Something Old, Something New, Borrowed, Blue: Meaning and Ideas
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Quick answer
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is an English good-luck rhyme for a bride: old for continuity, new for hope, borrowed for happiness lent by a happily married relative, blue for fidelity. The full rhyme adds a silver sixpence in her shoe. It is optional at a Philippine wedding.
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" is a short English rhyme about four small good-luck objects a bride wears or carries. This guide covers what each item is said to mean, where the rhyme first appears in print (the sources disagree on some dates), which of the 20 ideas below fit a Philippine wedding, who can supply each item, a groom's version, and when to gather everything. None of the sources we read call it a Filipino custom, so every Philippine idea here is our suggestion, not a tradition you owe anyone.
The rhyme and what each line means
Phrases.org.uk gives the full version as "Something old, something new, / Something borrowed, something blue, / And a silver sixpence in her shoe." Three sources explain the symbolism in slightly different words, so the table keeps them side by side.
| Line | V&A museum | Wikipedia | Dartmouth folklore archive (one interview) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Something old | Keeps a link to the bride's past and her family | Protection for the baby to come | Continuity in one's life |
| Something new | Often the dress, marking the new union | Optimism for the future | A positive outlook on the future |
| Something borrowed | Lent by a happily married female relative, to borrow her marital happiness | Lent by a happily married couple, for good luck | Borrowing happiness from a loved one |
| Something blue | Loyalty and faithfulness | Purity and fidelity | Fidelity and love |
| Sixpence | Not covered | Prosperity, or a ward against frustrated suitors | Named in the rhyme only |
Sources: V&A, Wikipedia, Dartmouth Folklore Archive. The V&A adds that the origins of the rhyme are uncertain.
Where it first appeared in print
Phrases.org.uk and Wikipedia agree on 1871 but give different dates for the full rhyme. Both are reproduced here rather than choosing one.
| Year | Reference | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1866 | William Henderson's folklore of northern England: the bride should wear something borrowed | Phrases.org.uk |
| 1871 | St James' Magazine story: "something new, something borrowed, something blue" | Phrases.org.uk, Wikipedia |
| 1871 | A Missouri newspaper: a bride should wear an article borrowed from a friend | Phrases.org.uk |
| 1873 | Lancaster Intelligencer, Pennsylvania: first full current version it knows of | Phrases.org.uk |
| 1876 | A newspaper: the first complete "Lancashire version" | Wikipedia |
| 1894 | Recorded in Ireland, attributed to County Monaghan | Wikipedia |
| 1905 | Emily Post's novel prints the full rhyme; Wikipedia says it had crossed to the US by then | Wikipedia |
Phrases.org.uk also notes the claim that the rhyme started in Lancashire may be a mix-up between English and American places of that name.
Ideas for each item, with Philippine-friendly options
Rows marked "Ours" are our own suggestions for a Philippine wedding. The rest come from Shutterfly and Dimitra Designs.
| Item | Idea | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Old | A vintage brooch or earrings | Shutterfly |
| Old | Lace handkerchief or fabric from a relative's wedding dress | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| Old | An old family wedding photo tucked into the bouquet | Dimitra |
| Old | A pearl pin from a grandmother's terno, worn on the bodice | Ours |
| Old | A family rosary wrapped around the bouquet stems | Ours |
| New | The wedding dress, veil or jewelry | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| New | Custom-made or new shoes | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| New | A new perfume first worn on the day | Shutterfly |
| New | A new handkerchief | Dimitra |
| New | A fresh sampaguita garland made the morning of the wedding | Ours |
| Borrowed | A veil or hair accessory from a recently married friend | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| Borrowed | A bracelet, necklace or small handbag | Shutterfly |
| Borrowed | A ribbon for the bouquet | Dimitra |
| Borrowed | A prayer book or charm | Dimitra |
| Borrowed | A hand fan from a happily married aunt | Ours |
| Blue | A blue garter, blue shoes or shoes with blue soles | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| Blue | A blue ribbon on the bouquet or blue nail polish | Shutterfly, Dimitra |
| Blue | Sapphire jewelry | Dimitra |
| Blue | Embroidered initials inside the gown | Dimitra |
| Blue | Blue thread embroidered inside the hem of a Filipiniana gown | Ours |
One item can do two jobs. Dimitra Designs points out that an heirloom piece with blue stones covers old and blue at once.
