Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

/ sum-thing bloo /

What Is a Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue?

The phrase 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue' (and sometimes 'a sixpence in your shoe') is a Victorian-era English rhyme describing four items a bride traditionally includes in her wedding outfit for luck. Something Old represents continuity with the past (a family heirloom jewelry piece, a grandmother's lace). Something New represents hope and optimism for the future (the wedding gown, a new piece of jewelry). Something Borrowed should come from a happily married woman, whose luck transfers with the item. Something Blue traditionally represents love, fidelity, and purity — often expressed as blue-dyed lingerie, a blue embroidered garter, or a blue stone in the jewelry.

The Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue in Modern Weddings

Many modern brides honor this tradition while putting their own creative spin on each element. The 'borrowed' and 'blue' in particular often become meaningful opportunities to involve a mother, grandmother, or close friend in the wedding day. Alternative cultural equivalents exist across many traditions — Persian, South Asian, and other cultural brides have their own sets of meaningful pre-ceremony customs and symbols.