Irish Weddings

Traditional Irish Weddings: have never been more popular. More and more people are returning to, or researching to find out about, their Irish heritage. Known as the Emerald Isle, Eire is shrouded in myths and legends about the fairies and the “little green men”.

Irish history is one of constant struggle, so today’s Ireland is very different than yesteryear. Today there are four provinces: Ulster - Northern Island (under the governance of the United Kingdom), and Connacht, Leinster and Munster forming Southern Ireland (of independent rule). Traditions will differ from county to county (the 4 provinces are divided into 32 counties). The Irish have a Celtic ancestry and speak Irish Gaelic (as distinct from Scottish Gaelic) which is known as Irish - “Gaelige”, although English is more commonly spoken. They are predominantly Roman Catholic - 91.5%, with 2.5% Church of Ireland and a smattering of other faiths – 6%.

Traditional Irish Weddings:

Traditional Irish weddings were not opulent occasions, but still a time of great celebration. Unofficial marriages would have been common; first, due to the custom of “striking a contract”. (In brief love did not necessarily enter the equation as the bride brought with her a dowry of essential land.) Secondly, a couple would often have to wait a year for the traveling priest to visit the outlying villages to be married officially.

The bride and groom would walk to the church together, showered with various objects by the villagers. Upon their marriage they would leave the church to a volley of firearms and take the longest route home to the bride’s house. The villagers would bring a plates of food and drink to the bride’s home to celebrate, with much singing and dancing. Click on the following link for a: Traditional Irish Menu.

Symbolism Surrounding Irish Weddings:

There were hundreds of customs surrounding Irish weddings. Here are some of them, but certainly not all!

- “A bracelet of woven hair” was given by the man to the lady he wanted to marry. If she accepted the bracelet it was symbolic of her acceptance of him.
“Aitin’ the gander”. The groom was invited to his bride’s home the night before the wedding to eat a dish of goose cooked in his honour.
- “Harvest knots of straw” were another way a man could declare his intention to marry. He would give one to his bride-to-be decorated either with flowers to go in the hair, or bells to hang around the neck.
- “Claddagh ring”, is an Irish wedding ring designed with a heart at the center, a hand either side of the heart and a crown above. It is symbolic of friendship, loyalty and fidelity.
- “Bride’s dress”: would either have been “best dress”, or a blue dress if they could afford it. The rich would have had their dress trimmed with Irish lace.
- “Bride’s veil”: would have sachets of herbs hung underneath, not only symbolic of fertility, but to ward off evil spirits.
- “Bride’s bouquet”: would comprise wild flowers, in particular the “Bells of Ireland”.
- “Bride’s hair”: would be braided, symbolic of feminine power and luck, with a wreath of wild flowers.
- “Magic handkerchief”: the bride would carry a special handkerchief that could be transformed into a christening bonnet for her first born.
- “Horseshoe”: the bride would be given a lucky horseshoe
- “Groom’s attire”: would either be best dress, or he would wear his clan’s kilt.
- “Chiming bells”: bells would be rung to keep the evil spirits away.
- “The Grushie”: the groom would toss a handful of coins into the crowd after the wedding ceremony, symbolic of bringing good luck.
- “Cuckoo”: it was thought good luck if the bride heard a cuckoo on her wedding morning
- “Singing”: it was considered back luck for a bride and groom to sing at their own wedding.
- “Bride’s feet”: one must always be in contact with the ground when dancing, else the fairies would whisk her away.
- “Mi na meala”: honeymoon, (the month of honey), the bride and groom would drink honed wine said to improve virility and fertility.

How to bring an Irish theme to your wedding:

Irish weddings are increasingly popular as couples return to their heritage. Here are some ideas that you may wish to incorporate into your day:

- Bride’s dress: have a lucky four leaf clover pattern beaded, or embroidered, onto it and incorporate some Irish lace. Alternatively have an Irish lace veil.
- Irish Wedding Vows: incorporate these into your wedding ceremony, e.g. by Morgan Llywelyn. Alternatively you may wish for an Irish poem to be read. Look in the “New Oxford Book of Irish Verse” 1986.
- Unity Candle Vow: e.g. “Irish Vow of Unity” from the Irish Wedding Book
- Irish Blessing: e.g. as engraved on St Patrick’s Breastplate, Thomas Moore, or Jonathon Swift. Alternatively a Druid’s blessing.
- Ceilid:: hire an Irish band playing the “Bodhran” (Irish drum), fiddler, piper, and tin whistle.
- Irish Harpist: hire a musician to play during your wedding ceremony or during your wedding breakfast.
- Irish menu: have an Irish wedding feast – see link above, and a wedding cake made to the Irish recipe.
- Irish Dancers: hire a troupe of Irish dancers.
- Green: have a green colour theme.
- Decorate: using shamrocks, the emblem of Ireland.
- Wedding favours: give miniature “make-up” bells, miniature bottles of Bailey’s Irish Cream, CD of Celtic music, a bar of Irish Spring soap, or Irish lace handkerchief.

Finally, choosing an auspicious day on which to marry - the Irish consider the day before the New Year the luckiest day. Alternatively you may choose the summer or winter solstice, or the spring or autumn equinox, June 21st, December 21st, March 21st and September 21st respectively.

Irish Weddings