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Something Borrowed, Something Blue & Something New: The Wedding Meaning
Of all the sayings associated with weddings, one of the most common and meaningful is ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’.
This cute little old English rhyme from the 19th century has been a part of traditional Western cultural ceremonies for generations, but have you ever actually taken the time to think about where it originated from and what it all means?
If your wedding day is in the near future and you want to incorporate this tradition into the big day, then you need to know what it all means and how to successfully follow the rules!
Here is everything that you need to know to complete the rhyme requirements and start the new chapter of your life looking forward to a successful marriage.
What Does It Mean?
The rhyme dates from the Victorian era and its first document record is from Lancashire in 1871. The full original phrase is “something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a silver sixpence in your shoe”, and it has seen been adapted by dropping the last element as that no longer fits as a modern wedding tradition.
Each ‘something’ is intended to represent different elements of good wishes that are offered to a bride by friends and family on her wedding day. It might be seen as a little superstitious but every bride deserves a little good luck on her wedding. It’s a fun recipe card for marital success for a new couple, with the ingredients being provided by others.
How Does The Bride Acquire The Items?
Traditionally, it was the custom for female family members and other happily married friends to gift the bride different pieces to make up the whole of the rhyme. Apart from the ‘new’, the items were intended to be things like family heirlooms that were passed along down lines of good marriages to ensure future happiness.
In modern times, however, there has been more emphasis on the bride putting together her list with good luck charms and items that mean something special to her. The reality today is that if you choose to collect the four items needed, it is usually a combination of the bride, family members, and bridesmaids contributing.
Something Old
‘Something old’ represents continuity for the new couple, helping to connect their past lives to their new lives as a pair.
The old item can pay tribute to the ancestry of your family or homage to your heritage. It should be something that conveys a really special and cherished memory. People tend to seek out something vintage or antique that will match their wedding dress aesthetic.
Some of the most popular items that will work in the ‘something old’ category include:
- Vintage wedding rings.
- Antique engagement rings.
- A family heirloom piece of jewelry like a brooch, pin, or hair accessory.
- A fabric item like a wedding veil or handkerchief in your dress.
- Vintage wedding shoes.
- Photographs in a locket.
- If you want to complete the full original rhyme and can get your hands on a sixpence, which is an old British coin from the Victorian era, then one fun tradition is to sew the coin into your wedding gown for your special day.
One of the loveliest traditions is when a bride-to-be is presented with a piece of estate jewelry by a beloved member of the family.
Something New
Traditionally, the ‘something new’ in the collection was intended as a representation of good fortune with future fertility.
In some of the oldest origin stories, the threat to pregnancy was seen as the glare of the evil eye, and this curse could be broken by the addition of something new to the wedding day and essentially keep the bride’s womb safe!
The interesting thing about ‘something new’ is that it doesn’t have to necessarily be part of your wedding dress ensemble. It can be anything from the new champagne flutes at the reception to the new getaway car to escape the crowds on the way to your honeymoon.
Some of the most popular items and options for the ‘something new’ part of the ensemble include:
- Brand new wedding rings
- Lingerie
- Bow ties
- Cufflinks
- Tattoos are also a popular choice among modern brides
Something Borrowed
Traditionally, something borrowed was supposed to be lent by a friend or family member who was already in a successful marriage, to channel their good luck and good vibes!
These items do not have to be vintage, because the act of giving from one to another completes the ‘borrowed’ requirement. Once upon a time undergarments representing fertility ticked off the list for borrowing but this isn’t done so much anymore.
There are plenty of accessories and elements of wedding outfits that can be easily borrowed so it’s one of the easier parts of the rhyme to achieve.
Some of the most popular choices for the ‘something borrowed’ portion include:
- A wedding dress or suit has been passed down through the generations
- Perfume or cologne that belongs to a family member or loved one
- Heirloom accessories like a necklace, diamond earrings, hair comb, or tiara
Something Blue
Perhaps the most interesting part of the rhyme is the ‘something blue’ and which is intended to signify love and fidelity for a future happy marriage. Traditionally, this was completed in the form of a blue garter, but if you don’t want to go down that particular route, then there are plenty of other options.
Some of the most popular ‘something blue’ ideas include:
- Sapphire jewelry
- Other kinds of blue jewelry
- Blue flowers are incorporated in your wedding bouquet
- Blue ribbons
- A blue manicure
- Blue shoes
‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ may seem old-fashioned but it is still a lovely tradition that suits modern ceremonies. Have fun putting your four fun things together because it’s a great way to make your day more personal with a minimum of effort.