Into the Blue

While the poem’s original author is lost to the mists of time, the words themselves seem to date back to the Victorian era. The oldest recording of the poem in its entirety was in the 1871 issue of a London evening newspaper called the St. James Magazine, in an article ominously entitled ‘Marriage Superstitions and the Miseries of a Bride Elect.’ Just two years later, the rhyme appeared in a local Pennsylvania newspaper, The Lancaster Intelligencer, and prospective brides on both sides of the Atlantic have been reciting it ever since.

Traditionally associated with loyalty and faith, the colour blue was also thought to ward off the evil eye, which may explain why women were encouraged to wear it on their big day, either as a garter, or as a piece of fabric stitched into their dress. Princess Diana famously had a blue ribbon sewn into the waistband of her David Emmanuel gown for luck, a tradition that was upheld by her future daughter-in-law, Katherine Middleton, who also had a blue ribbon inserted into the fabric of her Victoriana-inspired dress, for her marriage to Prince William in 2011.

But for those wishing to make more of a statement on their wedding day, sapphire jewellery offers a sparkling way to tap into this rich tradition. Plus, the beautiful blue gem carries a storied history of prosperity all of its own. “Humans have attributed greater sacred and restorative qualities to sapphire than to any other gemstone,” explains the expert gemmologist, Joanna Hardy, in her latest book Sapphire (Violette Editions). “Sapphire’s blue colour has it linked to the sky and therefore to the heavens and to the divine.” Queen Victoria was a well-known fan of the stone and wore a sapphire and diamond brooch gifted to her by Prince Albert as her ‘something blue’ for their wedding in 1840.

These days, contemporary brides have a stunning range of sapphire jewels to choose from. A pair of simple stud earrings are the easiest way to incorporate sapphires into any wedding outfit, from elegant trouser suits to glamorous ballgowns. Try this pair by Mappin & Webb, which feature oval-cut sapphires set in 18ct white gold, or this pair, with pear-cut stones ringed with white diamonds. Add a matching necklace, such as this oval-cut sapphire pendant or this delicate sapphire and diamond choker, for an elegant way to tap into the current layering trend – after the wedding, the pieces are sleek enough to be mixed with your own favourite pieces for everyday wear. For a more romantic flourish, Roberto Coin offers a suite of sapphires in blossom-shaped settings – ideal for modern-day princesses. But for true-blue sapphire lovers, nothing could be more ideal than a sapphire engagement ring such as this one, boasting a 6.75carat oval-cut central stone and baguette cut diamonds, or this pear-cut sapphire ring, framed with a halo of diamonds. Worn on your wedding day, it will represent not only sapphire’s lucky symbolism, but all your hopes and dreams for the future. And what could be more perfect than that?