Superstition: Something old, new, borrowed and blue

The bride must wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Everyone knows this and says it like a wedding nursery rhyme. However, do you know what it signifies and why you need to do all of these things for a very lucky wedding?

THEN: Wearing “something old” expresses the newlywed couple’s desire to retain connections with their family once they enter into married life. Often this is an old garter given to the bride by a happily married woman so that the new bride would also enjoy a happy marriage. Wearing “something new” conveys that the couple is creating a new union that will endure forever and looking to the future for health, happiness and success. “Something borrowed” is an opportunity for the bride’s friends or family to lend her something special as a token of their love. And finally, “something blue” is a symbol of fidelity and constancy.

There is actually one more part to the rhyme - it ends with “…and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” Story says that placing a penny in the bride’s shoe will bring her a life filled with good fortune.

NOW: Many modern brides find it fun to keep with tradition by wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Brides are thinking of creative ways to incorporate all four items and sometimes these items act as double duty. One trend that I really love is when brides wear bright blue shoes with her wedding gown!

If you have other creative ways of incorporating this rhyme into your wedding day, please share! I would love to hear from you!

~Monica
Owner and lead designer @Wishahmon 

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs