No matter what kind of wedding you plan, no matter what the season or setting, some time-honored wedding traditions hold fast. Wedding planner Jennifer Palmer insists, "Among all the old traditions, none is more important than ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue’. In its way, the tradition provides for bonding the bride and groom with their new families. In my experience, though, it most of all brings good luck."

Something old

In the best of all traditions, the bride will wear an heirloom wedding dress passed-down through the family over several generations. In keeping with fashion, the bride may elect to have the old dress brought up to date—with the understanding that she will keep its basics intact and will save it for her own daughters. If not the dress, the veil—easier to save and preserve, and easier to update with

Current fashion trends

Strict keepers of tradition very strongly recommend that you seize this opportunity to pass-on a piece of family heirloom jewelry. A first grand-daughter, for example, may receive her grandmother’s wedding ring, or she may inherit her grandmother’s perfectly matched string of pearls. Similarly, a new husband may pass-on a piece of his family’s cherished heritage—a ring, bracelet, or necklace given and worn especially for this occasion.

Something new

Thoughtful fathers seize this occasion to round-out the bride’s accessories with brand new jewelry. Wise fathers choose and give jewelry which can claim a place among the family’s heirlooms, selecting bracelets or necklaces inlaid with their daughters’ birthstones and accented with diamonds. Especially thoughtful fathers will pay special attention to keepsake collections at Tiffany and Company.

Something borrowed

According to Jennifer Palmer, the bride deliberately should forget some little essential and the Maid of Honor should supply it at the very last minute. Admitting that the tradition may require a little contrivance, Palmer nevertheless points out, "Every bride cries, and most brides cry bucketsful. A well-prepared Maid of Honor will let the bride ‘borrow’ a fine lace handkerchief…or two, or three." Palmer also points out that some wedding planners will make provisions for the "borrowed" by asking for a last minute safety pin or a few bobby-pins to secure the veil. "The object is not as important as the observance," Palmer emphasizes.

Something blue

"Depending on the bride’s color scheme for the entire ceremony and reception this item in the tradition may emerge as by far the easiest or it may become nearly impossible," says Jennifer Palmer. If blue is part of the overall color scheme, then adding a blue grosgrain ribbon to the bride’s bouquet completes the tradition with no trouble whatsoever. If, on the other hand, blue not only fails to appear but threatens to clash with everything else in the entire gala, then the bride "has only one choice," says Palmer. "The bride discreetly must add blue trim to her lingerie or work a blue ribbon into her garter."

Again stressing the importance of observing the tradition, Palmer insists, "Cupid will not let you pass with just 75%. Old, new, borrowed, and blue—you must honor all four requirements."