Wedding Traditions and Superstitions

From the “Gilded Age,” which truly was the golden age of flatware design, comes and 1895 advertisement for Pairpoint Manufacturing Company, placed in Harper’s Bazaar Magazine. It was touting the etiquette correctness of using the proper serving accoutrements for “Luxurious Fruits” and the “Garden’s Tempting Dainties.” These gilded age utensils are some of the most popular antique flatware pieces and sets sold on sites like Ruby Lane, eBay and Etsy. Their diminutive size and uniqueness make them an ideal wedding gift and they were so plentiful, it’s often easy to find some which match, or mix and match, with a pattern they have registered for or already own.

With all of the variables involved in planning and executing the picture perfect wedding, (i.e. Will it be raining or will the sun shine? Will certain family members call a ‘cease-fire’ for the day? Will more guests than those who “r.s.v.p.’d” actually show up? Will I make a fool of myself and trip down the aisle?) it’s no wonder that brides have for so long, maintained that time honored tradition of calling for good luck on their big days, with the use of one easily recited poem. 

All together now; “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. Yes, it is very easy to remember, even easier to recite, and for some strange reason that I can’t understand, reserved just for the wedding day itself. With that in mind, I have a truly novel idea for today’s bride to be. Why just reserve the call for good luck for your big day? Why not also spread your wishes for good luck, all throughout the planning and partying stages of your impending nuptials? 

Incorporating the Victorian Era’s superstition-based prose of those somethings old, new, borrowed and blue, in your plans, certainly couldn’t hurt anything. It might even bring you more luck, by sparking a sudden burst of creativity that can carry you smoothly, from the start of the engagement to all the way down that aisle. Just think of the possibilities. Why, I can think of four already. Here’s just one:

“Something old” is actually one of the fastest growing trends of bridal registry in recent years. Old silver patterns are hot, especially among the couples who have already made one or two trips down the aisle before. According to those who track retail trends, registering for Continental sized flatware and previously archaic sounding or obsolete serving pieces, have made a big comeback in the last few years. Big enough that silver sales online are booming on sites like Ruby Land, eBay and Etsy, and silver manufacturers are dusting off some of those patterns that were previously discontinued for numerous years, and are producing them once again. 

Ornate and showy pieces from the era of opulence, the Gilded Age, are gracing the dining tables of newlyweds at a head-spinning pace. Who are the couples that are selecting styles like the elaborate, art nouveau period designed “Love Disarmed”, or more masculine appealing “Lion” pattern, for their wedding gift registry? Those who already have the toaster, not to mention the entire kitchen, and who possibly didn’t get the good stuff the first time around. They are the couples who are registering for sets of individual salt spoons, asparagus tongs, orange spoons, and ice cream forks. For entertaining in style as newlyweds, they would like pâté servers, aspic servers, jelly roll cake servers, and fish slices. 

These brides and their grooms making such tasteful selections for their new lives together, are more settled financially, as are their friends, who are obligingly snapping up the pricey gifts for the lovebirds. The trend is so hot, even wedding fashion designer to the A-list celebrity crowd, Vera Wang weighed in with her own line of flatware. However it just doesn’t hold a candle to the splendor and luster of the grand designs of yesteryear that have found a whole new legion of followers. 

So when you are doing your registering, keep in mind this century old missive from one silver manufacturer’s advertisement promoting sales of its petite silver berry forks, “Luxurious fruits and the garden’s tempting dainties are made more appetizing if correctly served”. 

If you remain superstitious however, the original Victorian poem does have one oft forgotten line at the end you might want to heed. The actual wording was; “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe”. The last line is one which many brides aren’t even aware of, and it’s no wonder to me. I’m guessing that over the years, brides have happily ignored it, even if they did know of it. After all, what bride really wants to push her luck, hobbling around in brand new designer shoes for an entire day with a coin stuck in one of them? — From an article by Etiquipedia Site Editor, Maura J. Graber, for Inland Empire. Magazine, 2007

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia