Wedding Traditions in Ireland

Wedding Traditions in Ireland. Many of the wedding traditions in Ireland have influenced popular culture and are adapted by people of all backgrounds. Most of these traditions can be easily incorporated into modern-day celebrations and ceremonies.

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Here are some of Ireland’s fantastic wedding traditions.

Getting married during Shrovetide.

Shrovetide, or the days that precede Lent, are the usual days when people in Ireland hold a wedding. The most popular day to hold a wedding ceremony is “Shrove Tuesday” which means the day before Ash Wednesday.

As opposed to modern practice, Saturday is the least favored day, the basis of which is on a folk rhyme that’s attributed to the Celtic region.

Horseshoe for good luck.

Brides would usually carry an upright horseshoe for good luck when they walk down the aisle. Sometimes it is placed in their bouquets and sometimes it is sewn into their wedding dresses.

Wedding coin as a gift.

On the couple’s wedding day, the groom presents a coin to the bride. This tradition symbolizes his intention to give her his support.

Handfasting ceremony.

The handfasting ritual is done when the couple’s wrists are tied together with one or more ropes. It is a symbol of two becoming one. The symbolic union, which has Celtic roots, can be done at any point in the wedding ceremony. Usually, it is performed before, after, or during the exchange of vows.

Traditional Irish feast.

Prepared and served at a big wedding party, the menu is traditionally Irish which includes cabbage, Irish soda bread, and corned beef. There’s also a lot of Guinness Stout and whiskey to wash the food down. As for the wedding cake, there’s the traditional Irish fruitcake that’s laced with bourbon or brandy. It is usually filled with cherries, raisins, spice, and almonds.

Wedding toast.

For the wedding toast, the wedding party gathers around the couple. Everyone fills his glass with mead. Then the newlyweds would recite an Irish toast. After reciting, the guests would respond with a traditional chant about wishing the couple “the goodness of the old, the best of the new.”

Lock the door!

Did you know that Irish men were known to have cold feet on the day of the wedding? As soon as the bride and groom are inside the church, the guests would immediately lock the door. This is done to make sure that the groom stays inside and finishes the whole ceremony.

Claddagh engagement rings.

Wearing Claddagh rings is a 400-year-old tradition that symbolizes friendship, love, and loyalty. The rings, which depict a pair of hands holding a heart that is topped by a crown, are worn by those who are single, engaged or married. However, if you wear the ring with the heart facing your body, it means that your heart is taken. Another well-loved tradition among modern couples is using a Celtic cross as an adornment to an engagement ring or wedding ring.

Lace handkerchief.

Traditionally, an Irish bride would carry a lace handkerchief on her wedding day. It is later turned into a bonnet that the couple uses for the christening of their first child. It is not an ordinary lace handkerchief since it gets handed down from generation to generation.

Ring the bell.

Bells were believed to have the power of driving away from the evil spirits and ensuring a harmonious family life. For this reason, bells were traditionally chimed at Irish weddings. Now, bells are a common gift for the couple. Some Irish brides are also known to carry small bells in their wedding bouquets to remind the couple of their sacred wedding vows.

Blue wedding gowns.

In Ireland, brides would wear wedding gowns in blue which is believed to be the color of innocence and purity. If you’re planning to incorporate this tradition on your wedding day but are not sure about wearing a blue wedding dress, you may opt to have your bridesmaids don blue dresses instead.

Now that you have an idea of the wedding traditions in Ireland, you may want to incorporate some into your own wedding. For example, you may drink champagne instead of mead and then recite an Irish toast.
You can also use Claddagh rings for your wedding bands.

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