Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue

”I need something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, but most of all I need You.”

We’ve all heard the phrase something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. It’s the list of important items that no bride wants to walk down the aisle without. There is a saying that goes: If worn on your wedding day, these good luck charms are thought to be the recipe for a successful marriage. It’s a superstition followed by almost every bride. You are asking why?

First, let’s spell out the answers for where does this rhyming wedding tradition come from, and what does it mean? This popular rhyme dates back to the late 1800s. The phrase comes from the English rhyme, “Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe.”  Although in the present day, the first four items are most familiar, some modern brides still maintain the tradition of putting a sixpence or a penny in their shoe. In other words, the four good-luck objects  -plus a sixpence- are things that every bride should include somewhere in her wedding outfit or carry with her on the wedding day.

Something OLD

According to The Knot, Back in the day, including “something old” was a sure way to ward off the Evil Eye and protect any future children the couple might have (they thought the Evil Eye will cause infertility in the bride). But “something old” represents continuity, that is, continuing the bride’s past life in her future marriage. Contemporary couples use this as a chance to wear a sentimental piece of jewelry or item of clothing belonging to an older member of the family. Often the parents of the bride will gift her an heirloom, like a family keepsake, before the ceremony.

Ideas for something old:  earrings, gem, necklace, swatch of fabric to wrap it around your bouquet…

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Something NEW

Something new offers optimism for the future, especially if the bride is wearing something new on her wedding day it will represent a hopeful future for them. The couple is about to enter a new chapter in life, so walking into marriage with “something new” makes total sense. The most common item for something new is the wedding dress worn by the bride on her wedding day. It’s totally up to you whether your “something new” is a gift from someone else or the result of a treat-yourself moment.

Ideas for something new:  makeup, wedding dress, lingerie, perfume, jewelry

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Something BORROWED

This is typically something borrowed from another bride.  It is thought that this borrowed item will transfer luck from one marriage to another. But, as The Knot is saying, incorporating “something borrowed” brings the couple good luck. By borrowing something from a happily married friend or relative, the bride or couple ensures a little of their good fortune rubs off on them. The old-fashioned superstition urged the bride to borrow the undergarments of a female friend or relative with a happy marriage and healthy kids (again with the fertility thing).

Ideas for something borrowed:  wedding veil, handbag or clutch, jewelry, hair accessory

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Something BLUE

Purity, fidelity, and love are all represented in the something blue worn by the bride. While wearing or carrying “something blue” was also meant to deflect that pesky Evil Eye, the color blue stands the three key qualities for a solid marriage. As we did our research, we stomp on an interesting fact: Blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In fact, in ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love and fidelity.

Ideas for something blue:  wedding shoes, jewelry, garter

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Although in the present day, the first four items are most familiar, some modern brides decide on putting a sixpence or penny in their shoes.

So, let’s explain that too.

A SIXPENCE

The last part of the rhyme, is the sixpence. A sixpence was a form of British currency and was given to the bride to keep in her left shoe on the day of the wedding to symbolize great wealth for her and her future husband. It’s tradition for the father of the bride to place the sixpence in her shoe, wishing good fortune for the bride and groom.