Wedding Traditions

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

This old English poem dates back to Victorian times, but has remained perhaps the most steadfastly held to wedding tradition of the lot. Even today, you’d be hard pressed finding a single bride in the whole world who would walk down the aisle without something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Something old

The “something old” represents the bride’s family and her past – her “old life”. This item was traditionally a handkerchief from a mother or grandmother – perhaps an heirloom passed down through the family.

A handkerchief was used because it was thought that a bride who cried tears of joy at her wedding would never shed another tear during her marriage.

Many brides interpret the ‘something old’ tradition by wearing a piece of treasured antique jewellery, or even their mother’s wedding gown. Whatever is chosen should symbolise that the people you love will always be a part of your life.

Something new

“Something new” symbolises the brand new family that will formed by the newlywed couple. This item represents good fortune, happiness, health and a successful marriage. Most brides count their wedding gown as their ‘something new’ item.

Another idea is for the bridesmaids to give the bride a new handkerchief that can be made into a christening bonnet for her first child. The “something new” can be anything that you bought with your mother, sister, or fiancé to wear at the wedding – this way it will be both new, and have sentimental value. There is not limit to new things you can find to wear – so have fun with it!

Something borrowed

Borrowing something to wear is one of the especially important wedding traditions. The borrowed item is to come from a happily married woman, who is thereby lending the bride some of her own marital bliss to carry into the new union. In Victorian times, when the bride returned the token that had been lent her, good luck would be bestowed upon her marriage. A borrowed piece of family jewellery, a grandmother’s lace fan, a sister’s hair clip, a best friend’s bracelet or an aunt’s white elbow-length gloves can be chosen to remind you that you will always have family and friends to depend on.

photo credit: Shootingsnow

Something blue

The “something blue” can be traced back to ancient times. Pagan Roman maidens wore blue on the borders of their robes to denote love, modesty and fidelity. In ancient Israel, blue, not white was the symbol of purity. Christians associate the colour blue with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Before the nineteenth century, blue was the colour of choice for an American bride’s gown. This sparked several saying in the USA, such as “marry in blue, lover be true,” and “Yellow’s forsaken and green’s forsworn, but blue and red ought to be worn.”

No matter which way you look at it, wearing something blue on your wedding day symbolises your faithfulness and loyalty.

And a silver sixpence in her shoe

This one is thought to come from the ancient Greek custom of the bride carrying three silver coins on her wedding day: one for her mother-in-law, one for the first person met on the road after the wedding, and one to carry to her new home to ensure prosperity. In Victorian England, brides put a silver sixpence in their wedding shoes to grant wealth in their new marriage.

The sixpence was given to her by her fiancé as a token of his love and his promise to take care of her. Today, the sixpence (or your coins of choice) is traditionally given to the bride by her father. For optimum fortune, the “sixpence” should be in the left shoe, but put it in your purse if you get uncomfortable!

Blue ideas