Everyone knows the rhyme. It’s basically the unofficial dress code for every Western wedding since the mid-19th century. You've seen the photos: a vintage lace handkerchief tucked into a bouquet or a flash of sapphire heels under a white gown. But honestly, most people actually butcher the something borrowed something blue poem by leaving out the final line.
It’s not just a cute checklist.
The original Victorian rhyme actually goes: Something old, something new, / Something borrowed, something blue, / And a sixpence in her shoe. That last part? It’s arguably the most important bit if you’re superstitious about money. Most American brides skip the sixpence because, well, we don’t use British currency and walking on a coin sounds like a recipe for a blister. But back in the day, that silver coin was the "insurance policy" for the couple's future wealth. If you've ever wondered why your wedding feels like a frantic scavenger hunt for random objects, blame the folklorists of the 1870s.
Where the Something Borrowed Something Blue Poem Actually Came From
History is messy. While people love to claim this is some ancient druidic ritual, the earliest written evidence pops up in an 1871 issue of St. James' Magazine. It wasn't a grand decree. It was just a mention of a "Lancashire custom." Folklore expert Steve Roud, in his massive work The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, notes that while the individual elements might be older, the catchy poem we recite today really solidified during the Victorian era.
The Victorians were obsessed with symbolism. Every flower, every color, and every trinket had a "hidden" meaning. They weren't just being aesthetic. They were terrified of the "Evil Eye."
Something Old: The Link to the Past
The "something old" is meant to represent continuity. Marriage is a massive, often terrifying, life shift. By carrying something old—usually a piece of family jewelry or a mother's veil—the bride maintains a connection to her heritage. It’s about not losing yourself just because you’re becoming a "Mrs."
Something New: The Hope for the Future
This is the easy one. Your dress. Your shoes. Your fresh haircut. It represents the new chapter and the optimism of starting a life with someone else. It's the "look forward" to balance out the "look back" of the something old.
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The Weird Logic of Something Borrowed and Something Blue
The "borrowed" part is where things get socially strategic. In the original something borrowed something blue poem context, you didn't just borrow a pen from the hotel clerk. You were supposed to borrow an item from a woman who was already happily married.
Why? Because happiness was seen as contagious.
If you wore the garter of a woman with a successful marriage, her "good luck" would literally rub off on you. It’s a bit like social superstitious networking. But there’s a catch: you have to return it. If the bride keeps the borrowed item, the luck is neutralized. It’s a temporary loan of domestic bliss.
Then there’s the blue.
Blue has been the "wedding color" far longer than white has. Before Queen Victoria made white dresses the standard in 1840, brides just wore their best dress, which was frequently blue. In Christianity, blue is the color associated with the Virgin Mary, symbolizing purity and fidelity.
But there’s a darker side to the blue. Folklore suggests that "something blue" was intended to confuse the Evil Eye. The color blue was thought to ward off spirits who might be jealous of the couple's happiness. Basically, it’s a spiritual smoke screen.
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That Missing Sixpence: The Part We Forgot
Let’s talk about the shoe coin. A sixpence was a British silver coin minted between 1551 and 1967.
Putting one in your left shoe (specifically the left) was a direct plea to the universe for financial stability. In the late 1800s, the "something borrowed something blue poem" wasn't complete without it. Today, because sixpences aren't exactly floating around in your couch cushions, many brides swap it for a penny or a dime.
Is it comfortable? No. Is it worth it for the "wealth" vibes? Maybe.
If you’re a purist, you can actually buy vintage silver sixpences on Etsy or eBay specifically for this purpose. Just make sure you tape it down. I’ve seen brides nearly wipe out on the aisle because a loose coin turned their shoe into a slip-and-slide.
How Modern Weddings are Breaking the Rules
People are getting creative now. The poem is no longer a rigid law; it’s a creative brief.
- Something Old: I’ve seen brides wrap a piece of their father’s old flannel shirt around the bouquet handle. It’s subtle, sentimental, and way less "dusty" than wearing a 50-year-old dress that smells like mothballs.
- Something Borrowed: Instead of jewelry, some couples are "borrowing" a reading or a poem used in their parents' ceremony.
- Something Blue: This is where the fun is. Blue embroidery on the inner lining of the dress with the wedding date. Blue toenail polish. Even blue stitching on the groom’s socks.
- The Sixpence: Some people are getting "sixpence" charms that they tie to their bouquet so they don't have to limp toward the altar.
Honestly, the something borrowed something blue poem survives because it gives us a sense of order in the chaos of wedding planning. It’s a tiny bit of structure. A scavenger hunt that feels like a rite of passage.
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Why Does This Tradition Still Exist in 2026?
It’s a fair question. We don't believe in the "Evil Eye" (mostly). We don't think a silver coin is a substitute for a high-yield savings account.
Yet, we do it.
I think it’s because weddings are one of the few times we actually lean into "magical thinking." We want to feel connected to the millions of people who walked this path before us. Following the poem is a way of saying, "I’m part of a long line of people who hoped for the best."
There is also a psychological benefit. Rituals reduce anxiety. By checking off these four (or five) boxes, a bride gets a small sense of control over a day that is notoriously unpredictable.
Practical Steps for Your "Something" Checklist
If you’re currently staring at a Pinterest board trying to figure this out, don’t overcomplicate it. You don't need to spend money on this. In fact, you shouldn't.
- Check the jewelry box. Ask your grandmother or an aunt. They usually have a "borrowed" item ready to go before you even ask. It makes them feel included, which is half the battle in wedding politics.
- Think about the "New." Don't stress about this one. Your dress, your veil, or even your underwear counts. You’ve already finished this step.
- Blue can be hidden. If blue isn't in your color palette, hide it. A blue safety pin on the underside of your slip works perfectly.
- The Shoe Coin. If you want to do the sixpence, buy it at least a month early. Don't be the person trying to find vintage British currency 48 hours before the rehearsal dinner.
- Return the borrowed item. Seriously. Don't be the bride who forgets to give back the heirloom earrings. That's how family feuds start.
The something borrowed something blue poem is a suggestion, not a summons. If you forget one, your marriage isn't doomed. But if you do follow it, you're participating in a 150-year-old conversation about luck, love, and the weird things we do to ensure a happy ending.
Focus on the "borrowed" and the "old" to honor the people who raised you. Use the "new" and "blue" to celebrate the person you're becoming. And maybe, just maybe, skip the coin if you're wearing 4-inch stilettos. Your arches will thank you.
To make this tradition truly your own, start by identifying the person in your life whose marriage you actually admire. Reach out to them this week. Ask if they have a small token—a handkerchief, a pin, or even a ribbon—that you could "borrow" for the day. This transforms a dusty old rhyme into a genuine connection with someone you love. Once you have that "borrowed" piece, the rest of the checklist usually falls into place naturally.