Image: Brooke Allison Photography
Growing up and watching countless romantic comedies, I always wondered why the bride would stand with her mom or maid of honor and count off her objects, saying, "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." Then, in 2011 when my sister Catie got married, she took my gold bangle bracelet and stated: "This will be my something borrowed". I took this as a good sign because 1. I knew she had to give it back, and 2. I was happy to be her something borrowed. However, after she took the bangle off my wrist I asked her, "what does that even mean?". Catie told me it was for luck, she might have rambled something about tradition as well, but three years later, on her third anniversary, I have found out the true meaning of the statement: something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new.
Image: Brooke Allison Photography
There is an Old English rhyme that first appeared in American print in 1883: "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe". I know for sure that Catie did not put a Sixpence in her stiletto. Most brides stick to the first four.Something Old: Something old represents the brides past, their family, and their traditions. This could be an old simple wedding band of Grandma's, a bangle bracelet, or even the silk material holding your bouquet together.
Something New: This represents the new life that is in front of her. Typically this is your wedding dress, your new shoes, etc.
Something Borrowed: This represents happiness, or "borrowed happiness".
Image: Brooke Allison Photography
Something Blue: This represents purity and love. It also represents that before the late 19th century brides used to wear a blue gown (can you imagine?) so the statement was as follows: "Marry in blue, lover be true." Anything blue will work. Maybe you have a sapphire and diamond simple wedding band?
So, Catie was right. We do this for luck: for tradition, life, happiness, and love. It's a tradition that you can share with your sisters or friends, especially if you are "borrowing" their jewelry!
Happy third anniversary, Catie and Mike.
