Every bride getting married knows the tradition of the Old English rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”  The exact origin of the poem is unknown but the tradition can be traced back to the Victorian era.  According to the tradition, usually the items are given by the bridal couple’s family and friends or more recently the modern bride will collect some of these items herself.  This is a perfect opportunity to add special meaning to a wedding and the items used should be personal and sentimental to the bride and groom.

When presenting these items, at a bridal shower or bridesmaid luncheon, the gifts should be given in a very special way.  To start the presentation, explain the tradition of why the items are collected for a bride to have on her wedding day and what the meaning of each item represents.  Then, I would suggest that each item should be opened individually and to make the presentation very meaningful, explain the story behind why that particular item was chosen.  I think it would be very interesting for the bride and her guests to hear.

The meaning of each item with ideas and suggestions:

Something old represents a link to the bride’s life or her family.  This is probably the easiest item of the four to acquire; usually a mother or a grandmother of the bride or the groom can have a special piece of jewelry that can be passed down from one generation to the next.  Sentimental items can be a first communion cross, a pearl necklace from her mother or a special locket from a grandmother, other pieces of jewelry could be a bracelet, earrings or a necklace.  An old rosary or an antique handkerchief or perhaps a button from an old suit of the bride’s father which can be sown into the bridal dress, or a piece of fabric from an old dress of the bride, mother or grandmother can be wrapped around the bridal bouquet are other ideas for something old.

Here are some more ideas for something old:

1. Have the wedding ceremony or reception at an old and historic venue.
2. Travel from the ceremony to the reception in an antique car.
3. Display wedding photographs of parents, grandparents or great-grandparents at the wedding reception or tuck a small copy into a bridal purse to carry down the aisle.
4. Carry a relative’s monogrammed handkerchief on the wedding day.
5. Use an antique hat pin in the bridal bouquet.
6. Shop for a vintage purse, compact or gloves to use on the wedding day.
7. Use the parent’s old cake topper or if one is not available shop look for a vintage one in an antique store.

Something new represents a hope for the future of the bride and the groom on the occasion of their marriage.  The obvious choice for most brides will be her wedding dress, headpiece or shoes.  Perhaps the bride’s future husband will have purchased a special piece of jewelry to mark their wedding, such as a pair of earrings, necklace or a charm bracelet with a special charm for the wedding day.  Another suggestion for something new could be simply a new bottle of a special perfume.

Here are some more ideas for something new:

1. The bride can wear beautiful new lingerie for her wedding day; maybe splurge for a lovely pair of silk stockings.
2. Purchase a new special lipstick shade for the wedding day and tuck it into a new make-up bag.
3. The bridal couple can purchase a brand new car for transportation after the reception as they drive away to their honeymoon.
4. The groom can surprise the bride with a new puppy or kitten!

Something borrowed is traditionally an item that comes from a happily married woman who is letting the bride “borrow some of her martial success”. The borrowed item be could something as sentimental as a wedding dress or veil that was worn by a parent or grandparent.  Another idea could be a piece of jewelry loaned from a family member, a parent, grandparent or even a great grandparent.  The important thing to remember is that the something borrowed needs to be returned after the wedding.

Here are some more ideas for something borrowed:

1. Borrow a father’s silk handkerchief, the groom can use it tucked into his tuxedo pocket or the bride can use it wrapped around her bridal bouquet.
2. Borrow an old family bible to use at the wedding ceremony.
3. The bride can borrow a headpiece or veil from a family member or friend.
4. Borrow the toasting glasses or the silver knife to cut the cake at the wedding reception.
5. The bride can borrow a button-down shirt or a bathrobe from the groom to use while she is getting dressed for the wedding day.
6. Borrow a poetry book from the library to use for the reading at the wedding ceremony.

Something blue represents fidelity and loyalty; this item can be a fun way to express the bride’s personality or her quirky sense of humor.  This item can be something that is hidden from sight or it can be used as a bold fashion statement of the bride’s style.  Traditionally, this item is usually a blue garter decorated with blue ribbon and white lace.  Another traditional idea is blue-stone jewelry, such as: sapphire, aquamarine or tanzanite.  A fun idea which is popular with the modern bride are blue shoes or blue nail polish on her toes.

 Here are some more ideas for something blue:

1. The bride can use a blue ribbon or blue flowers in her bridal bouquet or the groom’s boutonniere.
2. The bride can wear a blue sash or petticoat with her wedding dress.
3. The groom can wear a blue tie or baby blue socks with his tuxedo or maybe even a blue suit on his wedding day.
4. The bride can wear a special tiara made with blue stones or carry a blue purse.
5. The wedding flowers can incorporate blue flowers for the ceremony or reception.
6. Use blue confetti at the end of the wedding ceremony instead of rice.
7. … or simply the bride can tie a blue thread around her finger!

The last item is the sixpence which represents good fortune and prosperity for the bridal couple.  The sixpence is traditionally an item carried by British brides and it is placed in the bride’s left shoe.  Today’s modern brides can have a sixpence or another special coin sewn into the hem of her bridal gown or she can carry it in the purse used on her wedding day.

Here are some more ideas:

1. The bride or groom can carry an old coin from the year of their birth or a coin from the country of their parents or grandparents ancestry.
2. Another option is to get a coin from the year of their marriage.
3. Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon.

Here is a great craft idea to present these items at a bridal shower or bridesmaid luncheon.  I found the paper mache boxes at a local craft store years ago.  I liked them because when they are stacked, largest on the bottom and the smallest on top, and with the pattern on the boxes the look resembles a wedding cake.  (If you cannot find similar boxes, the same style can be achieved with a pattern paint design)