Something old. Something new.
Something borrowed. Something blue.
...and a sixpence in her shoe.

This traditional poem dates back to Queen Victoria (who also started the white wedding dress tradition), and it provides an easy-to-remember checklist of things the bride should be wearing to ensure good luck on her wedding day. In the past a bride might wear a diamond or precious gem necklace borrowed from her mother, or pearl earrings borrowed from her sister. Something old could be a vintage hairpin, or a ribbon wrapped around the bridal bouquet stems made from lace acquired from the wedding dress of the bride’s mother. Something new was easy – the dress, the shoes, the rings. And tradition has the bride’s father placing a sixpence (or a dime in the U.S.) in the bride’s shoe just before walking down the aisle. In 2012, it’s easy and fun to find new ways to incorporate all the “somethings” into your bridal ensemble creatively. Let’s go backwards and start with “something blue.” Unless blue is a part of your wedding color theme, in which case you will probably already have this one covered, why not bring the blue out from hiding under your dress?  Many a bride has worn a blue garter to satisfy two birds, if you will - the  obligatory garter for the groom toss, and the perfect vehicle for her "something blue." Why not bring that blue into daylight and incorporate it into your wedding jewelry with a sapphire necklace or topaz earrings?  Blue has been associated with weddings for centuries; ancient Roman brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Purity is also associated with the color blue. In Christianity , the Virgin Mary has always been depicted wearing blue, and until the late 19^th century, blue was the most traditional color for wedding dresses until Queen Victoria shook things up by wearing a white wedding gown, starting a tradition that remains intact today. Your “something borrowed” can be anything – your best friend’s elegant white gloves that work well with the style of your gown, or a veil or headpiece for that matter. How about your cousin’s beautiful cocktail ring that might be just the unexpected touch you’d love for your wedding day ensemble. You can always incorporate your “something old” into any aspect of your wedding day wardrobe; a family heirloom brooch, or something inexpensive and sentimental – a handkerchief made of fabric taken from your mother or grandmother’s wedding gown for instance, and worked into your veil or headpiece. We know a bride who had the lace-covered buttons from her mother’s wedding gown dyed to match her own gown and then sewn on to her new gown to replace its buttons. Luckily the buttons’ size and style worked perfectly with the new bridal gown, and the results were wonderful. Bridal traditions, including the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"  mantra are passed on through the generations for a few reasons: they are something brides can do with their mothers, aunts, sisters and grandmothers, providing a very personal and touching that's "just between the girls." It offers multiple generations the chance to share small, meaningful bits and pieces of their lives and memories with the bride, which makes each ritual special.  By borrowing a beautiful piece of diamond or gemstone jewelry on your wedding day,  you're holding it's owner close to your heart as you begin on e of the most important journeys of your life. And, the rituals involved in maintaining these bridal traditions provide for an intimate exchange between the bride and the women closest to her as they all prepare for a new phase in life. These are traditions you can have fun with too - like  wearing white bridal heels with powder blue soles, or a  beautiful  vintage lace garter with beaded embellishments. Keep your wedding attire all-white if you choose, but add something unexpected like a pale blue satin slip that peeks out from under the hem when you sit down. Or wear one dramatic piece of jewelry, such as a sapphire and diamond necklace or earrings. Make your bridal ensemble all your own with  the right jewelry and accessories, and you will never regret your decision to have your wedding reflect who you are. Enjoy the bridal traditions and the symbolism behind each one.  It's a lovely opportunity for a bride to honor and reflect on her family, her friends, and the way they've helped shape her life; at the same time,  she's looking forward to her new life with a husband and the family they will create together.