Wedding ceremonies are rich in various formal and sometimes traditional symbols that can be important to married individuals and their families. Some of the most easily recognized and long-standing traditions include the rhyme that the bride must have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue as symbols of good fortune. Each of these items has its spiritual connotations, however many brides never even consider them before acquiring those goods.
Consider designing a bespoke wedding dress for a unique and perfect fit
Think about non-traditional dress colors and coordinate with your partner
Coordinate bridesmaids’ outfits to complement yours without overshadowing
Hire a professional photographer for quality wedding photos
Ensure your wedding dress fits perfectly, especially if choosing ready-to-wear
Keep your dress a surprise from your partner until the wedding day
Enlist help for putting on your dress to avoid any issues
Your wedding is a day you will never forget. Because of its importance, you must do everything you can to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible and is memorable for the right reasons. You also need to look your best. The better you look in wedding pictures, the happier you will share them with others later in life, i.e., your grandchildren. Your wedding dress needs to be perfect. This post will offer seven tips that you can use to ensure that yours is.
With 86% of brides wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, it could be fun to see a variety of ways brides fulfill this wedding tradition. One of the most common ways to incorporate old, new, borrowed, and blue items into the mix is to wear jewelry that fits those descriptions. However, many brides have found creative ways to embrace the old, new, borrowed, and blue.
The wedding tradition started with a nineteenth-century British rhyme that described what a bride should wear for good luck. The rhyme includes a sixpence in the shoe. A sixpence was kept in the bride’s left shoe. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” has been included in weddings occurring on television shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Friends.
Old
Although antique jewelry can be a beautiful way to wear something old, you might want to consider the ingenious ways some brides have included the old in their wedding day garb. One bride added pearl beads from on old dress. If you want to honor a deceased friend or family member with something old, you could use a locket with an old photograph of the loved one. A locket can dangle from the bouquet or be worn on a necklace.
New
Having a new item is probably the easiest part of the rhyme to accomplish. The wedding dress is often considered the new item for a bride. The bouquet typically could be considered the new item as well.
Borrowed
Some families have a tradition of borrowing veils from past brides in the family. Sisters, mothers, even grandmothers may be willing to share their veils with a new bride. Other creative options are to add a charm or cufflink from a family member to the wedding bouquet, borrow a purse or hair comb, or wrap a family member’s handkerchief around the bottom of the bouquet.
Blue
Before the Victorian era, blue was a popular color for wedding dresses. Blue signified constancy, faithfulness, and was considered good luck. There is an old rhyme about wearing blue: ” Marry in blue, always be true.” Though a blue wedding dress is not a popular way to wear something blue, some brides add blue ribbon to their gowns. A blue temporary tattoo is an unconventional way a bride can wear blue.
If blue doesn’t exactly blend with your wedding colors, you may want a hidden blue item such as a blue stitched monogram inside the dress. One fun option for women with floor-length dresses with full skirts is to wear blue shoes. One bride wore bold, blue sneakers hidden under her gown. Blue on the bride’s lingerie is another hidden option.
These are just some of the numerous ways brides can carry the old, new, borrowed, and blue items on their day. As with any wedding traditions, you choose whether you want to follow it and how you want to include it in your wedding. Choosing something personal can make this a special part of preparing for the wedding. For more tips on making the wedding truly special, visit the Best for Bride blog for helpful articles.
Wedding traditions can give the wedding a sense of timeless charm. Some wedding traditions show little sentiment. They simply look dated and cheap. After months of careful wedding planning to make sure everything is chic and stylish for your perfect day, don’t destroy it all by adding tasteless traditions. Avoid these six wedding trends and traditions that do more harm than good.
something blue
Asking for Money
It’s hard to imagine a situation where asking for money isn’t tacky. Maybe it’s acceptable when dressed in a Santa suit and raising money for charity outside the mall. However, it definitely doesn’t belong on a wedding invitation. The money dance is another tacky, panhandling trend that has faded.
Announcing the Wedding Party at the Reception
This isn’t necessarily tacky, though sometimes it is done in an annoying way such as a choreographed dance entrance. Usually, the announcement of the bridal party by name is just a waste of time. If the guests don’t know every single member of the wedding party, then chances are they won’t find the announcement of their name to be enlightening. As wedding guests, maybe we are supposed to care, but do we?
Garter Belt Removal
Sometimes awkward and always tacky, the garter belt removal has been part of the wedding reception traditions for many years. The new husband would remove his bride’s garter belt and toss it into the crowd. Wedding planners see this trend is disappearing. Less than a quarter of newlywed couples are participating in garter belt traditions during their receptions.
Chocolate Fountains
Once upon a time, people became fascinated with the cascading cocoa of a chocolate fountain. While these are still featured in some buffet restaurants, they are hardly suitable for a grand affair like a wedding reception. They are gaudy and messy.
Partial Invites
Under pressure of looming wedding costs, some engaged couples try to save money by only inviting certain people to the wedding reception meal. They invite numerous people to the wedding and the dancing portion of the reception but not the meal. The meal is reserved for a select group. Separating guests and basically declaring that some guests don’t matter much is in bad form.
Serving Premium and Cheap Meals According to Importance
Another way newlywed couples are playing favorites with their guest list is by serving costly meals to some guests and cheap alternatives to others. This is not a case of guests getting a choice of meals. In order to save money, the couple assigns a cheaper meal to some of the guests. Sitting at some tables, you may have some guests being served steak while others receive chicken or beef tips. This is hurtful, tacky, and causes family conflicts. When you don’t treat guests equally, you are inviting drama. It would be better to serve an affordable meal to everyone or trim the guest list.
Traditions have their place. They should uplift and reflect the values of the couple. Including the best wedding traditions can enhance your special day.
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