If you want the luck of the Irish on your side whey you marry in Irish wedding traditions, they say there is no better day to get married on than St. Patrick’s Day. However if you cannot manage to make your wedding vows on the 17th March, then you can always include other traditions into your ceremony, for example the Claddagh ring.
One of the most famous Irish wedding traditions is marrying with the Claddagh ring. This ring takes its name from “Claddagh” which is a tiny fishing village in Galway County. Traditionally the mother passes this ring down through the generations by giving it to her daughter, who then gives it to her daughter and so on. When a betrothal (engagement) takes place, the Claddagh ring is worn on the right hand and after the marriage ceremony takes place it is moved to the left hand. The direction in which the heart is turned on this ring is also indicative of the state of the betrothal or marriage.
It has long been considered to be lucky if it rains on your wedding day, but this is not so in Irish traditions. The sun needs to shine on the bride for the couple to have good luck. Other Irish superstitions include carrying a lucky horseshoe, and a hanky which can be turned into a baby’s bonnet. Eating salt and oatmeal at the start of the reception, and the mother-in-law ensuring that she and the bride remain friends forever, by breaking a piece of the wedding cake over her head!
In terms of the Irish toast, it is not tradition for the Best Man to do this alone, the whole wedding party participates, and there is a traditional recitation which the newlyweds say, after which the guests respond. This recitation is simple to find online and it starts “Friends and relatives, so fond and dear..” mead is the drink of choice when this recital takes place.
As far as Irish wedding dresses go, they follow the fashion, but one thing would be missing if the Irish lace was left out of the ceremony. It is quite expensive so a small piece can be used to decorate the garter, it incorporated into the veil or used on the traditional handkerchief a bride carries which can be made into a bonnet for a baby.
A traditional color theme would be the white green and orange and it would not be an Irish wedding if there was no piper. As apposed to the Scots bagpipes the Irish piper can play the Uillean pipes and plays the “Irish Wedding Song” on these. Dressed in his kilts, he will make an admirable impression on the celebration.
As far as food goes, corned beef, cabbage and soda bread may not impress, but if they are well prepared these dishes can still taste delicious. Once your guests have toasted in mead and Irish whiskey, they will be grateful for any food which may be served. The cake is very luxurious and is a rich fruit cake filled with nuts (almonds) cherries, spices, raisins and candied peel.
The word “Honeymoon” derives from the Celtic “Mi na Meala”. In medieval times the newly married couple was sent off with a supply of mead (honey wine), two goblets and best wishes for virility and fertility. They drank this for the entire month of the new marriage and if a child was born 9 months after the day of the nuptials this was attributed to the mead.
If you would like to honor your Irish heritage by means of wedding traditions, Claddagh rings, Irish lace, mead, pipers, traditional foods, clothing and toasts may all be incorporated into your celebrations. We could all make good use of the luck of the Irish on our wedding days!
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