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Wedding Horseshoes, Sixpences, Hearts & Bridal Garters

 

Bridal gifts of Wedding Horseshoes, Lucky Sixpence's, Hearts and  Bridal Garters are always very well received. Beautiful gifts for the Bride on her wedding day from you or your children.

All the gifts in this section can be given to the bride either shortly before or on the day of her wedding. They are either traditional symbols of good luck or of love, both of them wholly appropriate for this special day.

Lots of people like to offer the bride a token of their love and affection, or their good wishes for their future, and this gorgeous range of gifts has been brought together to suit a range of pockets and tastes, whilst ensuring the quality that always marks our products. Our range includes bridal gifts from Trousseau which are handmade using Nottingham lace and silk.

Wedding horseshoes are the most popular among a small range of gifts traditionally given to a bride on her wedding day. The other favourites are wooden spoons, lucky sixpences and a variety of gifts in the shape of a heart. These gifts are designed to offer a good luck wish to the bride, and the groom, for their future together, or in the case of hearts, the symbolism is of love. They are frequently given by younger members of the family, particularly young bridesmaids and page boys, or as a little added extra by anyone else. They are frequently given before the wedding or on the morning of the day itself so that the bride can choose to carry the present with her if she wishes.

So why do we give these various items to the bride on her wedding day?

The origins of the horseshoe as a good luck charm go back centuries into mythology. There is not one story that provides the reason for horseshoes giving good luck either, but three possibilities. One is that they are made of iron which is seen as a good luck metal, and that they are shaped like a crescent moon, and this is itself a sign of prosperity. Some say that witches were afraid of horses because they represent truth, loyalty and goodness, and so they rode broomsticks instead of horses. The shoe is therefore seen as a charm that will ward away witches and evil spirits. The third is the story of St Dunstan who was a blacksmith by trade. It is said that the devil arrived at the blacksmith's door asking for his hooves to be re-shoed. St Dunstan recognised that he was speaking to the devil and so he caused great pain during the re-shoeing process. The devil cried out and begged for mercy. St Dunstan agreed to be merciful but only if the devil made a promise never to enter any house where a horseshoe was present either inside or out.

Wooden spoons as a gift for a wedding and as a token of love originate from Wales. The love spoon is a traditional gift in Wales and was made by the man as a love token and gift for his lady. The tradition was for the spoons, always made of wood, to be carefully and intricately carved in order to show the care and concern that the gentleman had for the object of his affection. If the lady kept the spoon then this was a sign that all was well and his love was returned. If she sent the spoon back, then it showed she was not interested in the man. Today, the symbol of love remains and is used widely at weddings.

The lucky sixpence is thought to be of Victorian origin when the well known rhyme "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe" began. It was considered good luck for the bride to ensure that she wore something for each part of the rhyme, and it was usually the bride's father that provided the lucky sixpence to go in her shoe. Any bride that had all parts of the rhyme provided for on her wedding day would have a long and happy marriage.