Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something New

The tradition of something old, something new and something borrowed originated in England.

In ancient times a bride would wear or take to her wedding an old object from her family. As she moved from the state of being single to the state of being a married woman, she desired to have links to her first family. She may have chosen to wear an old pair of her mothers shoes, take along an old family bible or wear heirloom earrings that belonged to her grandmother.

Carrying something new to her wedding symbolised the hope she had for her new life. Hope that she would be happy, would make new friends with her family and she would bear many, many children. Traditionally, a bride would choose to wear a new wedding dress, buy a new veil or even buy a new Bible, which would become her new family Bible.

The tradition of having something borrowed as part of a brides wedding trousseau symbolised the friendship which a new wife hoped for with her new family members. As such, she would borrow something from one of the members of her fiances family like a handbag, a pair of shoes, a shawl or a pair of earrings. This was done in the hope of developing a warm, safe relationship with her new husbands family.

The tradition of having something blue to a brides wedding originated in Israel. Brides in antiquity would have a blue ribbon woven into the edge of their headdresses. The colour blue signified love, fidelity, purity, innocence and modesty.