| Honor your Emerald Isle heritage with traditions that | | | | confectionary concoction. Eeeek!Noise MakersA noisy |
| are romantic, clever, and a couple that are downright | | | | way to ring in your nuptials with the luck o' the Irish |
| strange. Uncover here how to fill your wedding with | | | | is to have a recessional like those in Celtic history: |
| all things Irish save the Blarney Stone.Harvest | | | | instead of throwing rice upon exiting the church, men |
| KnotsAccording to history, Irish men declared their | | | | would fire rifles or other firearms into the air to signal |
| intentions of marriage by giving their fiancee harvest | | | | that a couple is wed. Not your traditional exit (most |
| knots of straw decorated with flowers or bells to | | | | churches would frown upon guns in the parking lot), if |
| wear in their hair or around their neck. Make a | | | | the men use blanks in their guns, and if you are |
| harvest knot to wear on your wedding day, or place | | | | getting married in an area without noise ordinances, |
| one in your bouquet to symbolize your Irish | | | | then fire away, Irish style.Giving the CladdaghTwo |
| heritage.CeilidhThe steps of Irish folkdances are called | | | | hands holding a heart underneath a crown is the Irish |
| ceilidh. Treat your attendants to an Irish dancing | | | | symbol for "Let Love and Friendship Reign". Share |
| lesson, and then "perform" a jig to traditional Irish | | | | your Irish heritage with your attendants by giving |
| music at the reception.Lace! A way to incorporate | | | | them Celtic-inspired gifts marked with the claddagh. |
| Celtic pride into your wedding attire (besides | | | | Give your maid of honor a candle gift engraved with |
| hand-beading four leaf clovers all over your gown) is | | | | the "faith ring", or jewelry made of claddagh. Buy |
| to adorn yourself with beautiful Irish lace. Known for | | | | claddagh wedding rings, or wear the Irish symbol |
| its intricate patterns and zenith quality, wear a veil or | | | | around your neck on your wedding day as a |
| carry a handkerchief made of this intricate Irish | | | | reminder of your heritage.Tokens of HairA more |
| decoration.Playin' o' the PipesInfuse your ceremony | | | | unusual Irish tradition is for the man to give the |
| with the strains of the Irish pipes. Although bagpipes | | | | woman he loves a bracelet woven of human hair. |
| have Celtic roots, they are traditionally Scottish. For a | | | | Symbolic of acceptance, when the woman wears the |
| truly Emerald Isle affair, locate an Irish uillean piper to | | | | circle of hair, she is linking herself to him for life. |
| lead the processional or recessional.Irish Wedding | | | | There's no mention of exactly who's hair it is, |
| FeastThe customary wedding feast in Ireland was a | | | | however, so if wearing hair jewelry gives you the |
| potluck hosted at the bride's family's home. Each | | | | heevies, see "Harvest Knots" for the same idea, |
| guest brought traditional Irish dishes such as soda | | | | using straw instead. Lucky DatesThe traditionally |
| bread, coddle, and stew. Even if you're having a | | | | superstitious Irish believed that the last day of the |
| more formal reception, you can still celebrate this | | | | year is especially lucky, since the couple would wake |
| Irish tradition by having a "feast" for your bridal | | | | up on the first day of their new life on the first day |
| shower or rehearsal dinner.The Wedding CakeOld | | | | of the new year. Plan your wedding for December |
| custom dictates that the Irish wedding cake (usually | | | | 31, the luckiest of Celtic days.Jackie Duescher |
| a dense fruit cake with white icing) was cut by one | | | | provides the customer service for Keepsake Favors |
| of the bride's sisters or bridesmaids. Where would | | | | as well as inspiration for many of the favor creations |
| they cut it? Over her head, of course. The bride | | | | on the site. Jackie has a special knack for finding Irish |
| remained seated while the groomsmen held the cake | | | | themed favors for weddings other occasions, and |
| over her head while her sister or best friend did the | | | | she firmly believes that a favor doesn't have to be |
| honors. Our only concern: this tradition works best | | | | expensive to impress your guests. |
| and safest when the cake is NOT a four-tiered | | | | |