Wedding Shoe Traditions From Around the World
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17 July 2026 · Wedding Traditions · The White Collection Australia
The White Collection is Australia's leading destination for designer bridal shoes and accessories, stocking Bella Belle, Harlo Australia, Badgley Mischka, Charlotte Mills, Lola Knight and Elizabeth Bower. This guide is written by Rachel Naoum, owner of The White Collection, who fits Charlotte Mills' signature sixpence styles for Australian brides every week and is asked about this tradition more than almost any other.
The Short Answer
A silver sixpence in her shoe is a Victorian-era British tradition where the bride places a small silver coin in her left shoe to symbolise prosperity in marriage, taken from the closing line of the rhyme something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. It sits alongside other wedding shoe customs from around the world, including Greek shoe-buying traditions and the Indian and Pakistani game of Joota Chupai. Some Charlotte Mills bridal shoes sold in Australia now come with a genuine silver sixpence built into the left shoe as standard.
Almost every culture has a wedding shoe tradition, and most brides only learn about theirs the week of the wedding, usually from a mother or grandmother insisting on it. The British sixpence is the one Australian brides ask us about most, but it is far from the only shoe custom worth knowing before your big day.
Below we have covered the history and meaning behind the sixpence, the full rhyme it comes from, and shoe traditions from Greek, Indian and Pakistani weddings, along with a few lighter reception customs. We have also included the one detail most brides do not know: you can now buy a bridal shoe with the sixpence already built in.
The Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe
silver sixpence in her shoe
The original silver sixpence sewn into a Charlotte Mills bridal shoe
The custom of a coin in the bride's shoe traces back to 17th century England, when it became tradition for the lord of the manor to gift silver to a new bride. Families who could not afford a silver service instead tucked a silver sixpence into her shoe, both as a talisman and as a small dowry gift, usually from her father. The sixpence itself was introduced in 1551 under Edward VI and remained part of British coinage for more than four centuries before it was demonetised in 1980.
The coin always goes in the left shoe, and the meaning has stayed consistent for well over a century: wealth, prosperity and financial security for the marriage. Because the actual sixpence coin has not been in circulation for decades, most brides today use a family keepsake coin, a modern coin standing in for the original, or a coin carried in a small pouch or bouquet wrap rather than taped directly to the foot.
Most brides tape a coin to the sole. A handful of bridal shoes now sew it in permanently, so the tradition survives the whole day without a single moment of thinking about your feet.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
something old something new something borrowed something blue
The sixpence is actually the final line of a longer Victorian rhyme, first recorded in Lancashire in the late 19th century: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe. Each line is its own small tradition. Something old connects the bride to her family and past, often a piece of jewellery or lace. Something new represents optimism for the marriage ahead, and is usually the wedding dress itself. Something borrowed traditionally comes from a happily married friend or relative, passing on luck from a successful marriage, and something blue represents fidelity, love and purity, historically worn as a garter or ribbon before it became common in jewellery and shoes.
Because the rhyme groups all five customs together, it is common for brides to fold two or three into one detail, such as a blue-soled shoe passed down from a sister, which covers something old, borrowed and blue at once.
Greek Wedding Shoe Traditions
greek wedding traditions
In traditional Greek weddings, it is the groom who buys the bride's wedding shoes, a gesture that represents his commitment to provide for her. Some grooms tuck paper money into the sole of the shoes before the bride puts them on, echoing the same wealth symbolism as the British sixpence but from the groom's side of the marriage rather than the bride's family.
A second custom sees single female guests write their names on the sole of the bride's shoe during the reception. As the night goes on and the names rub away underfoot, the belief is that whoever's name disappears first will be the next to marry. It is a playful tradition that sits alongside other well known Greek wedding customs, and one that still shows up at Greek weddings across Australia today.
Joota Chupai: The Indian and Pakistani Shoe Game
joota chupai wedding tradition
Joota Chupai, which translates to shoe hiding, is one of the most anticipated moments at Indian and Pakistani weddings. While the groom is distracted at the mandap or altar, the bride's sisters and cousins sneak in and steal his shoes, hiding them somewhere he will not think to look. He cannot leave the ceremony without them, so he is left to negotiate a ransom, usually cash or small gifts, to get them back.
