Wedding Traditions in Ireland

Irish wedding traditions are quite popular among Christian weddings. Most white weddings have similar rituals and customs with some differences from region to region. Similarly Christian marriage customs in Ireland are more or less similar with some variations in terminologies and the fashion in which the rituals are practiced. So, if you are planning an Irish wedding, then spend some time learning about the different wedding traditions in Ireland. This will help you plan your marriage better.

Irish wedding traditions:

Wedding traditions in Ireland are several and varied, some of the most popular ones include the following:

The Irish Claddagh Ring:

The wedding ring of an Irish bride is termed as Claddagh ring. Traditionally, an Irish wedding ring has to be of a particular design, which is usually a heart with a crown on top and held in two hands. Each of three symbols has deeper significance; heart stands for love, hands signifies faith and crown represents honor. The motto of the ring is “Let love and friendship reign”.

In case a lady wears the Claddagh ring on the right hand with the heart pointing towards the tip of her fingers, it means she is single and is free to look for her Mr. Right. But if the ring is worn on the same hand upside down, with the end of the heart pointing inwards, it signifies she is engaged. And lastly, if a woman wears the same ring on the left hand, it signifies that she is married.

Wedding Day Traditions in Ireland

According to traditional Irish customs, the to-be married couple is supposed to walk to the church, before they exchange the wedding vows. The tradition includes showering rice on the couple by the onlookers as they walk down the street towards the church.

The wedding attire of an Irish bride is usually a blue dress instead of white. This is because, in the ancient time blue signified purity. However in the early 1500s, white became the color of Christian wedding dresses which symbolizes purity and virginity.

Lavender being the color signifying luck, devotion, loyalty and love, is often used in Irish weddings. It is especially used in wedding flowers, which is a way of ensuring long-lasting and happy union of the couple.

Braiding of hair symbolizes feminine luck and power, according to ancient Irish traditions. This custom is still followed in today’s date. The bride braids her hair prior to the wedding, which is one of the significant Ireland wedding traditions. Irish people also believe that getting married on the St. Patrick’s Day is sure to bring good luck, health and prosperity in the lives of the married couple.

An Irish Honeymoon

The tradition of honeymoons is quite a significant one in all forms of weddings, and especially in Christian weddings. The tradition is all about spending a month with your newly wedded partner in seclusion. The couple is also supposed to drink a special wine made out of wine and mead for the entire month.

The list of wedding traditions in Ireland is quite an elaborate one. Abovementioned are of some of the important customs followed in the country. The information here will help you combine old and new traditions and make your wedding very special one for you and your partner.