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Originally posted at Zilo Rings Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest Email While gearing up for your big day, you’re faced with endless advice, suggestions, questions, and decisions to make. Throw in antiquated traditions and old wives tales, and the whole ordeal can be a bit overwhelming. For instance, every bride-to-be knows that she is supposed to have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe – as the old poem goes. This Victorian tradition was built around superstition and good luck charms. It seems silly and out of touch to most of us, but once you think about what each item represents, it can actually be a charming addition to even the most modern wedding. Incorporating the Four Somethings (as they are often called) in your ceremony is a great way to show both your appreciation for where you came from, as well as your excitement and hope for the future. It’s also an amazing way to include your loved ones in a special and personal way, without having to add yet another person to your wedding party. Besides, even if you never owned a rabbit’s foot or slept with a dreamcatcher above your bed, having a few lucky pieces at the biggest event of your life can’t hurt, right? Sure, putting a silver sixpence in your shoe is likely going to do as good of a job at making you wealthy as throwing salt over your shoulder will at warding off evil, but it’s a fun part of an old tradition that adds sentiment and enchantment to your wedding day. We at Zilo Rings put together this infographic to help you decipher what this tradition is really all about. We also wanted to take some of the stress out of your wedding planning, so we included some of our favorite ways that modern brides have gotten creative with integrating the Four Somethings in their wedding garb. If you have trouble viewing the infographic, you can find all of the details in the text below. Congratulations on your new adventure! Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: A Guide for the Modern Bride “Something old, something new, Something borrowed, something blue, And a silver sixpence in her shoe” Whether you’re superstitious or just looking for a fun and creative way to incorporate tradition into your wedding attire, here’s some ideas to inspire your special day. Something Old Why? Something old symbolizes continuity from your old life to your new one. Carrying something old from a loved one shows where you came from, and that you’ll take that experience with you always. How Always choose something from an ancestor, whether it be your mother’s wedding dress, your grandmother’s vintage veil, or some antique heirloom jewelry that you have converted into a modern hairpiece. Our Favorite Take an antique locket, and place photos of friends & family members who have passed away inside. Wear it around your neck or tie it to your bouquet, so your loved ones can join your celebration in spirit. Something New Why? Something new is a representation of your hope and optimism for the future. It shows that you are looking forward to your new life with your spouse. How Your something new should be something that represents your commitment to your new marriage. Your wedding ring may serve as such, or some people choose to have a lucky penny minted in the year of their wedding. Our Favorite Take your mother and new mother-in-law shopping for matching jewelry that you can all wear on the wedding day. It’s a special way to celebrate the union of your two families. Something Borrowed Why? This good luck charm symbolizes happiness. A bride borrows something from a happily married couple in hopes that the couple’s happiness in marriage will rub off on the newlyweds. How Think of a couple whose relationship you admire. Whether friends or family, asking them to borrow an item for your ceremony will show them how much you respect their marriage. This could be a veil, garter, or jewelry that was worn by a bride whose relationship you would like to emulate. Our Favorite This doesn’t just have to be something borrowed from a bride. It can be from a groom, as well! Ask a man whose marriage inspires you to borrow his tie to wrap around your bouquet. Something Blue Why? Before white wedding dresses came on the scene, the traditional wedding dress color was blue. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue as a symbol of their love and fidelity. How This one is easy! Though you may not choose to go with the traditional blue wedding dress, you can add a pop of color to your gown with a blue sash or blue shoes. Blue flowers in your bouquet will also do the trick. Our Favorite Since blue represents love and fidelity, a fantastic way of wearing it is to sew your wedding date in blue into the lining of your dress. Plus, if you plan on passing the dress down, it makes the dress all the more special for future generations. Sixpence In Her Shoe Why? The silver sixpence is a symbol of prosperity. Placing one in your shoe is supposed to give you and your partner financial wealth and security throughout your marriage. How Here lies a dilemma. Not only is this an English currency, but it is an English currency that no longer exists. It stopped being circulated in 1980, and the coins were only made of silver until 1947. Luckily, there are several online retailers who sell authentic silver sixpence for the specific purpose of use in weddings. Resources BrideBox Borrowed & Blue Zenadia Design

