Why Do Brides Wear Something Blue (Why It’s Tradition & Meaning)?

When it comes to weddings, there are plenty of little traditions, symbols, and details to choose from, that can make your day that extra special and that extra full of meaning. At the end of the day, you need to do whatever feels right for you, and you shouldn’t be scared of making up your very own traditions! After all, it’s your wedding, do it your way! 

However, there are some traditions that are so beautiful and ingrained within our culture that they almost feel sacred, like you need them in order to have a good wedding. One of these things, that some brides religiously adhere to, is wearing something blue. 

Have you ever heard of that old rhyme that goes “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”? Well, that’s where the tradition of wearing something blue comes from, and why some brides make it a priority to include that little detail in their ensemble. 

But what exactly does wearing something blue mean? And where exactly does this tradition come from? We can tell you all about it, so let’s get right into it! 

Origin Of The Tradition Of Wearing Something Blue

The origin of the tradition of the bride wearing something blue on her wedding day comes from an Old English rhyme, which first originated back in the 19th century, in Lancashire. The rhyme describes what a bride should have on her during her wedding day, in order for the wedding to be blessed with luck. 

Here is the rhyme:

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.” 

Some brides take this rhyme to heart and join in on the old tradition, making sure they have one item or piece of clothing of each on their wedding day. The sixpence in the shoe is mostly ignored nowadays, as it can get uncomfortable, but something old, new, borrowed, and blue, mostly lives on! 

Meaning Of The Bride Wearing Something Blue

Within the rhyme that makes wearing something blue a wedding tradition, each described item has an important meaning and symbolizes something that will bring the bride luck on her wedding day, and throughout her entire marriage for the rest of her life. We could go over each one, and extensively explain the meaning of each, but in this article, we’re focusing on the blue. 

So what is the meaning of a bride wearing something blue? 

Essentially, a bride should wear something blue on her wedding day to symbolize love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. Blue is the color used to represent all of these, and it implies a deep love dressed in mutual respect, loyalty, and a sense of sacredness that makes the ceremony significant. 

So while the dress of the bride is traditionally white, the little blue added detail (in the place and manner of the bride’s choosing) will be a small reminder of the true purpose of the ceremony, which is to join the couple together forever, in a bond of love and faithfulness to one another. 

The Symbolism Of Blue In Marriage And Love

Okay, so the bride wears something blue in order to symbolize love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. But why specifically blue? As in, why does blue represent these concepts in particular? 

Blue isn’t chosen to represent love and faithfulness in weddings at random. Colors all have different meanings and symbols within different cultures, most of them being consistent throughout many different parts of the world.

Before the rhyme, and before the tradition of brides wearing blue, this color was already a symbol for the things it represents within the wedding ceremony. 

In most cultures, blue represents depth, true love, loyalty, faith, and unity. It is a color that, throughout history, has been used to symbolize wisdom and stability, modesty and trust. It is also a color highly associated with significant roles within society, such as figures of authority, royalty, and similar. 

In fact, most religious female figures, such as the Virgin Mary, are often depicted wearing blue, as it is a symbol of purity and faith.

Most royals, throughout history, have also been associated with this color, as a symbol of wisdom, authority, and importance. Even if you look around nowadays, official military or cop uniforms tend to have blue in them! 

But most importantly, blue has always been a symbol of deep connection, trust, and loyalty, which are traits very much needed within a marriage! 

Ideas For Wearing Something Blue To Your Wedding

Now that you know the tradition and meaning of why brides wear something blue on their wedding day, you might decide that you too want to adhere to this old rhyme’s tradition of good luck, by wearing something new, something old, something borrowed, and most importantly: something blue. 

But with the wedding dress being white, and everything pretty matching that, how can you incorporate something blue into your wedding outfit, so that it doesn’t stand out too much?

There are plenty of ways in which you can go about it, and some people get very creative with how they wear something blue without it even being noticeable. At the end of the day, you should wear blue in whichever way you want. 

But just in case you need some help coming up with something, here are some great ideas for wearing something blue for your wedding:

  • Wear blue jewelry 
  • A blue accessory (maybe a ribbon in your hair)
  • Have blue sparkles or a blue underlayer in your wedding dress. Some people even make the zip of the dress on the back blue, which is not noticeable at all! 
  • Blue underwear, super simple to conceal and hide!
  • The sole of your wedding shoes, maybe completely blue or simply have something written on them in blue! 
  • Make the flowers in your wedding bouquet blue, and maybe keep one as a beautiful memory of the day!
  • Sew a patch of blue into one of the folds of your wedding dress. If you want it hidden, it can be on the inside!