal shower or bachelor party, so that they can plan to carry it in their shoe on the day. Alternatively, it can be glued into the shoe ahead of time or displayed as a keepsake if the couple does not wish to carry it on the day.
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Frequently asked questions
The four somethings are something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.
Something old symbolises continuity and the bride's pre-marital life. It often represents an item linked to the bride's family, especially something that holds sentimental value.
Something new symbolises optimism for the future and the new chapter in the bride's life. It often represents a new wedding gown, veil, shoes, or jewellery.
Something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness and good luck. It is usually an item loaned by a happily married family member or friend of the bride.
Something blue symbolises love, purity, and fidelity. It is often an opportunity for the bride to embrace blue as one of her wedding colours.
