Lucky elements

Respecting little traditions

Let me jump forward through the checklist items and go to one of the last ones, as I mentioned something at the end of last Sunday issue, when I talked about the touch of light blue. Remember?

Well, tradition has it - at least, that's how it is in Italy - that the bride wears four very important items, and all at the same time:

1) Something new

2) Something old

3) Something borrowed

4) Something light blue

Point n. 4 is, in fact, what I anticipated at the end of last Sunday issue when, speaking of the dress, I suggested a light blue sash at the waist, since there are models of dresses that lend themselves very well to this insertion. However, what I didn’t specify is that the touch of light blue does not necessarily have to be visible.

It could be anything, even worn under a dress, for example a satin ribbon attached to the inside of a petticoat. Or a detail of the inside of the shoes (even the shoes, entirely!). I remember that I attached a light blue silk ribbon to the inside of one of the petticoats and made a nice little bow. Only I knew I had it and I liked it a lot.

So, back to the four elements, I would say that the last one can be devised in various ways and we can give free rein to our imagination. As for point 1, it is actually the simplest of all to apply because on wedding day, everything worn by the bride is brand new. So, we can give this point a check as well.

In reality, points 2 and 3 are the ones that create more perplexity, because the bride would never really want to have to wear something old or something borrowed. Instead, this tradition turns out to be something that will make you think a lot to comply with the golden rule.

So, the bride will choose a used garment that is particularly dear to her and with a certain meaning and will wear it: some will wear a piece of lingerie that they had already worn on another occasion, others will apply an already used detail to their dress.

I have to be honest: I don't remember what I wore at all.

But I remember very well what I worn that was borrowed: it was a very thin and invisible wire of white gold with an equally invisible tiny precious stone around the neck. Nobody noticed it but I knew I had it and I borrowed it from a person very dear to me. I also knew that that little jewel was given to the person who lent it to me many years before by my parents, so there was a double bond in that detail.

My recommendation is therefore to choose well who to make this request to, as it is necessary that a very special bond exist between the bride and the person who will lend the object. Sometimes the designated person is a witness, or one of the bridesmaids, or even, for those who have it, a sister. For others, a very important friend.

These four elements, so-called of the tradition of dressing the bride, are something that all brides care a lot, even foreign brides who come to get married in Italy. In fact, this tradition has been consolidated over the centuries because it has always been seen as a great lucky charm for the bride as well as the marriage in general.

I believe one always wants to do something auspicious for such an important union, so why not respect it?

So, free rein to the imagination.

Until next Sunday