Will you say ‘I do’ in something blue?

Incorporating blue into your wedding attire is one of the handful of superstitions that have become an age-old tradition.

According to English folklore, a bride must have “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Each tenant holds sentimental meaning and is meant to grant good luck to the newlyweds. But why something blue?

TheKnot.com states that blue stood for love, purity, and fidelity and was thought to repel an ‘evil eye.’

Though modern trends have superseded these “antiquated” beliefs and have all but done away with the bouquet or garter toss, Breanna Lingerfelt, Grandview’s event specialist, is quite fond of tradition, and says that many brides still adhere to yesteryear customs.

So, will you be wearing blue down the aisle?

Something blue could be a sapphire necklace, a bouquet of blue hydrangeas or simply a flower in your hair. As for accessories, the color can be incorporated into the garter, a bouquet charm or even a blue pattern or message embroidered on a handkerchief. 

“Some brides will carry a blue makeup compact; others have a blue patch sewn into their dress,” Lingerfelt said. “Say your dad had a blue dress shirt that you really liked, you could have a heart cut out and sewn into the dress.”

For such a superstition, adherence is very liberal. In the modern era, where “anything goes,” you don’t need permission to personalize an ancient tradition.