You and your fiancé have decided to plan an Irish wedding. While you may not have the patience to recreate a complete traditional ceremony and reception, here are a few fun and historically rooted traditions which can add meaning to your ceremony and luck to your nuptials.
Consider integrating an Irish wedding bell into your wedding ceremony. The bell is rung to announce to guests (and to the rest of the world) your betrothal. You then get to keep the bell in your house and ring it whenever the two of you need reminding of your deep commitment to one another.
You can also incorporate traditional Irish benedictions and music into the festivities to provide a Gaelic flavor. Have a friend or relative sing the Irish wedding song to you, but hold off on singing to one another as that is considered to be bad luck. You can also celebrate your commitment to one another via the Irish wedding blessing – a traditional benediction which dates back centuries.
Liberally employ traditional Irish charms, such as the Shamrock and the horseshoe, but be sure to understand when and how these symbols should be integrated into the wedding. The bride may choose to have a horseshoe shaped piece of jewelry on her person to encourage good luck. Just make sure the U of the horseshoe is pointed up – if it’s pointed down, the luck could accidentally “spill out.”
Despite the association between the color green and “Irishness,” it is actually considered less than lucky to wear green when attending an Irish wedding. This isn’t to say that you can’t decorate with shamrocks or offer wedding presents with green in them – just make sure the bride doesn’t wear that special color.
Another sumptuous Irish wedding tradition is the wedding fruit cake. You can customize your cake to your tasting, but you may want to reserve the top tier for a more traditional flavor (Irish whisky?). This top layer should be saved and served again during your newborn baby boy or girl’s christening in to the Irish Catholic Church.
To ornament your Irish wedding, consider ordering handcrafted Celtic jewelry through celtic-weddingrings.com. Our hand-made treasures can help you sanctify the holy and wonderful occasion of your marriage. We offer a dazzling selection of silver Celtic wedding rings, pendants, earrings, gold piercing jewels, and much more. Our products are hallmarked individually by the assay’s office here in Dublin, Ireland, and we draw upon 20 years of expertise in the arts and crafts industry to ensure quality service, fast delivery, and made to order finesse for all our customers.
Please give us a ring at 1 800 350 9962 or order online or at our office here in Dublin. We can also introduce you to classic symbols such as the Trinity Knot, St. Bridget’s Cross, and the Claddagh ring. View pictures of our catalog online, or contact us now to jumpstart your Irish wedding plans.
Written by Sine Treanor of Celtic Rings Ltd
