New, Old, Borrowed, Blue Ideas

"Something old, something new; something borrowed, something blue."  This wedding day tradition dates back to the Victorian era of the 1800's when the saying also included, "and a silver sixpence in her shoe."  Today, most brides skip the sixpence but still hold onto the good luck tokens of things old, new, borrowed, and blue.  Here are a few ideas for your wedding day.

Something Old

This represents your past, especially your family.  Although you're starting a new life with your husband, your old family is still a part of it.  Consider:

• Wearing heirloom jewelry from his family or yours.
• Using the same cake topper your parents used.
• Attaching a small piece of fabric from your mother or grandmother's wedding dress inside your own gown.
• Wearing a veil or headpiece that belonged to another member of the family.

Something New

Carrying ‘something new' on your wedding day signifies your new life and your happiness.  Wear new lingerie beneath your gown or buy new jewelry just for your wedding.  Your shoes could be something new or you could splurge on a new tattoo - henna tattoos are a tradition for brides in some countries!

Something Borrowed

Your borrowed item is a symbol of outside happiness influencing your special day, usually something borrowed from a happily married friend or family member.  Try:

• A lucky coin or token from a friend.
• A relative's necklace, earrings, or bracelet (pearls are a favorite).
• A monogrammed handkerchief from a close family member on either side.
• A borrowed car for transportation to the ceremony or reception.

Be sure you return your borrowed item after the wedding or arrange for someone to deliver it to its rightful owner and send a thank you note when you return from your honeymoon.

Something Blue

Blue has been a symbol of love and happiness in marriages as long ago as ancient Rome when blue was the traditional color of wedding gowns.  Unless you've chosen blue as one of your wedding colors, you'll probably want to keep your ‘blue' low-key.  A garter trimmed in blue is one of the most common ways to do this.  You could also wear blue sapphire jewelry, paint your toenails blue, or blend a bit of blue into your eye shadow. 

If this is a tradition you plan to honor, decide what you want now and make any necessary arrangements well in advance.  If you do wait until the last minute, don't worry - mothers and mother-in-laws usually love to help you with old, new, borrowed, blue ideas!