You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.’
Although this used to be directed at brides, grooms can also participate in this sweet wedding tradition.
If you want the groom at your wedding to embrace this tradition—whether that’s you or your partner—this article can show you how.
We’ve compiled a list of reasons why grooms should include a sentimental item in the wedding, as well as some ideas of what you can use to get started.
What Is ‘Something Borrowed’ and Why Should Grooms Have It?
Traditionally, ‘something borrowed’ is an item given to the bride or groom by another happily married couple or special person in their lives.
The idea is that this object spreads the happiness of the other person’s lives to the newlyweds.
It’s also meant to act like a lucky charm to bring you and your partner a happy, healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime.
Including ‘something borrowed’ into your wedding outfit can make the day even more special, especially if the object comes from someone who’s made a big impact in your life.
‘Something borrowed’ objects can be anything from pieces of clothing to family heirlooms like pins or ties.
Although these objects are usually given to the bride, there’s no reason why the groom can’t join in too.
7 Special ‘Something Borrowed’ Ideas for Your Big Day
It might be difficult to think of something you can use as your borrowed item. Or perhaps you’ve already picked something out and you’re wondering how to use it.
We’ve put this section together to help you get inspiration for ‘something borrowed’ objects and the best ways to use them.
✍️ Lines for your vows
Your ‘something borrowed’ doesn’t always have to be a tangible object.
If you’ve been to a number of weddings or know someone whose vows you really loved, consider asking them if you could borrow a few lines.
Then try to find creative ways to weave it into your own vows or reception speech.
When you’re writing your own vows, make sure it still comes from your heart even though you might be using a couple of lines someone else has written.
You can even use phrases from your and your partner’s favorite songs, authors, or poets to make the moment extra special.
Here are some of our favorite quotes that you can use for inspiration:
- “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine”—Maya Angelou.
- "And I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you"—Kiersten White.
- "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be"—Robert Browning, Rabbi Ben Ezra.
You can either use these as is or tweak them and make them your own—whatever you feel most comfortable with.
🕺 Your first dance song
You can ‘borrow’ the song that your parents, grandparents, or guardians danced to on their wedding day—you can even keep it as a surprise for the couple that inspired it.
You can also ask your best friends or other influential people in your life what their songs were and find ways to incorporate them into the wedding—like using them to walk down the aisle.
Not only will it kick the reception celebration off on a sweet note, but it will also bring back great memories for the original pair and anyone else who remembers it.
With other ‘something borrowed’ items, it often only includes the person who uses it and can’t be shared with a partner.
But having your first dance song be your ‘something borrowed’ can be a romantic and fun way to include your partner because you’ll be dancing together.
⌚ Accessories
A popular ‘something borrowed’ option for grooms may be using accessories with a special meaning.
Not only are these elements easy to incorporate into your wedding outfit, but they will mean a lot to the person you borrow them from.
Accessories can also be a family heirloom.
Cufflinks
Perhaps your dad or grandfather has a special pair of cufflinks that they wore on their wedding day or when they proposed to their partner.
Ask them if they still own these objects and if they would allow you to use them on your own special day.
Watch
Another straightforward option is to borrow a watch from someone important to you. This could be a father figure, family member, or friend—the choice is yours.
You could also ask your parents or grandparents if there are any heirloom watches that you may be able to borrow for the day.
Pins and brooches
Pins and brooches aren’t just reserved for women. Your family members might have an heirloom that you can pin to your suit to elevate your look.
You can even ask your best friend for memorabilia dating back to your college years.
👔 A tie or handkerchief
Another simple way to incorporate ‘something borrowed’ into your wedding attire is by using a tie or handkerchief from someone special.
Someone in your family or friendship group might still have the tie or handkerchief they wore on their wedding day.
Alternatively, you can ask around for ties that have sentimental value to someone you care about.
🚘 A wedding car
Choosing your wedding car as ‘something borrowed’ is a unique and fun spin on this tradition. Turning up in a vintage car is usually a great talking point, especially if it’s in an unusual style!
Ask your parents or grandparents which model or color car they drove on their wedding day.
While it may not be the exact one, you'll probably be able to find something similar through a car hire or specialist company.
A wedding car as your ‘something borrowed’ will bring back lovely memories for the original couple and those involved in their special day.
✨ Cologne
Keep it simple by using the same cologne as your dad, grandfather, or guardian.
This is a good way to remind yourself of their presence in your life, especially if they can’t be at the wedding.
Using cologne with sentimental value can also evoke special memories for years to come.
Imagine someday spritzing it on and feeling a wave of nostalgia that takes you back to your special day.
👞 Suits and shoes
This might take a bit of digging—and cleaning!—but using the same suit or wedding shoes that someone in your family got married in could be a great choice.
If they still own it, ask someone close to you if they would mind if you wore these items.
You can also ask them what kind of material or color they used for their wedding garments and have something similar made for yourself.
This way, you ‘borrow’ their style without actually needing a piece of clothing.
You can also ask some of your married friends if they would let you borrow their wedding gear.
💍 Ring cushion
This might be an unusual choice that not many people hold on to, but you can also ask around and borrow a happy couple’s wedding ring cushion.
Not only will it be a sweet reminder of their happy day, but it will also add a unique touch to your own wedding day.
Some ring cushions may also give a twist to your wedding ceremony because of their eye-catching designs.
Be Inspired with Alpine Rings
At Alpine Rings, we know how memorable your special day should be. Finding unique ways to incorporate the people who mean the most to you into that day can make it even better.
Even if they aren’t able to attend the wedding, borrowing something valuable from them can help you remember their presence in your life.
In this article, we took a closer look at a number of ideas to inspire you to incorporate ‘something borrowed’ into your wedding.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, our blog has many useful articles to help you on your journey—from proposal ideas to wedding planning and beyond.