Originally published at Camo Rings Direct One of your closest friends has asked you to be in her bridal party, and you have ecstatically said yes! But do you really know what you're getting yourself into? Being a bridesmaid isn't all sparkly fun and parties; it requires a lot of time, patience, and money. Don't freak out! A bridesmaid's job requires balance between the good and the bad (and sometimes the ugly). Check out this infographic to see what you're getting yourself into. Trouble viewing the infographic? See what you missed: Surviving a Millennial Wedding: A Bridesmaid's Guide The Millennial Wedding is a Battlefield Many millennial brides today are Pinterest-crazy. They expect handcrafted perfection and single-minded dedication - perhaps one of the reasons the average cost a wedding in the U.S. is $26,444. Millennial grooms are getting in on some of this action too. Today 20% of grooms are playing a significant role in planning. Whether by choice or force is hard to say, either way - Hats off to you fellas! Though now you have one more person to keep calm and gracefully guide out of the way so you can get things done. You can't hope for any traditions to save you. More and more - millennials are eschewing the idea of a traditional wedding. Even if your best friend is the opposite sex you can still be called on to serve in the wedding party. With the advent of social media, geographical distances no longer pose as significant a problem, so the bride can spam your Facebook page with all things wedding. Things will get crazy. But don't worry, we're here to help. The rest of this guide will cover the basics you need to know to survive. Becoming the Perfect Bridesmaid: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The Bad Bridezilla may try to grind you into a pulp for looking at her wrong, and she'll probably be a total mess more than once. There will be blood and tears. Some of it may be yours. You have to pay for a new dress. You actually do have to arrive at events on time, and you won't have the luxury to complain about it (or anything else for that matter). You don't get to be the center of attention even if that is your personality. You'll be in charge of getting people on the dance floor at the reception, and you;ll have to diffuse any drama (keep on eye on Aunt Marge). The Good You'll have lots of alcohol handy. Just don't get so sloshed that you puke all over the bride. Everyone loves a hero. Pack a first aid kit with tissues, band-aids, make-up, tampons/pads, water, and paper bags for the inevitable dry heaving. Then you can come to the rescue when disaster strikes. You get to buy a new dress! (And you may even be able to talk the bride into letting you choose your own.) You get to help plan super fun parties with as much alcohol and as many strippers as the bride deems appropriate! You get to lavish attention on the gorgeous bride and enjoy basically all of the same perks (strippers, alcohol, spa days, etc.). Dance for days. The Ugly If you make the mistake of posting pics on social media pre-ceremony, you'll have to endure dirty looks for the rest of the wedding (and you may lose all your friends). Making every event about you will inevitably cause major drama, which may lead to hair pulling and face clawing. How to Avoid Bankruptcy: Without Robbing a Bank You can break the bank as a bridesmaid if you're not careful. So, before you accept a role as a bridesmaid, ask the bride what will be financially expected of you. Don't be afraid of hurting her feelings; if she's a true friend she will understand you budget constraints. It should go without saying that you shouldn't volunteer to pay for things that exceed your budget. Don't have a budget? Girl - where's your head at? Once you've accepted your role as bridesmaid it's really difficult to step down, unless you're okay with losing friends. If the bride starts choosing activities and dresses that are outside of your budget, offer alternatives that are more budget-friendly. But step lightly, Bridezilla is unpredictable. Don't be afraid to say NO. The number of pre-wedding events has risen dramatically in recent years, but you don't have to attend every event (seriously). Just continue to have open communication with the bride about what you can and can't afford to do. I mean, a trip to Vegas sounds nice, but your bills won't pay themselves. In general, what should you expect to pay for? This question always depends on the individual bride, but in general you should expect to pay for the following: the bridesmaid dress, a wedding and shower gift, and your own hair and makeup. You should also expect to split the cost of the bridal shower and bachelorette party with the rest of the bridal party. How the heck do I survive this? What it all boils down to is being a team-player and communicating with the bride about her expectations. It's her day, but you're not a doormat or an endless supply of money. Being a Bridesmaid Really is Beautiful If you're not totally turned off by being a bridesmaid, then kudos to you. It's tough surviving the whirlwind of weddings, but there really are some great perks to being a bridesmaid. The Perks: You will be one of the first people to see the bride in her wedding dress (and her new lingerie!) You have an excuse to party with some of your closest friends and be a total goofball without judgment (mostly). You'll look absolutely fabulous in those wedding photos (way better than the other bridesmaids). First in line at the bar, first in line for food. Need I say more? You have the honor of standing by your friend as she solidifies a major decision in her life. Nothing can beat that.