The Tradition of Something Borrowed, Something Blue

You have probably heard of the saying, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”.

The actual reasonings behind the ideas are a little less known. These four things a bride is “supposed to” wear on her wedding day is thought to make the marriage successful. But we all know hard work, love, patience, communication, forgiveness, compassion, and consistency are what make a marriage successful. Since the limerick dates back to the late 1800s we can take some of this with a grain of salt now, and instead turn it into a tradition worth passing down generation to generation.

Something old has traditionally been seen as a way to provide protection for any future children the couple might have. But something old also has a sentimental value to it. Usually, this is a chance for a family member to share an heirloom piece of jewelry or a keepsake with the bride.

Something new recognizes the new family unit being created that day and represents optimism about the future. Whether this is a specific item given to you as a gift, your beautiful new dress, or something you pick out for yourself is totally up to you. 

Something borrowed refers to something another bride wore on her wedding day as a transference of luck to the new relationship. This easily becomes a way to honor a loved so you can carry something with sentimental value with you on your wedding day.

Something blue reflects the color of purity and love, meant to ward away any unwanted attention from evil. Traditionally worn under the dress, there are so many options now from jewelry to clothing, to decor, to nail color. 

Peterson Design and Photography

While these ideas are not necessary to incorporate into your wedding day if they create a sense of tradition for you and bring you JOY absolutely embrace that!

I had no idea I even wanted to incorporate these elements until items of importance came into my life at exactly the right time.

My Something Old

My grandmother keeps everything. And I mean EVERYTHING! So it was no shock to me when she told me about all the things she had kept from her daughters’ wedding’s (my mom and her sisters). One item she brought up was a lace corset, and I desperately needed some undergarments to keep things intact during the wedding while wearing a strapless dress.

When I put it on, damn it fit like a glove! Turns out it was my aunt’s that she wore at her wedding and she was so happy to gift it to me for mine.

My Something New

I am not a big jewelry person (you are welcome husband)! One thing I knew I wanted was a pearl necklace of my own to pass down generation to generation. I wanted something unique and full of character, and to this day I still get asked if it is a family heirloom – well girl it’s going to be!

Brittanee Taylor Photography

My Something Borrowed

This one was the hardest for me. I knew the style of my mother’s wedding dress wouldn’t fit my personality, I knew that I had jewelry covered, and I knew that our couple style was so unique to us. So I borrowed an idea.

My mother took her mother’s wedding veil and attached it to a hat for her wedding, creating a birdcage veil. I knew I didn’t want a long veil or train on my dress so I randomly tried on a birdcage veil while dress shopping and fell in love. It was dainty, it was classy, and it felt right. 

My Something Blue

If you didn’t know, my husband and I met because of a nerdy TV show called Doctor Who. Long story short, we were set up by friends because of this mutual interest and then we fell in love. To this day DW is something we hold very sacred to our hearts for bringing us together and creating some amazing conversations that are part of our love story.

One of my dearest friends told me as we were planning our wedding that she wanted to buy me a present. She wanted to gift me a garter set, and she had her eye on a special one. It was a handmade set off Etsy inspired by Doctor Who. You know I wore that Tardis Blue with pride!

Brittanee Taylor Photography

Real brides share their “something borrowed, something blue”

I wanted to make this post practical, so I asked some ladies in my life how they incorporated these traditions into their wedding day to maybe give you a few ideas!

Shanna – wedding in 2013

Something Old/Something New: veil made from her mom’s veil

Something Borrowed/Something Blue: mom’s aquamarine ring

Jessie – wedding 2018

Something Old/Something Borrowed: grandma’s amethyst necklace

Something New: garter

Something Blue: Manolo Blahnik shoes

Haley Rynn Ringo Photography

(You can see more of Jessie and Adrian’s wedding featured over on the website and on Junebug Weddings!)

Joanna – wedding in 2010

Something Old/Something Borrowed/Something Blue: grandma’s garter

Something New: toss garter

Anna – wedding 2014

Something New: veil (made by her aunt)

Something Borrowed: mom’s pearl bracelets

Something Old/Something Blue: handkerchief made by her grandmother with blue lace that was her great-great-grandmothers

Paige – wedding 2015

Something Old/Something Borrowed: grandma’s pearls

Something New: perfume

Something Blue: blue ribbon tied around her ankle

Kayla – wedding in 2010

Something Old/Something Borrowed: great grandmother’s ring

Something New: wedding dress

Something Blue: shoes and floral headpiece

Jenna – wedding in 2012

Something New: jeweled hairpiece

Something Borrowed: friend’s veil

Something Blue: bouquet ribbon

Adrienne – wedding in 2019

Something New: wedding day perfume

Peterson Design and Photography

Marisa – wedding in 2010

Something Old: 1930’s wedding ring

Something New: vintage floral necklace

Something Borrowed: parent’s toasting glasses

Something Blue: handmade fabric and felt floral bouquet

Tori – wedding in 2019

Something Blue: sapphire necklace and earrings, hand-dyed star studded veil

Something Borrowed: cake and knife set from sister’s wedding

Peterson Design and Photography

You can see more of Tori and Scott’s beach chic wedding day over on the blog!

Jessica – wedding in 2017

Something Old: vintage gold-banded ruby ring circa 1800 passed down through generations

Something New: diamond and leather headband

Something Borrowed: grandma’s diamond earrings

Something Blue: handmade blue crystal pendant tied to boot laces

What are your ideas for your Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue!? Come share them over on Instagram with other brides looking for ideas!