One of the most common
and recognised wedding traditions has to be ‘Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue’ – and if you are going all the way then
‘And a Sliver Sixpence in her Shoe.’
Requirements: The 5 specified items
Of the many thousands
of traditions that have come and gone over the centuries, this old English
rhyme from the Victorian era is one that has truly endured, and for some reason
is still the most popular of all wedding rituals & traditions in our modern
society.
‘Something Old’ is said
to symbolise the special connection that the bride has with her own family, to
her origins and her past, that she will continue to maintain. ‘Something Old’ –
allows the bride to choose something that is meaningful from the family,
perhaps an heirloom or a piece of her grandmother’s, (or other family member’s)
jewellery. Another option, far more popular in the past than in recent times,
is the wearing of a wedding gown belonging to her mother or grandmother.
‘Something New’
signifies that if the bride has something new, then good fortune and success
will be in abundance as she begins her new life with her husband. ‘Something
new’ can be anything of her choosing, but if she is not wearing a dress from
the past, then her new wedding dress is often a good choice.
‘Something Borrowed’ is
a reminder to the bride of her strong friendships and family bond. The
borrowing of an item will give her a sense that she will have love and support
whenever she may need it, and always have others to lean on when times are
tough. The borrowed item is most often something that is easily concealed, worn
or able to fit in a small purse.
‘Something Blue’ is a
symbol of love, faithfulness, modesty, fidelity and loyalty. In ancient times
blue was the colour that represented all of these. Brides often wore blue wedding gowns in those
times and today still honour this by wearing a blue garter.
‘A Silver Sixpence in
her Shoe’ A sixpence is an old pre-decimal coin which, if concealed in her
shoe, was said to bring to the bride the good wishes of loved ones for
financial security and happiness. For the best of fortune, she should be sure
to wear it in her left shoe. In modern times any other silver coin may be used
as a substitute, but there are places that sell keepsake sixpences for
weddings.
Tradition has it that a
bride who carries these objects will ensure that she is blessed with a happy,
long and prosperous married life. While we love this tradition and all of its
sentiment, if a bride finds herself without one of these items, she may choose
to begin a new tradition with what she has rather than see it as an omen. Every
bride is beautiful and lucky on her big day!
The Wedding Gurus xx
