25 Something Borrowed Ideas for the Modern Couple

Weddings are steeped in traditions, and one of the most popular, age-old customs is wearing or carrying "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." While each part of this rhyme—which originated in 19th-century England—has a specific meaning, incorporating something borrowed into your big day is intended to bless your marriage. Based on the time-honored superstition, borrowing an item from a happily-married friend or relative is said to bring good fortune, fertility, and a lifetime of bliss to your relationship.

Recently, the tradition has taken on a more sentimental role by honoring someone who has had a profound impact on your life. You may you want to show your appreciation for your mom by stitching a piece of fabric from her wedding dress onto your own gown—or maybe you want to include a nod to your grandparents by decorating your tablescape with antique vases or pieces of china from their collection.

If you’re looking to honor this long-standing practice in a unique and modern way, you're in luck—there are plenty of options. Read on for the best something borrowed ideas to inspire your own.

Your Wedding Dress

One of the most popular ways to incorporate the something borrowed tradition into your special day is by wearing your grandmother's or mother's wedding dress. While this is a great option, you can also put a modern spin on this time-honored ritual by renting a dress from a trusted fashion rental website—like Rent the Runway. By saving money on your gown, you'll have more funds to invest in other splurge-worthy elements, like a live band or a photo booth. Plus, after the celebration, you won't have to dry clean your attire or figure out a way to preserve it.

A Piece of Fabric

If you're hesitant to wear someone else's gown (or doing so isn't feasible), consider sewing a piece of fabric from it onto your own dress. Oftentimes, this may be a swatch from your mother's or grandmother's wedding dress. You can also wrap a portion of the garment around the stems of your bouquet, turn the material into a clutch, or work the textiles into your table runner.

A Hair Accessory

To complete your wedding look, consider borrowing a hair accessory from one of your bridesmaids (think: hairpins, headpieces, clips, pins, barrettes, ribbons, and tiaras). You can even start a tradition with your group of friends where each woman wears the item when it's her turn to tie the knot. It also can allow your friends to be present at your nuptials—even if they can't make it in person. If someone from your inner circle can't be there on your big day, sporting one of her beloved accessories will keep her close to you.

A Fragrance

Selecting your wedding-day scent can be challenging. If you don't have a tried-and-true option you're ready to turn to (or a new scent you're dreaming of purchasing!), consider asking your mother, sister, grandmother, or a good friend for a perfume she loves. You'll smell delightful—and be able to use it as your something borrowed.

A Pair of Shoes

If you're the same shoe size as your sister, mom, cousin, or best friend, strap on one of her pairs for your something borrowed idea. Whether you opt to wear her block heels for your ceremony or her sneakers for your after-party, make sure the shoes match your overall look. For a sentimental touch, consider choosing the same pair that your loved one wore when she herself walked down the aisle.

Jewelry

While this may appear to be one of the most traditional ideas to fulfill this ritual, there are ways to make it feel a bit more unique. Instead of just selecting any old piece of jewelry from a loved one's assortment, ask your mother and grandmother for something they wore on their own wedding day or something that their partner gifted them.

Lipstick

Your mother or grandmother may be known for an iconic lipstick shade that she dons every day. If that's the case, consider asking her to use it as your something borrowed. Whether it's a subtle nude subtle tone or a bright pop of color, you'll be integrating a piece of her into your look.

Bouquet Bling

If you don't want to wear a family member's jewelry, why not incorporate it in another fresh and exciting way? Add a borrowed brooch to the back of your bouquet, or delicately wrap a string of pearls from a loved one around the bottom of the blooms.

Cufflinks

There are limitless ways to elevate your groom's chosen outfit with something borrowed ideas. Suggest that he adds a personal touch to his dress shirt by wearing a loved one's cufflinks. Make sure he keeps the color and design of your nuptials in mind, so he can select one that coordinates with your attire and aesthetic.

A Watch

If you or your partner has long admired a family member's watch, consider borrowing it for your nuptials. In addition to being able to keep track of time on this important day, it will give a touch of sophistication to your wrist.

