42 Unique Ideas for the Bride's "Something Blue"

something blue ribbon floral tie
Photo: Ryan Ray Photography

Blue has been connected to weddings for centuries, thanks to the Old English tradition of the bride having "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," to bring her good luck on the big day. But there's no need to stick to the old standbys when searching for your "something blue." Instead, take a cue from these real brides who found unexpected ways to incorporate the hue into their big day. Here, you'll find a roundup of the prettiest blue touches, both big and small.

Want to opt into this classic wedding tradition, but don't want to go to over the top? Try stitching a bit of navy ribbon or embroidering your betrothed's name into the hem of your wedding dress. Prefer something subtle that your guests can still see? Wrap a bit of silk ribbon around your bouquet (this one's by Bows + Arrows Flowers). If you're looking for an idea that's a bit bolder, roll up to the ceremony or drive off into the night in a blue vintage car, or ask your bridesmaids to wear midnight blue gowns. Searching for something food-related? Order a blue wedding cake, so your guests can get in on (and taste!) the fun. Of course, there's always the classic choice of choosing a pair of blue wedding shoes—prepare to fall in love with the most perfect blue suede flats ahead.

Whatever your wedding style—traditional, contemporary, or bohemian—there's a way to bring a pop of everyone's favorite wedding color to your own big day. Whether you dress your bridesmaids in tonal shades or sport a sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring (like Kate Middleton), there's something that each and every bride will love. Ready to feel the blues? Click through to discover both vintage and modern ways to include the happy, traditional hue in your wedding.

01 of 44

Pretty Pumps

baby blue heels with wedding jewelry
Alisa Ferris

The bride donned classic Stuart Weitzman pumps in a lovely shade of French blue for the ceremony. Choose a similar blue-hued accessory for your own dose of good luck—and style!

02 of 44

Getting Ready

bride and bridesmaids cheersing in pajama sets
Alisa Ferris

You're not the only one who can wear blue for luck! Bridesmaids wore matching blue pajama sets while the bride distinguished herself in a white-and-blue patterned number ahead of this celebration.

03 of 44

Blue Blooms

various colored floral wedding decor
Daniel Kim

Line the aisle with loads of colorful flowers in every color, including rich blues. It's an easy, impactful way to bring a little luck to your big day.

04 of 44

True Blue Sashes

three flower girls wearing white dresses and flower crowns
Alisa Ferris

Get your flower girls in on the "something blue" fun! These adorable attendants each wore a dress with a light blue sash.

05 of 44

Unique Cake Topper

chelsea conor wedding cake toppers penguins
KT Merry

Perfectly paired blue-and-white bride and groom penguins make for a fun and unique "something blue" and cake topper.

06 of 44

Blue Bouquet

bride in off the shoulder white dress holding pastel wedding bouquet
Matoli Keely

Butterfly ranunculus, Juliet and Tiffany garden roses, and more filled the bride's big-day arrangement, which was created by Elena Holland of Breathe Visual Creations.

07 of 44

Low-Heeled Shoes

bride's blue wedding shoes
Perregaux Wedding Photography

Want your shoes to be your "something blue?" Pointy-toed slingbacks are a great option for an outdoor celebration.

08 of 44

Blue Accented Confection

5-tier white wedding cake with greenery
Charla Storey

Blue ribbon and loose greenery decorated the couple's five-tier cake from Sugar Bee Sweets, which doubled as their "something blue."

09 of 44

Blue Invitations

blue and white distressed edge stationery suite
Anna Peters

There's no rule that says your "something blue" needs to be on your person. A muted blue-hued invitation makes for the perfect pre-nuptial "something blue." We're sure this design from Cheerup Press brought the happy couple great luck ahead of their celebration.

10 of 44

Blue Tablecloths

square outdoor wedding reception tables
Daniel Kim

Make a statement at your reception with deep blue tablecloths.

11 of 44

In the Navy

chic bridesmaids navy blue elegant gowns
Petronella Photography

Your bridesmaids will be happy to help you check off your "something blue" when you ask them to wear something as chic as this group's Something Peridot dresses. The saturated navy color is universally flattering.

12 of 44

Statement Dress

christina matt wedding charleston sc kiss couple blue
Corbin Gurkin

This bride wore a one-of-a-kind wedding dress thanks to Natalie Taylor Humphrey, who painted a floral motif onto her Kate McDonald Bridal gown.