Who supplies each item
The V&A says the borrowed item traditionally came from a happily married female relative, and that the old item often links to the bride's maternal figures. Beyond that, the sources do not assign givers, so the rest of this table is our suggestion. For how the roles work, see Best Man, Maid of Honor and Entourage Duties.
| Item | Possible supplier | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Old | Mother, grandmother or another family elder | V&A on maternal links; the rest ours |
| New | The bride herself, or a gift from the groom | Ours |
| Borrowed | A happily married aunt, relative or family friend | V&A |
| Borrowed | A married Principal Sponsor | Ours |
| Blue | The Maid of Honor or a Bridesmaid | Ours |
Ask well ahead and agree who returns the borrowed item, and when. A quick message the week after the wedding is enough.
The sixpence, and what to use instead
Phrases.org.uk calls the sixpence line a late Victorian addition and says the coin was in use in the UK between the 17th and 20th centuries. Wikipedia adds that it is a British silver coin traditionally worn in the left shoe. Shutterfly says it is not used much today, and Dimitra Designs suggests tucking a coin into the shoe or bouquet. Because the coin is British, a coin that matters to your family, such as one from a grandparent, is our suggested stand-in.
A groom's version and modern twists
The idea of the groom joining in is old. The 1871 Missouri newspaper quoted by Phrases.org.uk said it might be good for the groom to wear something borrowed too. Dimitra Designs suggests a blue lining in the suit jacket. The rest of this table is our suggestion.
| Item | Groom idea | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Old | His father's cufflinks or watch | Ours |
| New | A new barong or shoes | Ours |
| Borrowed | A pocket square or tie pin from a married friend | Ours |
| Blue | A blue lining in the jacket | Dimitra |
| Blue | Blue thread stitched inside the barong hem | Ours |
Modern twists from Shutterfly include a locket, a memory quilt and a charm bracelet. Combining all four into one piece is another route, such as an old brooch tied with a new blue ribbon.
When to gather everything
This schedule is our suggestion, not a custom. Two of the tasks fit the final weeks in Last Month Wedding Checklist Philippines.
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 3 months out | Pick the old and borrowed items and ask the lenders |
| 2 months out | Buy or order the new item and the blue detail |
| 1 month out | Confirm the borrowed item fits your outfit |
| 1 week out | Pack all four, plus a spare blue ribbon, in your wedding survival kit |
| Wedding day | Hand the bag to your Maid of Honor |
| After | Return the borrowed item with a thank-you |
If you are planning the lead-up events as well, bridal shower ideas is a natural place to hand over the old and borrowed items.
The rhyme is a keepsake, not a rule. Choose items that mean something to your family, check each lender is happy to part with theirs for the day, and drop any line that does not fit your wedding.
Frequently asked questions
What does something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue mean?
The V&A says each item blesses the bride differently. Old keeps a link to her past, new marks the start of married life, borrowed lends her a happily married woman's happiness, and blue stands for loyalty and faithfulness.
What is the full rhyme?
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe. Phrases.org.uk calls the sixpence line a late Victorian addition.
Where does something old something new something borrowed something blue come from?
Phrases.org.uk says the superstition originated in England and quotes William Henderson's 1866 note that the bride should wear something borrowed. It dates the earliest near-current wording to St James' Magazine in 1871. Sources disagree on some later dates.
Can a groom do something old, new, borrowed and blue too?
Yes. A US newspaper in 1871, quoted by Phrases.org.uk, suggested the groom wear something borrowed as well. Dimitra Designs suggests a blue lining in the suit jacket. Other groom ideas on this page are our suggestions.
Do you need a silver sixpence?
No. A sixpence is a British coin that Phrases.org.uk says was in use between the 17th and 20th centuries. Shutterfly says it is not used much today. A coin that matters to your family is our suggested stand-in.
Is something old, something new a Filipino wedding custom?
None of the sources we read describe it as a Filipino custom. They describe it as English and American. Couples in the Philippines can still use it as an optional keepsake tradition.