The custom is treated as good-natured fun rather than a strict requirement, and the back-and-forth negotiating is often one of the most photographed parts of the day. It is a good example of how many wedding shoe traditions, from the sixpence to Joota Chupai, use the shoe itself as a stand-in for luck, provision or family bonds rather than being about footwear at all.
More Wedding Shoe Customs Worth Knowing
wedding shoe traditions and games
Shoes With the Sixpence Already Built In
wedding shoes australia
Charlotte Mills bridal shoes are the one detail most brides do not know is available until they are already shoe shopping. Every pair includes a genuine silver sixpence sewn into the leather lining of the left shoe, with the full something old, something new rhyme embossed into the sole, so the tradition is already taken care of before you even get dressed.
Jill is one of several Charlotte Mills styles built this way. Browse the full range to see which silhouette suits your dress.
Further Reading
Your Questions, Answered
What does a silver sixpence in her shoe mean? +
A silver sixpence in her shoe is a Victorian-era British wedding tradition where the bride places a small silver coin in her left shoe to represent wealth, prosperity and good fortune in the marriage. It comes from the closing line of the rhyme something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe, first recorded in Lancashire in the late 1800s. The sixpence itself was demonetised in 1980, so most modern brides in Australia use a keepsake coin, a bridal shoe with a coin already built in, or carry it in their bouquet instead.
Why do brides put a coin in their shoe? +
Brides put a coin in their shoe to symbolise financial security and prosperity for the marriage ahead. The custom dates back to when a silver coin was given as a small dowry gift from the bride's father, a more modest version of the silver gifts wealthier families exchanged. It is considered good luck rather than a strict rule, and today it is common for the coin to sit in a pouch, a shoe lining or even sewn permanently into the shoe itself.
How do you wear a sixpence in your wedding shoe? +
Traditionally the coin goes in the left shoe, either taped inside the heel, tucked under the insole, or placed loose against the sock lining for the ceremony and removed before the reception. Some Australian brides prefer a bridal shoe that already has a genuine silver sixpence sewn into the lining, such as Charlotte Mills styles at The White Collection, so there is nothing to tape in or lose on the day. Either approach satisfies the tradition, it comes down to comfort and whether you want the coin as a keepsake afterwards.
What is the something old, something new wedding rhyme? +
The full rhyme reads something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe. Each line represents a different wish for the marriage: something old for continuity with the bride's past, something new for optimism about the future, something borrowed usually from a happily married friend or relative for good luck, something blue for fidelity and love, and the sixpence for financial prosperity. The rhyme originated in Victorian England and remains one of the most followed wedding traditions in Australia and the UK today.
What are Greek wedding shoe traditions? +
In traditional Greek weddings, the groom often buys the bride's wedding shoes as a gesture of provision and care, sometimes tucking paper money into the sole before she wears them for luck. Guests and single female friends may also write their names on the sole of the bride's shoe during the reception, and it is believed the name that fades or rubs off first will be the next to marry. These customs sit alongside other Greek wedding traditions such as the crowning ceremony and are still widely practised at Greek weddings in Australia.
What is Joota Chupai in Indian and Pakistani weddings? +
Joota Chupai, meaning shoe hiding, is a playful tradition in Indian and Pakistani weddings where the bride's sisters and cousins steal the groom's shoes while he is distracted at the mandap or altar. The groom must negotiate to get his shoes back, usually paying a ransom of cash or gifts before he can leave the ceremony. It is one of the most anticipated moments at South Asian weddings and is treated as light-hearted fun rather than a serious custom.
Where can I buy wedding shoes in Australia that include a sixpence tradition? +
The White Collection stocks Charlotte Mills bridal shoes in Australia, and every pair includes a genuine silver sixpence sewn into the lining of the left shoe along with the full something old, something new rhyme embossed on the sole. Styles such as the Jill pearl encrusted block heel carry this detail as standard, so the tradition is already built into the shoe rather than something you need to add yourself. It is a small detail that a lot of brides do not realise is available until they are already shoe shopping.
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