A Tie or Bow Tie

In a nod to the ritual, have your groom consider borrowing a tie or bow tie from a family member or close friend. While he can certainly opt for the one that his father or grandfather wore for his wedding, he can also choose a piece that the person donned during a milestone moment. For instance, he may borrow a bright pink neck tie that his father wore to his 50th birthday party or complete his ensemble with a striped version that his brother sported when he proposed to his wife.

Your Wedding Venue

Why not say "I do" on a piece of land that a loved one owns? Not only will you dodge expensive deposit fees, but you'll also get married in a place that you and your loved ones have a deeper connection to. Consider trading vows in your parents' backyard or rent out your best friend's lake house.

The Ring Pillow

If you're enlisting ring bearers to deliver your wedding rings to the altar, you'll need to store the priceless jewels on a secure pillow. Rather than buying a brand-new item, which you'll likely never use again, consider borrowing one. Ask your sister or bridesmaid if she wouldn't mind lending the one she used for her big day.

A Traditional Item

Depending on the traditions you and your partner plan to incorporate into your nuptials, consider turning to a family piece for the ritual. For example, if you're a Black couple planning on jumping the broom, you may use the same one that your parents jumped over when they said "I do."

Lines for Your Vows

Don't worry: We're not suggesting you plagiarize another couple's vows. However, if someone close to you penned ones that you loved, consider stealing a line or two (with his blessing, of course) and crediting him as you share your own.

A Pen for Your Marriage License

Your something borrowed doesn't have to be complicated. If you're planning on signing your marriage license immediately after your ceremony, consider asking a friend or family member for a stately pen. It may just be one she used to sign a meaningful document, passing that good luck along to you.

A Literary Work for Your Readings

If you're planning on having a secular ceremony, include a passage from your favorite novel or poem for your reading. Not only will you personalize your service, but you'll also include your guests in the moment. Ask a sibling or a close friend to deliver the words before you say "I do."

Wedding Decorations

Save money and set the scene of your celebration with a borrowed item that complements your reception. For example, if you're throwing a travel-themed soirée, decorate your venue with your grandfather's leather luggage tags, or for a garden-inspired bash, line a chest of drawers with floral-printed plates from your mother's collection. Vintage vases, borrowed books, and works of art are a few other ideas to consider.

Items for Your Tablescape

Decked-out tablescapes are definitely in, and there are so many ways to infuse your own personality into them. Check with family members or friends to see if they might have anything to add to the table, whether it’s beautiful cloth napkins, special trinkets, or even your grandmother’s antique silverware.

A Favorite Recipe

Add a classic touch to your wedding menu by borrowing the recipe for a signature cocktail or an appetizer from your go-to restaurant. Maybe you have a favorite dessert that your grandmother always used to make when you were a child; consider incorporating it into your wedding cake or serve it on its own.

The First Dance Song

To cue the waterworks, surprise your parents by selecting the first dance song that they played at their own reception. The thoughtful gesture will touch them—and everyone in attendance. (Just make sure you ask your emcee to tell your guests the meaning behind your choice first.)

The Cake Topper

If your parents or grandparents kept their wedding cake topper, place it on top of your own confection to give your dessert additional significance. A common way to decorate these sweets is by representing your new last name. Ask your partner's parents, cousins, and brothers if they happen to have one showcasing their family name.

The Cake Knife

To make you cake-cutting moment even more memorable, borrow a cake knife from a special person in your life. It could be a sterling silver item that your grandmother received as a gift or a monogrammed utensil from your parents' kitchen. Either way, cutting your wedding cake with a particular meaningful item will make the moment that much better.

The Getaway Vehicle

Planning a grand send-off? Once the fireworks are lit or the confetti has been thrown, you’ll want to exit your affair in style. Borrowing a vintage car or another decked-out ride from someone in your inner circle is the perfect way to add something borrowed to your big day.

A Surprise

If you love to be spontaneous, ask a trusted friend or family member to surprise you with your something borrowed item. As long as you’re a go-with-the-flow type of person, this won’t add any additional planning to your list. It will also give someone special in your life the opportunity to include a meaningful piece into your big day.