Real Weddings, Wedding Planning
You have probably heard of the saying, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”.
The actual reasonings behind the ideas are a little less known. These four things a bride is “supposed to” wear on her wedding day is thought to make the marriage successful. But we all know hard work, love, patience, communication, forgiveness, compassion, and consistency are what make a marriage successful. Since the limerick dates back to the late 1800s we can take some of this with a grain of salt now, and instead turn it into a tradition worth passing down generation to generation.
Something old has traditionally been seen as a way to provide protection for any future children the couple might have. But something old also has a sentimental value to it. Usually, this is a chance for a family member to share an heirloom piece of jewelry or a keepsake with the bride.
Something new recognizes the new family unit being created that day and represents optimism about the future. Whether this is a specific item given to you as a gift, your beautiful new dress, or something you pick out for yourself is totally up to you.
Something borrowed refers to something another bride wore on her wedding day as a transference of luck to the new relationship. This easily becomes a way to honor a loved so you can carry something with sentimental value with you on your wedding day.
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.
Peterson Design and Photography
While these ideas are not necessary to incorporate into your wedding day if they create a sense of tradition for you and bring you JOY absolutely embrace that!
I had no idea I even wanted to incorporate these elements until items of importance came into my life at exactly the right time.
My Something Old
My grandmother keeps everything. And I mean EVERYTHING! So it was no shock to me when she told me about all the things she had kept from her daughters’ wedding’s (my mom and her sisters). One item she brought up was a lace corset, and I desperately needed some undergarments to keep things intact during the wedding while wearing a strapless dress.
When I put it on, damn it fit like a glove! Turns out it was my aunt’s that she wore at her wedding and she was so happy to gift it to me for mine.
My Something New
I am not a big jewelry person (you are welcome husband)! One thing I knew I wanted was a pearl necklace of my own to pass down generation to generation. I wanted something unique and full of character, and to this day I still get asked if it is a family heirloom – well girl it’s going to be!
Brittanee Taylor Photography
My Something Borrowed
This one was the hardest for me. I knew the style of my mother’s wedding dress wouldn’t fit my personality, I knew that I had jewelry covered, and I knew that our couple style was so unique to us. So I borrowed an idea.
My mother took her mother’s wedding veil and attached it to a hat for her wedding, creating a birdcage veil. I knew I didn’t want a long veil or train on my dress so I randomly tried on a birdcage veil while dress shopping and fell in love. It was dainty, it was classy, and it felt right.
My Something Blue
If you didn’t know, my husband and I met because of a nerdy TV show called Doctor Who. Long story short, we were set up by friends because of this mutual interest and then we fell in love. To this day DW is something we hold very sacred to our hearts for bringing us together and creating some amazing conversations that are part of our love story.
One of my dearest friends told me as we were planning our wedding that she wanted to buy me a present. She wanted to gift me a garter set, and she had her eye on a special one. It was a handmade set off Etsy inspired by Doctor Who. You know I wore that Tardis Blue with pride!
Brittanee Taylor Photography
Real brides share their “something borrowed, something blue”
I wanted to make this post practical, so I asked some ladies in my life how they incorporated these traditions into their wedding day to maybe give you a few ideas!
Shanna – wedding in 2013
Something Old/Something New: veil made from her mom’s veil
Something Borrowed/Something Blue: mom’s aquamarine ring
Jessie – wedding 2018
Something Old/Something Borrowed: grandma’s amethyst necklace
Something New: garter
Something Blue: Manolo Blahnik shoes
(You can see more of Jessie and Adrian’s wedding featured over on the website and on Junebug Weddings!)
Joanna – wedding in 2010
Something Old/Something Borrowed/Something Blue: grandma’s garter
Something New: toss garter
Anna – wedding 2014
Something New: veil (made by her aunt)
Something Borrowed: mom’s pearl bracelets
Something Old/Something Blue: handkerchief made by her grandmother with blue lace that was her great-great-grandmothers
Paige – wedding 2015
Something Old/Something Borrowed: grandma’s pearls
Something New: perfume
Something Blue: blue ribbon tied around her ankle
Kayla – wedding in 2010
Something Old/Something Borrowed: great grandmother’s ring
Something New: wedding dress
Something Blue: shoes and floral headpiece
Jenna – wedding in 2012
Something New: jeweled hairpiece
Something Borrowed: friend’s veil
Something Blue: bouquet ribbon
Adrienne – wedding in 2019
Something New: wedding day perfume
Peterson Design and Photography
Marisa – wedding in 2010
Something Old: 1930’s wedding ring
Something New: vintage floral necklace
Something Borrowed: parent’s toasting glasses
Something Blue: handmade fabric and felt floral bouquet
Tori – wedding in 2019
Something Blue: sapphire necklace and earrings, hand-dyed star studded veil
Something Borrowed: cake and knife set from sister’s wedding
Peterson Design and Photography
You can see more of Tori and Scott’s beach chic wedding day over on the blog!
Jessica – wedding in 2017
Something Old: vintage gold-banded ruby ring circa 1800 passed down through generations
Something New: diamond and leather headband
Something Borrowed: grandma’s diamond earrings
Something Blue: handmade blue crystal pendant tied to boot laces
What are your ideas for your Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue!? Come share them over on Instagram with other brides looking for ideas!
