Something Old, Something New...

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Perhaps one of the oldest and most popular wedding traditions, the four elements are used to bring different positive aspects to the marriage.

There is a fifth part to this saying which is rarely heard  …..  and a Sixpence in Her Shoe.

This is a good luck saying which dates back to the Victorian era and many brides will try and ensure that they have something of each in their wedding outfit.

Something Old - is meant to represent the link with the bride's own family and the past particularly mother or grandmother or even most distant relations. Something old is symbolic of continuity. To symbolise this link you may choose to wear a piece of antique family jewellery which belongs to a close relative or a locket with photos of parents or grandparents. Alternatively you may select something from your mother's or grandmothers wedding gown. Other things that may be chosen include a handkerchief, a scarf or a piece of lace. If you don’t have anything in your family to use, don’t be afraid to start your own traditions and buy a beautiful piece of vintage jewelry.

Something New - represents good luck and success for your hopes for a bright future in your new married life with your husband and family. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item but it could be anything that is purchased new for the wedding such as the wedding flowers or the wedding rings. Wearing a new item on your wedding day conveys the message that you and your husband are creating a new union that will endure forever with hope for the future of the marriage and its success.

Our very own 'Madison' gown from the Karen Willis Holmes couture collection.

Something Borrowed - is to represent to you that your friends and family will be there for you on your special day and in the future for when help may be needed. "Borrowing" is especially important, since it has to come from a happily married woman, thereby lending you as the bride some of her own marital happiness to carry into the new marriage. Anything can be borrowed but it must be returned afterwards for good luck. Most brides will try to borrow something from their mother or a close friend.

Borrowed items are often a piece of jewellery, headpiece or a veil .

Something Blue - in ancient times this was a symbol of faithfulness, purity and loyalty. Ttraditionally the bride would tie a small blue ribbon in her hair or the couple wore blue bands on the border of their wedding attire to denote, love, modesty and fidelity. The choice in our mother’s era has been a blue garter, but with a lot of today’s wedding gowns this will not work, another way to wear something blue is to include a blue flower in your hair or theme your wedding flowers in blue. Today some brides, wear blue nail polish or wear blue shoes. At Karen Willis Holmes we sew a blue bow into your gown.

A Sixpence In Her Shoe – The sixpence is a wish of wealth for the bride and her new husband – Tape the sixpence (or penny) on the base of your shoe near the heel or inside the shoe under the arch. It is a nice touch to select a coin that is from the year of which your grandmother or mother was born for added luck. 

The search for your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue can be really fun as well as meaningful and can create special memories.

Karen xx