13 of 44

A Cute Clutch

blue wedding idea charlotte jenks lewis
Charlotte Jenks Lewis

A bold blue clutch—like this one by Saint Laurent—is a good choice for your "something blue," especially if you're looking for something you'll use again after the big day.

14 of 44

Head to Toe

kelly pete wedding bride tying blue shoes
D'Arcy Benincosa Photography

While many brides choose to wear a white wedding dress and matching shoes, there's no rule against wearing color. This bride donned a Leanne Marshall and suede Valentino lace-ups to match, which surely brought her plenty of luck on the big day.

15 of 44

A Handful of Blue

ali mark wedding new york bouquet
Samm Blake

Putnam & Putnam tucked just a few tweedia blooms into this mostly white and yellow bridal bouquet. Consider other blue blooms, like delphinium, muscari, and nigella, if you're looking to make a similar statement.

16 of 44

Setting the Tables

corbin-thatcher-table-1646-mwds109911.jpg
Elizabeth Messina Photography

Your "something blue" doesn't have to be something you wear or carry with you on the wedding day. In this instance, the reception, created by Duet Weddings and Flower Wild, fulfilled the tradition. Hand-dyed linens, complementary taper candles, stemmed glassware, and a ribbon at each seat brought just the right amount of blue into this big day.

17 of 44

Stack It Up

textured wedding cakes
Greer Gattuso

This three-tier wedding cake from Melissa's Fine Pastries was done in the prettiest shade of sky blue. The subtle dotted pattern gave it a texture.

18 of 44

Buttoned Up

wds111293-0463.jpg
Steve Steinhardt

Black tie, blue jacket. Both of these grooms wore Tom Ford tuxedos, but one opted for a patterned blue jacket instead of the traditional head-to-toe black.

19 of 44

Tying the Knot

blue wedding idea kate anfinson
Kate Anfinson Photography

Trade in traditional white napkins for blue ones, which serves as an easy and statement-making "something blue" wedding detail. These powder blue napkins from Party Crush Studio popped against traditional white plates. Their unique fold was a nice touch, too.

20 of 44

Blue Velvet

something blue gray blue bowtie pocket square and ribbon
Brumley & Wells Photography

Let the groom get in on this tradition, too. Make like this guy and wear a gray-blue bow tie, pocket square, and ribbon-wrapped boutonniére.

21 of 44

A Getaway Car

wedding couple
Ryan Ray Photography

A vintage Chevy—or any blue ride as sweet as this one—means you'll drive off into the sunset in your "something old" and "something blue."

22 of 44

Sweet Signs

corbin-thatcher-signs-1316-mwds109911.jpg
Elizabeth Messina Photography

Having a bunch of kids in your wedding? Unify their looks with soft blue velvet capes and jackets, just like this crew. Bonus points if you give each young attendant a calligraphed sign to hold, too.

23 of 44

Bridesmaids in Blue

christina matt wedding charleston sc bridesmaids
Corbin Gurkin

This bridal party started their day in "something blue" rompers from Tobi. Once they changed into their dresses, they kept the blue theme going thanks to their dip-dyed tassel earrings.

24 of 44

A Pale Bouquet

teresa-amanda-wedding-bouquet-8677-s111694-1114.jpg
Harwell Photography

A barely blue bundle of hydrangeas, like this bouquet by Fishers Flowers, can check the "something blue" box in a very subtle way.

25 of 44

With This Ring

wedding rings in box
Elizabeth Messina Photography

This bride's engagement ring was an oval-shaped aquamarine, but a right-hand ring in the light blue stone would be just as dazzling.

26 of 44

For Happy Tears

something blue vintage embroidered hankie with blue thread
Anna Delores Photography

Whether vintage or new, an embroidered hankie with blue thread is a great (and practical) way to incorporate "something blue" into your wedding. Consider wrapping it around your bouquet or asking your maid of honor to have it handy.

27 of 44

Hidden Wedding Date

jewelry-d109296.jpg
Thayer Allyson Gowdy

The elegantly calligraphed wedding date penned by Bernard Maisner not only appeared on the wedding's invitation, but it was also embroidered in a soft blue thread and sewn into the bride's wedding dress. Guests won't see a detail like this, but you'll know it's there.

28 of 44

"Something Blue" Sisters

hannah chris wedding north garden va sisters of bride
Ryan Ray

Let your sisters or maids of honor serve as your "something blue" in pale halter-necked dresses like these by Hayley Paige.

