Chatterberries

(Photographer: Lambert, Getty Images)

When it comes to weddings we all follow traditions, yet we rarely understand their origins. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe." This is a good luck saying dating back to Victorian times. Something old represents the link with the bride's family and their past. This sentiment is usually symbolized by wearing a piece of family jewelry or a wedding gown passed down from a mother or grandmother. Something new represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life, usually symbolized by a newly purchased wedding dress or piece of jewelry. Something borrowed is to remind the bride of the family and friends who are there to support her in this new life endeavor. The borrowed object is often a lace handkerchief, pearl bracelet or classically understated item donated by a bridal party member. Something blue is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty (think: true blue). Often the blue item is the garter belt. As for a silver sixpence, that's to wish the bride wealth, but this part of the tradition has long been forsaken.

"Tying the Knot"

Hand fasting is what would later become getting hitched or as we say, tying the knot. The purpose of this tradition was to make a contract of marriage between the two parties through the joining of hands. This ceremony, which is still incorporated into formal wedding ceremonies and sometimes done at the engagement party, is also the origin of the term "wedlock."

Tying Shoes

There was once a time when a bride's shoes were a symbol of authority and possession. During the ceremony, the shoes would be handed over to the groom by the bride's father, transferring his authority to the new husband. This is one of those traditions that just wouldn't fly with today's modern bride, so maybe tying those shoes to the bumper is our way of keeping with tradition while at the same time saying, "We're going to leave this one behind!"