Something old, something new...

'Something old,

something new,

something borrowed,

something blue,

and a sixpence in her shoe'.

Everybody has heard the rhyme (some may not recognise the last line!) but have you ever wondered the meaning behind it? I thought I would fill you in...

Tradition is that the items are given to the bride on her wedding day by family and friends as symbols of luck. It is an old tradition that dates back years but can also be quite touching and fun for the bride...

Something old represents continuity - continuity of love, of values, of family. It's nice for the bride to have a family heirloom, something passed down from happy marriages.

Something new embodies hope and optimism and may represent new marriage, new love, new family, a new life.

Something borrowed is supposed to be something given by a happily married family member or friend and represents borrowed happiness and good fortune that then passes over to the bride (this item must be returned though!).  It also reminds the bride that she can rely on friends and family.

Something blue stands for purity (you thought that was white right?) and originated in ancient rome where brides wore blue the same way we may think of white dresses today - to represent purity, fidelity and modesty.  Have you ever wondered why the Virgin Mary has so often been dressed in blue?

A sixpence in her shoe is a very British tradition - a sixpence being an old British silver coin - that some say dated back to the Victorian era.  It represents wealth and financial security.  Many companies such as  now sell keepsake wedding sixpences.

Many brides today try and incorporate the five luck tokens into their weddings themselves - for example blue bridesmaids dresses, old cars, borrowed veil, new jewellery...  It is not by any means a necessity for a wedding but it is more of a tradition that brides and family members like to adopt and can be quite fun and sentimental for the bride and those giving the tokens.


So to get you thinking I've given you a few ideas below, however the list really is endless so be creative and make it personal, it is your day after all!


Old

• Give grandfather's old pocket watch to the groom
• Place an antique bookmark to mark ceremony readings
• Display old photographs of family members on their wedding days
• Give the bride a childhood treasure tocarry
• Place an antique hat pin in the bride's bouquet
• Give the bride a family heirloom to wear such as diamond earrings, a ring, a necklace...

New

• Give the bride a new pice of jewellery to wear
• Wear new lingerie on the day of the wedding
• Most bride's dresses are new, so are their shoes
• Buy the bride a new lipgloss to wear on the day

Borrowed

• Borrow a hankerchief
• Borrow a veil that a friend wore for her wedding
• Borrow a family members silver knife or cake stand for the wedding cake
• Borrow a pen to sign the wedding certificate / guest book

Blue

• Blueberries in your flower displays
• wear pale blue underwear
• Sew a piece of blue ribbon into the petticoat of the bride's dress
• Wear a pale blue garter

.....My parent's still have their sixpence, tucked nicely into a champagne cork from their wedding! 


K x