29 of 44

Fancy Footwear

natalie jamey wedding shoes
KT Merry

Have you decided you want to wear blue shoes? You can't go wrong with icy blue sandals, like this Marchesa pair.

30 of 44

A Preppy Touch

something blue monogramed bouquet wrap
Anagram Photo

If preppy is your go-to style, make like this bride and wrap a monogramed swath of gingham (or seersucker) around your bouquet. If your style is more modern, a blue ikat print or polka dots would work, too.

31 of 44

Flower Power

something blue flower girls blue dresses
Kurt Boomer Photography

Flower girls don't just have to carry the flowers—they can wear them, too. These light blue dresses with floral details (plus the attendant's fresh flower crowns) were a winning combination.

32 of 44

A Blue Wedding Dress

blue wedding dress
Peter and Veronika

The barely-there hue of this bride's wedding dress meant she checked off her "something blue" in a subtle way. Opt for a similar shade or go bold to really make a statement.

33 of 44

Bundles of Blue

tipi blue flowers
Elias Kordelakos

Tie the Knot in Santorini dressed up this beachy ceremony structure with clusters of hydrangeas in range of soft blues. It's a great setup if you're getting married on the sand and don't want to block the waterfront views.

34 of 44

Rings and Things

something blue sapphire engagement ring blue ring box
Katie Stoops Photography

If you're lucky enough to wear a sapphire engagement ring like this one by Lauren B every day, celebrate the color of it with a ring box from The Mrs Box to match.

35 of 44

Blue and Meaningful

something blue embroidered silk ribbon bouquet
Megan Welker Photography

Lux Events and Design asked this bride's family and husband-to-be to write one word that describes her, and then had each of them embroidered on to silk ribbons and tied around her bouquet by Paradise Florist. What a sentimental take on "something blue" and a great keepsake for after the big day!

36 of 44

An Azure Accent

boutonniere-003-d10900620.jpg
Jessica Antola

A single nigella bloom on a classic black tuxedo? Yes please.

37 of 44

Start With a Sapphire

renee-matthew-wedding-maui-hawaii-morison-041-s111851.jpg
Natalie Watson Photography

This bride's groom designed a sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring with the help of The Diamond Source in San Diego. Take a cue from her—or Kate Middleton—for your engagement ring or a bauble on your other hand.

38 of 44

Incorporate Your Monogram

molly-patrick-wedding-embroidery-3062-s111760-0115.jpg
Nancy Ray Photography

An embroidered label with the bride's monogram and the wedding date was ordered from Initial Impressions and sewn into the gown. Formal and traditional, all wrapped in one.

39 of 44

Show Off Your Groom

michelle-john-wedding-north-carolina-1-s111840-0215.jpg
Landon Jacob

This groom wore custom Trunk Club, opting for striking blue pants and a matching bow tie instead of the go-to black-and-white ensemble.

40 of 44

Lace Up His Kicks

regina-jack-wedding-shoes-21-s111820-0215.jpg
Lindsay Madden Photography

Some grooms can help fulfill your "something blue" without really trying. In this instance, his Hugo Boss shoes arrived with colored laces.

41 of 44

Appoint Your Pooch

erin-jj-wedding-dogs-60-s111742-0115.jpg
Ashley Sawtelle

Dressed in blue bow ties from Charlie Be Good, the couple's two bulldogs served as their something blue good luck charms, as they walked down the aisle and witnessed the ceremony of their parents.

42 of 44

Arrive in Style

lauren-ollie-wedding-car-163-s111895-0515.jpg
Polly Alexandre Photography

The groom's father escorted all three bridesmaids to the service in a vintage baby blue Morris Minor Traveller. The back of the car was adorned with a floral garland made up of roses, peonies, ranunculus, and other greenery.

43 of 44

Keep Your Mom Close

ana-alden-wedding-greece-611a4318-s111821.jpg
Collin Hughes

You'll be in head-to-toe white, and your mom can wear the blue. You'll both be wearing smiles, no doubt.

44 of 44

A Blue Ring Box

sarah-kelly-wedding-wd110684-ringbox-0710-0514.jpg
Erin Kunkel

"It was a total vintage find that we just fell in love with," The bride says of the golden bee-topped box she unearthed at a flea market. "I didn't plan it that way, but I guess it was our something old and our something blue!"

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