Something Old, Something New . . .

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Something Old - My mother's pearls which she got from her mother.

Something new - My wedding dress.

Something Borrowed - a skirt under the bridal gown.
I will also borrow my grandmother's pearl necklace which is now owned by my mother.

Something Blue - A blue butterfly sewn on the borrowed skirt.

And a penny in your shoe - Penny will be taped to the sole of my sandle.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ...

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe

The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it are much older.

The "something old" represents the couples friends who will hopefully remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in marriage would be passed on to the new bride.

"Something new" symbolises the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.

The "something borrowed" is often lent by the bride's family and is an item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck.

The custom of the bride wearing "something blue" originated in ancient Israel where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity.

The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couples married life. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.

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