Page 133 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2026

provide protection for future children and good luck that carried from one happy marriage into your own.
A family matriarch may lend the bride the earrings or necklace she wore on her own wedding day, or the happy couple can even “borrow” the first-dance song(s) from their parents.
Something Blue
The blue in the rhyme is a nod to the blue of the evil eye symbol that is meant to help ward off evil spirits and the curse of the evil eye. It can also symbolize love, purity, and fidelity.
Originally, the “blue” was a garter worn beneath the dress, but many modern couples may decide to wear blue accessories or there are even designers out there who incorporate blue into the label of their clothing to help check off this part of the tradition.
A Sixpence in Your Shoe
Historically, the father of the bride would
put a sixpence (a British coin) in his daughter’s shoe for prosperity, fortune, and luck. The
most devoted of brides may try to hunt down a sixpence, or you can use a penny or other small coin. Instead of putting it in their shoe, brides may decide to incorporate it elsewhere in the wedding, like on the bouquet or the ringbearer’s pillow.
While today’s brides may not be as concerned with curses and the evil eye, everybody wants good luck, so many still incorporate the rhyme even without knowing the history. Every couple is different and it’s not a requirement, so feel free to choose the pieces and parts that represent you and your future spouse best.
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