In 1871, St. James’ Magazine published a story where a bride says, “On the wedding day, I must ‘wear something new, something borrowed, something blue’.” Later versions updated it to five things a bride should wear:  Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.

The custom, still strong today, says the women in a bride’s life should gift her with these items. Each of the five items has symbolic meaning and are said to bring luck, love, family, and prosperity to the new marriage. Many say each trinket is also there to ward off evil and those wishing harm to the new couple.

With that in mind, we bring you a list of ideas for each “something” that you can give a new bride.

Something Old

According to the folklore, “something old” is given to connect the past to the future. It’s believed to bring continuity to the new couple and pay tribute to ancestry and a family’s heritage.

Ideas of “Something Old” might include:

• Vintage wedding rings
• Antique engagement rings
• A brooch, pin, or watch that has been passed down in a family
• The wedding dress itself may have been handed down
• Fabric sewn into something like the veil or handkerchief
• Photos of departed relatives in a locket
• A cake topper
• A classic poem or letter

Something New

This item is given to give hope and optimism for a new beginning. As the couple starts their new journey together, they bring together two people into one fresh adventure.

Ideas for “Something New” could be:

• The wedding rings you’ll be wearing
• Bow Ties
• Cufflinks
• New perfume
• Accessories for your shoes and/or hair

Something Borrowed 

The idea behind this item is to carry with you something from a friend or relative in a successful relationship you admire. This could be just about anything, and it is meant to help you channel the positive vibes from their relationship into yours.

Ideas for “Something Borrowed”:

• Wedding dress, veil or tie from a parent or grandparent
• Heirloom accessories such as a necklace, earrings, hair comb, or tiara
• Perfume or cologne
• First dance song from your parents or grandparents
• A purse or clutch
• The recipe for the cake
• Borrow a fancy car for your big departure

Something Blue

This item is an offshoot of the expression “true blue.” It’s meant to signify a love that is pure and faithful. Many times, blue is found on the garter, but this is another part of the tradition that can be just about anything you’d like

Ideas for “Something Blue”:

• Sapphire jewels
• Blue flowers
• Blue ribbons
• Blue fingernails
• Blue thread as a monogram
• Blue as your signature wedding color
• Blue handkerchief

A Sixpence in Her Shoe

If you want to complete the rhyme, you go all the way to “sixpence in her shoe.” Of course, finding a sixpence might take some work (plenty of folks sell them online), so if you want to substitute a lucky penny, that works, too. The idea behind the lucky sixpence is to bring prosperity to the new couple. This could be a coin with a special year on it, a silver coin, or a lucky penny.

Get creative and have fun. It’s a tradition that has lived on for over 150 years and is a piece of most every wedding.