Something Old, Something New

We all know the saying: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Some brides will go the the Nth degree to make sure they cover all of the above, but do they really know the meaning behind it? Something old is supposed to represent the bride’s past and family. Something new, the future of the couple, full of hope and joy. The item borrowed should be from a happily married woman, and the something blue ties into the rich history of weddings and the meanings behind colors. Lastly, the silver sixpence is for good luck in wealth (though it sounds rather uncomfortable to me).

While we could go into the details more specifically, this post is less for the history and traditions and more for the “today” and the way brides (and grooms) are tying in this little saying into their big days.

Some WeddingFanatic favorites:

Something Old: Classic or vintage car (a Roles Royce gets two thumbs up from me!)
Something New: A new fragrance for the big day, or a custom scent made just for the bride
Something Borrowed: A special piece of jewelry from Grandma or Mom (extra points if it’s from an in-law)
Something Blue: Tiny blue bow sewn into the inside of your dress (blue shoes are a close second), or funky blue socks on the groom (and/or his groomsmen).

Here is a great article from The Knot with some fabulous ideas for all of those “somethings”. Check it out!

What are your favorite ideas?

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More from “Just for the Bride”

Here are a few more traditions and lore from “Just for the Bride”, a book I posted on not too long ago.

Showing ones affections through poems and serenades wasn’t just in Shakespeare’s day. Guys in Spain, Brazil, and the Philippines still take this tradition seriously. They will compose verses for their loved ones and often invite groups of their friends to join them in making music while singing and dancing, often all night!

During colonial times, English and Dutch emigrants from rural areas introduced a custom of couples courting each other in bed! This practice, called “Bundling” was supposed to cut down on heating costs. Couples trying to get to know each other could do so, fully or partially dressed, while in bed. A “bundling board” was placed in the bed to keep the couple separated, but this practice did lead to a few pregnant brides!

From Using Books

We get the term “spooning” from a Welsh custom, but it meant something else back in the day. When a man wanted to woo his beloved, he would carve an elaborate wooden spoon. If she wanted to return his feelings, she would attach the spoon to a ribbon and wear it around her neck as a sign of the engagement. (Side note: I like the ring idea a bit better!)

From Steven Fletcher

In rural Poland, if a man was interested in a woman, he would visit her and ask her about purchasing a horse. During their conversation, if he revealed a bottle of vodka wrapped in red ribbons and flowers, she’d know the real reason he was there! Instead of asking for her hand in marriage, he would ask for a glass. If she felt she was ready to be his wife, she’d return with glasses and her family to celebrate their engagement.

From Arena Flowers

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Wedding Dresses : Retro to Modern

Vintage. Classic. Timeless. There is just something about [some] “old stuff” that I find irresistible. This especially holds true in the world and history of weddings. I saw a post over at Peonies and Polaroids about retro swim wear (which I really wish could come completely back into fashion) which has inspired this post. I hope you like it.

The retro “Princess Bride”:

*From Millie Motts

The modern dress:

*From Michelle Roth

The retro “Full Skirt & Bolero Jacket”:

*From Millie Motts

The modern dress (minus the jacket):

*From Vera Wang

The retro “Dress with Sleeves”:

*From Millie Motts

The modern dress:

*From Badgley Mischka

The retro “Glam Dress”:

*From VAM.ac.uk

The modern dress:

*From Hannah Hartnell

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Finding “The One” : Superstitions of the Past

Hello! I got a little book over the weekend with some fun little tidbits in it that I simply must share with you! (The book, “Just for the Bride”, is published by Parragon Publishing.) This first post is, as the title states, about some superstitions young ladies of the day believed would help lead them to their future husbands. Read on to see what you might have been told if you were searching for Mr. Right.

“On Christmas Eve, stand before the fireplace and gaze into the flames to see the image of your future husband.”

“If you love a man and want to know if he will propose, throw a nut into the fire and say his name. If the nut jumps, you’ll marry. If the nut doesn’t move, the relationship will have no spark.”

“You can learn the temperament of your future husband by plucking a piece of hay from a hayloft at midnight. A crooked piece foretells a surly man; a straight piece signifies a good-natured man.”

“In case you are lucky enough to be a bridesmaid, plant a spring of myrtle in front of the newlywed’s home. If it takes root, you’ll marry within the year.”

“Peel an apple in a single strip and toss the peal over your left shoulder. The shape of the peel will reveal the first letter of the name of your spouse to be.”

“Pluck some wild daisies from a nearby field and put the roots under your pillow to dream of your groom.”

“On All Hallows Eve, brush your hair three times in front of the mirror. If you glimpse a man standing behind you, wedding bells will ring before the year is through.” (I don’t know about you, but I find this one rather creepy)

“When attending a wedding, be sure to take a piece of groom’s cake home and put it under your pillow. That night the face of your future husband will appear in your dreams.”

Note: Traditionally, groom’s cakes were fruitcakes…thanks goodness times have changed!

If the groom’s cake bit doesn’t work, “soak your shoelaces in water until they are saturated. Then throw them against the wall to see the initials of your soon to be betrothed.”

Hope you enjoyed! I think these types of things are always fun. And, it’s always fabulous to see where some of the things we still do today came from. Share with us any traditions or superstitions you’ve heard of or your family still participates in!

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The Horror!

Check out these horribly hideous bridesmaids dresses we found on People Magazine’s website.

Prepare yourself.

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Something Old: “Parachute Wedding Dress at Smithsonian”

Talk about “Something old”! Check out this dress that was created from a World War II parachute. The dress is quite unique, but the story behind it is even better. Thanks for the awesome find, BridesClub.com!

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Diamonds are a Bride’s Best Friend

I don’t think anyone knows the exact time and place that the engagement ring came about, but they have been in the works for a long time. In ancient Rome, brides often wore rings of iron. They called them betrothal (truth) rings The earliest surviving records suggest that Archduke Maximilion of Hamburg may have started the tradition of diamond engagement rings in 1477 upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy. The meanings, symbolism, and styles have changed time and time again, but married people today still wear them, just like those thousands of years ago.

In the 18th century, diamonds became more popular when a supply was discovered in Brazil. Diamond cluster rings were popular amongst the wealthy. The 19th century brought the discovery of the Kimberley diamond region in South Africa in 1870 and within 10 years, DeBeers Consolidated Mines Ltd was formed. Today, DeBeers still controls 65% of the world’s diamond trade.

Ever heard “A Diamond is Forever”? DeBeers created the advertising campaign in 1947 and diamonds have been the standard ever since. According to the site diamondwholesalecorporation.com, DeBeers unofficially educated jewelers to instruct men that the amount of money they should be paying for their beloved’s engagement ring should be equivalent to two or three months of personal wages.

While much of the tradition is still there, times have changed. Today, engagement rings can be whatever you want them to be; diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, or no gems at all. Whatever suits your lifestyle, personality, and budget is the perfect engagement ring for you.

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