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.
Let’s start with the Claddagh ring, this ring is traditionally passed down the generations from mother to daughter, and should only be given as a gift. It is not the kind of ring that anyone should purchase for themselves. The Claddagh ring has its traditions in the small fishing village of the same name in Galway County. When a betrothal takes place the ring is worn in the right ring finger with the heart turned inward. After the marriage takes place it is worn on the left hand ring finger with the heart turned out.
While some traditions dictate that it is lucky to have rain on your wedding day, the Irish do not. They believe for the couple to be lucky, the sun must at least shine on the bride, I think I agree with this. Superstitious such as throwing a shoe over the head of the bride, carrying a horseshoe and “Marry in May Rue the Day”, all still matter to Irish traditionalists. Bells are believed to keep away evil spirits and if the mother-in-law breaks wedding cake over the brides head, they are said to be friends for life.
In a traditional Irish wedding the Best Man is does not make the toast alone, the entire guest compliment gets involved in this. Essential the bridal couple say a few words and then the guests respond in kind and a toast is made using the honeyed wine known as mead.
Much the same as the rest of the Western World, Irish wedding dress fashions come and go. However there is one particular thing that should be included in the brides’ retinue and this is Irish Lace. It can be incorporated into the dress, garter or veil, or even be given as a gift to attendants. An Irish color theme would be green, white and orange, perhaps not for the dress, these colors might be more appropriate for the table settings.
Your Irish themed wedding would not be the same without a piper and kilts, this is not limited to the Scots. Irish pipes are the Uillean pipes and find someone who is able to play the “Irish Wedding Song” as well as hornpipes, jigs and reels. A tradition dating beck to medieval times dictates that most pipers wear Celtic kilts.
Traditional Irish fare may not be on the top of the list of culinary delights to serve your guests. But if it is well cooked, soda bread, corned beef and cabbage can still taste good. After a few drams of Irish whiskey, your guests should be ready to eat anything. A wedding cake in the Irish tradition is a fruit cake. This is a luxurious treat that is made with cherries, raisins, almonds and spices.
The honeymoon or in Celtic Mi na Meala basically means the month of honey. The theory is that the newly wedded couple is given two goblets and enough mead to see them through to the next moon. It promotes virility and fertility and because it is a sweet strong drink ensures a good start for the marriage.