Question:
something old, new, borrowed and blue?
2007-08-10 10:06:41 UTC
I was asked to be the matron of honor for my sons wedding. My friend told I have to pick out something old, new, borrowed and blue. Is this true?and if so any ideas cause I'm clueless... help...
Nineteen answers:
Pook
2007-08-10 10:16:27 UTC
Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

And a silver sixpence in her shoe.



A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.



Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.



As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."



And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings
Riviera_
2007-08-10 10:30:07 UTC
I have never heard that the matron of honor was responsible for these items. I would suggest you ask your future daughter in law if she has these items chosen already. If not, offer to give her one of them. But I certainly wouldn't just hand over the items, because if she has hers picked out already, she will feel obligated to use yours to prevent hurt feelings and this will cause her to be stressed. She doesn't need anymore added stress.

Congratulations on being asked to be matron of honor at your sons wedding! That says a lot about how your son and your future daughter in law feel about you! That's awesome!



SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE.....



This is a good luck saying which dates back to the Victorian era and many brides will try and ensure that they have something of each in their wedding outfit.



Something Old is meant to represent the link with the bride's own family and the past particularly mother or grandmother or even most distant relations. Something old is symbolic of continuity. To symbolise this link brides may choose to wear a piece of antique family jewellery which belonged to the relative. Alternatatively they may select something from the mother's or grandmother's wedding gown. Other things that may be chosen include a handkerchief, a scarf or a piece of lace.



Something New represents good luck and success and the brides hopes for a bright future in her new married life. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item but it could be anything that is purchased new for the wedding such as the wedding flowers or the wedding rings. Wearing a new item on your wedding day conveys the message that you and your husband are creating a new union that will endure forever.



Something Borrowed is to represent to the bride that friends and family will be there for her on the special day and in the future when help is needed. "Borrowing" is especially important, since it has to come from a happily married woman, thereby lending the bride some of her own marital happiness to carry into the new marriage. Anything can be borrowed but it must be returned afterwards. Another way to incorporate a borrowed item into your wedding day attire is to borrow a friend’s piece of jewelery. If you have a close friend who has worn the same necklace for as long as you have known her, you might consider borrowing this particular necklace for your wedding day as a reminder of your friendship. Perhaps she wore the necklace on her own wedding day.



Something Blue in ancient times is the symbol of faithfulness, purity and loyalty. Often a blue item is the garter and in olden times the couple wore blue bands on the border of their wedding attire to denote, love, modesty and fidelity. Another way to wear something blue is to include a tiny baby blue flower in your veil (nearly invisible to others but the bride knows it's there) or put one small blue flower in her bouquet. A sapphire ring worn on her right hand is another idea or even a dainty hanky with blue embroidery on it.



Brides have been honoring the tradition of wearing an old, a new, a borrowed and a blue item during their wedding for centuries. Although wearing these items is supposed to symbolise good luck for the bride, they are also just a fun tradition that gives the bride an opportunity to express her admiration for a few special people in her life on her special day.
Sandy_cruzir
2007-08-10 10:24:32 UTC
You did say you were asked to be the matron of honor for your sons wedding. To start that alone is strange, right out of the movie "Monster In-law". Secondly, the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is for the brides ensamble. You may help her acquire one or two of these, by loaning her a piece of jewlry, a handkerchief or a penny for her shoe. But, it is not your job to provide all of them.
A & F chic
2007-08-10 10:14:47 UTC
That's a pretty popular tradition! I'm surprised you've never heard of it!

The Bride is supposed to have each of those things the day she gets married. "Something old" can be a pendent/broach that belongs to someone in her family. A lot of girls find a way to use that in their hair - looks beautiful!

Usually the "something new" is the wedding dress.



As for "something borrowed" you can lend her a necklace or pair of earrings or something, to wear for the day.



"Something blue" can be the garter she wears under her dress (that your son will throw to all the elligible bachelors).

*This is all assuming you're having a traditional wedding*.



Good luck and have fun :-)
Suz123
2007-08-10 19:45:28 UTC
For old . . . I wore earrings I already owned.

For new . . . the new wedding gown.

Borrowed . . . I borrowed and wore a brooch that had belonged to the groom's paternal grandmother.

Blue . . . the garter.



And I did all this myself. Did not ask my MOH to do it. So you may want to check with the bride. While she may wish to borrow something, she probably already has the rest of it.
♥ Army Wife ♥
2007-08-10 10:10:22 UTC
I just got married and half of that I didn't have at all but if you want to go traditional , then something blue can be the garter belt find one with blue in it , something new can be her wedding dress , something borrowed lend her some earrings or something and something old her shoes , bra or something.
2007-08-10 10:14:33 UTC
The Bride-to-be is the one who is supposed to wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.



Some ideas...

Old-Jewelry passed down from the family (Granny's pearl earrings), or mother's Wedding Dress.



New-Jewelry from the mom and dad, in-laws, groom, etc... OR handkerchief.



Borrowed-Jewelry, Tossing Garter, Tiara, etc...



Blue-Can easily be added to garter, or handkerchief, OR bride's bouquet. I even knew one bride who tied a blue ribbon to her bouquet at the last minute...
x x
2007-08-10 10:31:44 UTC
This is for the bride, ideas garter belt in blue, lend the bride pearls (old and borrowed) new dress.
Brutally Honest
2007-08-10 11:59:10 UTC
No. That's an old poem that applies to the bride, not the attendants. However, it might be something that's borrowed from the attendants or it might be a gift from the attendants.
RedSoxRock!!!
2007-08-10 10:20:11 UTC
old wives tale! At my sisters i gave her my granfathers watch to tie on! I I gave her a garter with a blue heart and then my necklace witch i never took off was her borrowed! Her something new was her dress that my dad paid for!
tylremily
2007-08-10 10:12:11 UTC
I don't think you have to provide these things however I'm not sure as for my wedding my borrowed was my Grandmother's pearls, my blue was my garter, my new was everything I was wearing already (dress, slip, shoes, etc.) and I think my old was my earrings or bracelet...
Jeanette
2007-08-10 11:54:34 UTC
yes this is true... the matron of honor has alot of responsibilities... something new could be beautiful clips/pins for her to wear in her hair, something borrowed could be a special keepsake that holds meaning to you that you can loan to her, something blue... a garder!! have fun!!
2007-08-10 11:40:47 UTC
each person gives her something not just you , or even her mom to wear for that day. blue is the garter, old can be a piece of jewerly and maybe something for the hair too. ask the others in the party to help with that also a lucky peeny in her shoe for her to wear. have fun
ekj6585
2007-08-10 10:09:22 UTC
It's an old wives tale but that's one of your jobs in the wedding
2007-08-10 10:23:55 UTC
It's a tradition for the bride to have these things, but it doesn't have to be followed unless the bride wants to.
fizzy stuff
2007-08-10 10:12:10 UTC
You dont have to do this. The bride should come up with the 4 items herself, as she is putting her ensemble together.
2007-08-10 10:11:05 UTC
its a superstion or some old wives tale that has carried on in tradition.

Just do it and have fun.

it does not have to be anything serious.

When i was married, they got her blue panties, new g string, borrowed necklace and old wine.
davidslilprincess
2007-08-10 22:17:07 UTC
thats for the bride !! its an old tradition for the bride to do. Thats nothign for u to worry about.
Awesome Rockin Mom
2007-08-10 10:09:01 UTC
thats for the bride!

id doesnt apply to bridesmaids.


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