Something Old, Something New
Something old, something new, borrowed and blue. The modern bride doesn’t follow every wedding tradition passed down, but this one still stands as a wedding day must. It all began with the 19th century English rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” These five things were said to bring luck to the new couple and protect their future children.
Brides dream of their special day, and some of us go all out with planning and Pinterest boards full of details down to the grooms socks, making sure everything is perfect, that everything is special. I knew for me, it couldn’t be more perfect then bringing pieces of my mother and loved ones wedding days along with me as I said I do.
Ever since I could remember I’ve always loved traditions, memorabilia, antiques; I love the stories that come with them. Im a sucker for a good vintage find and I can spend hours in a antique shop or thrift store. I would look back at photos of my mom and grandmothers and wish they saved the clothes or jewelry they were wearing for me. The idea of wearing my grandmothers favorite pearls or my moms cross colored jacket would have been so amazing. I asked my mom all the time. Why didn’t you save any of your clothes for me? Definitely the fashion diva in me right ? She always said, I guess I just didn’t think about it.
It was even deeper than just looking cool in a vintage piece. The special stories behind the tradition “clothing” could and would mean so much. I remember watching an episode of family matters and Laura Winslow sold the family quilt blanket at a garage sale. Mother Winslow was devastated because it was a family tradition, passed from generation to generation. The quilt was made of fabric remnants from special moments in their family; weddings dresses, war suits, etc. The episode stuck with me and I began to wonder where was my families tradition? I found myself asking my mother again, why we didn’t have anything like that ? There weren’t many traditions that my family carried on. We had our yearly family reunions and summer barbecues but nothing that held a physical memory being passed from generation to generation that I can recall.
Though I missed out on strutting in my mothers threads from the 80s or receiving a family heirloom, there was one tradition I knew I could make happen for me. My mother did save one thing, her wedding gown. I didn’t know how or when but having a part of my mothers wedding dress on my special day was a must.
Fast forward to 2018, the year I said I do, and there I was walking down the aisle in a modern remake of my mothers wedding gown. Not only my dress but my four nieces dresses all created out of my mothers gown. Talk about special. As a designer, I had the luxury of creating these memorable gowns and it’s a story to tell every time I share or talk about my wedding dress. Now all I can think about is the day my daughter can carry on the tradition and bring not only her mothers but her grandmothers something old, into her something new.
The dress breakdown
My mothers wedding gown 1998
