

Having loved ones contribute to the special day will make it all the more meaningful. This idea can be taken even less literally and the bride can "borrow" her parents' or grandparents' first-dance song. Does the bride have a bridesmaid who is happily married? She can save money on a veil by borrowing her bridesmaid's. Something borrowed ideas:Ī bride should think about borrowing an accessory from an important woman in her life, such as her grandmother's earrings or the necklace her mom wore on her wedding day.

Now for the easy part! Any special new item the bride has bought or received as a gift to wear for the first time on the big day can count as "something new." Think: the wedding band, a pair of comfortable wedding shoes, a pretty hairpiece, or even the wedding gown. (For inspiration, check out these pics of Paige trying on Ree's wedding gown from 1996!) Many brides also use their "something old" item to pay tribute to lost loved ones, like by tucking an old photo into a locket or bouquet as a reminder of someone who is with them in spirit.

This is an opportunity to get creative with subtle throwback touches, like wearing a piece of vintage jewelry or incorporating some fabric from the bride's mom's wedding gown into her own. (The British coin is no longer produced, but some determined brides still hunt down one to tuck into a shoe!) And the sixpence was intended to bring prosperity to the couple. The color blue was meant to ward off the evil eye, and it also stood for love, purity, and fidelity. "Something borrowed" from a happily married friend or relative was believed to bring good luck for the union and even fertility. "Something new" stood for hope and optimism for the future. "Something old" represented a tie to the past. The exact meaning behind each trinket isn't totally clear, but there are some popular theories. It describes the items a bride should have on her wedding day: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe." What's the meaning behind each object? The tradition is based on an Old English rhyme that dates back to 19th-century Lancashire. Maxwell Monty / EyeEm // Getty Images What's the origin of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue? Keep reading to learn about how this whole "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" thing got started and to get some fun, creative ideas for honoring the tradition today. And while abiding by the list certainly isn't a requirement for a happy marriage, it can be a meaningful way to incorporate cherished people, objects, and memories into your special day. Where does this very specific list of seemingly unrelated trinkets come from? What's the meaning behind each item? And-the fun part-what are some creative ways modern brides can make the tradition part of their big day?įor centuries, brides have included something from each of these categories in their weddings. But you may also have some unanswered questions about the famous rhyme. You may have heard, for example, that brides should wear (or carry) "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" on their wedding day for good luck.

Whether you're the mother of the bride in a wedding like Ree Drummond was (here's the latest on her daughter Alex Drummond's elegant ranch wedding), an attendant, a guest, or a member of the soon-to-be-married couple yourself, a wedding is an opportunity to partake in all kinds of special traditions.
