In 1871, St. James’ Magazine published a story where a bride says, “On the wedding day, I must ‘wear something new, something borrowed, something blue’.” Later versions updated it to five things a bride should wear: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.
The custom, still strong today, says the women in a bride’s life should gift her with these items. Each of the five items has symbolic meaning and are said to bring luck, love, family, and prosperity to the new marriage. Many say each trinket is also there to ward off evil and those wishing harm to the new couple.
With that in mind, we bring you a list of ideas for each “something” that you can give a new bride.
Something Old
According to the folklore, “something old” is given to connect the past to the future. It’s believed to bring continuity to the new couple and pay tribute to ancestry and a family’s heritage.
Ideas of “Something Old” might include:
- Vintage wedding rings
- Antique engagement rings
- A brooch, pin, or watch that has been passed down in a family
- The wedding dress itself may have been handed down
- Fabric sewn into something like the veil or handkerchief
- Photos of departed relatives in a locket
- A cake topper
- A classic poem or letter
Something New
This item is given to give hope and optimism for a new beginning. As the couple starts their new journey together, they bring together two people into one fresh adventure.
Ideas for “Something New” could be:
- The wedding rings you’ll be wearing
- Bow Ties
- Cufflinks
- New perfume
- Accessories for your shoes and/or hair
Something Borrowed
The idea behind this item is to carry with you something from a friend or relative in a successful relationship you admire. This could be just about anything, and it is meant to help you channel the positive vibes from their relationship into yours.
Ideas for “Something Borrowed”:
- Wedding dress, veil or tie from a parent or grandparent
- Heirloom accessories such as a necklace, earrings, hair comb, or tiara
- Perfume or cologne
- First dance song from your parents or grandparents
- A purse or clutch
- The recipe for the cake
- Borrow a fancy car for your big departure
Something Blue
This item is an offshoot of the expression “true blue.” It’s meant to signify a love that is pure and faithful. Many times, blue is found on the garter, but this is another part of the tradition that can be just about anything you’d like
Ideas for “Something Blue”:
- Sapphire jewels
- Blue flowers
- Blue ribbons
- Blue fingernails
- Blue thread as a monogram
- Blue as your signature wedding color
- Blue handkerchief
A Sixpence in Her Shoe
If you want to complete the rhyme, you go all the way to “sixpence in her shoe.” Of course, finding a sixpence might take some work (plenty of folks sell them online), so if you want to substitute a lucky penny, that works, too. The idea behind the lucky sixpence is to bring prosperity to the new couple. This could be a coin with a special year on it, a silver coin, or a lucky penny.
Get creative and have fun. It’s a tradition that has lived on for over 150 years and is a piece of most every wedding. We would be happy to help you find the perfect gift for your special occasion. Visit us online or at our Greensboro or Winston-Salem locations.
FAQs
Traditionally, these objects are cobbled together from female relatives and friends. But again, there are no hard and fast rules here. "Something old" could be a vintage getaway car, "something blue" could be the bouquet, and "something new" could be a gift from the soon-to-be spouse or the bride herself!
Who gives the bride something new something borrowed and something blue? ›
Traditionally, these objects are cobbled together from female relatives and friends. But again, there are no hard and fast rules here. "Something old" could be a vintage getaway car, "something blue" could be the bouquet, and "something new" could be a gift from the soon-to-be spouse or the bride herself!
What can you give a bride for something borrowed? ›
From cufflinks to hair slides and clips, Nick Harris of Just About Weddings says that wedding accessories are a great choice for your something borrowed. “Ties, hankies and pieces of jewellery are popular borrowed items,” he says. “A family heirloom, such as a vintage necklace is a wonderful, sentimental touch.”
What is the full saying of something borrowed something blue? ›
What is the Saying Something Borrowed Something Blue? “Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe.” This is the full Old English rhyme, each “something” representing well wishes offered by friends and family on a couple's wedding day.
What is an example of something blue for wedding? ›
The garter was the traditional way that brides incorporated their something blue into their look, and it's certainly a fun and somewhat discrete way to do it.
What are the three things a bride needs? ›
Today, when women do include the sixpence tradition in their special day, they'll commonly substitute a penny or another small coin. While wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” is a pretty outdated tradition, many brides still have fun with it today.
Does the groom do something borrowed? ›
Traditionally, 'something borrowed' is an item given to the bride or groom by another happily married couple or special person in their lives.
Do brides still do something old, something new? ›
While the evil eye is a thing of the past, "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" can be an entertaining tradition to follow at your wedding in whatever way works for you. Have fun with it as you put the finishing touches on your special day.
What is the penny in the shoe at a wedding? ›
A silver sixpence represents luck and prosperity in marriage! A Silver sixpence in her shoe is something traditionally the father will gift to the bride on her wedding day. It is custom for the father to slip the silver sixpence into the bride's heel before she is walked down the aisle.
Why do people throw rice at weddings? ›
This wedding tradition dates back to the ancient Romans. Throwing rice at the bride and groom was thought to bring fertility, wealth and good luck to the newlyweds. Other cultures threw different types of crops at the married couple, such as oats, wheat and corn.
Something blue reflects the color of purity and love, meant to ward away any unwanted attention from evil. Traditionally worn under the dress, there are so many options now from jewelry to clothing, to decor, to nail color.
What does light blue mean in a wedding? ›
Light blue: Associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness. Aqua is associated with emotional healing, protection compassion, and inspiration. Dark blue: Represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.
Why do brides wear blue shoes? ›
The oldest written reference to this tradition can be found in an 1871 issue of St. James Magazine. As previously mentioned, couples follow this wedding custom in the hopes of inviting good luck. The colour blue symbolises "fidelity and love's purity."
Is the bride supposed to wear something blue? ›
Blue is the color of love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. To keep with tradition, the bride can wear a blue piece of jewelry. But for a modern take, you can write a little note or other small message in blue on the bottom of her shoes.
Why does the groom throw the garter? ›
What is the Garter Toss? In a nutshell, the garter toss is a wedding tradition where the bride's garter is removed and thrown out to a crowd of single men. It's the groom's equivalent of the bouquet toss and is meant to symbolize good luck to the eligible bachelors in attendance.
Why does the flower girl drop petals? ›
Throwing rose petals
Rose petals, which are traditionally red, represent fertility, and because they're thrown by the flower girl, they are also a symbol of the transition the bride is making from an innocent girl to a woman and, soon, mother.
