5 Old Irish Wedding Traditions

In lieu of St. Patrick’s Day, lets discuss five old Irish wedding traditions. Many of the old traditions have disappeared over the years.  Irish weddings today,  can be very traditional from adding all the old traditions or  just incorporating a few things into your wedding ceremony.

1. Tying the Knot

Tying the Knot or Handfasting is a very old Celtic tradition. It involves tying the hands of the couple who is being wed. This is actually done well in advanced of their wedding day. In comparison to newer traditions by a man proposing to his future bride, Handfasting is when both man and women decide if they would like to commit to each other. In modern times Handfasting occurs on the wedding day. In Ireland Handfasting was recognized as a legal form of marriage, when it was ruled by Brehon law.

2. Lucky Horseshoe

All around the world the horseshoe is well known to bring luck. When the horseshoe is placed upright over a door or in a room it will bring that home luck. In Ireland it became very poplar for a Bride to carry the horseshoe down the aisle. This was believed to bring the couple luck. Once the bride and groom moved into their home as a married couple the groom would hang the same horseshoe up in their home!

3. Flowers

The house that  held the wedding celebration was to be decorated in locally grown flowers and plants. Of course it depended on the time of year and what flowers were in bloom. Some brides now, use Bells of Ireland as a symbol of their heritage. In Wales, Myrtle, which is a plant, is presented by the Bride to her maids. The bridesmaids then planted Myrtle in their garden and if the plant grew than the bridesmaid would be married before the end of the year!

4. Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh ring is a very traditional aspect in the Irish culture. The ring has a crown (symbolizes loyalty) on top with two hands (symbolizes friendship) holding a heart (symbolizes love). If worn on the right hand with the heart facing toward the body, this means that person is in a relationship, or someone has their heart. If its worn on the same hand but with the heart facing outward that shows you have not yet found the person you are going to marry, but you are looking for a suitor! If the ring is worn on the left hand, ring finger, and the heart faces outward from the body that usually means the person is engaged. If wearing the ring with the heart facing in shows you are married. The heart faces in to show you are in a everlasting relationship and your heart has been captured.

5. Bag Pipers

Bag Pipers have been used to perform at weddings and ceremonies for centuries. The Scots and Irish really have kept this tradition alive in the past and present times. Pipers can be used through out the ceremony and reception. Of course the traditional (Kilt) clothing is worn by the piper as well. Here is a list that most bride and grooms ask a piper to play during their big day.

• Outside the church or ceremony site as guests arrive.
• Play during the seating of the bride and groom’s parents.
• Pipe-in the groom and his attendants.
• Play the Processional for the bride and/or her attendants.
• Play a special selection at some point during the ceremony.
• Pipe-Out the Recessional for the wedding party (bride, groom, attendants, parents, etc.) after the ceremony.
• Entertain during the receiving line and/or photographs after the ceremony.
• Play the couple to the limousine after the receiving line and/or photographs.
• Perform outside the reception party as guests arrive.
• Pipe-in the couple and/or wedding party to the reception.
• Entertain at the reception.
• Play During Cocktail Hour

To add a personal touch today, my husband and I used a bagpiper at our wedding. Being from a traditional Irish family, we wanted to incorporate something from our heritage. The bag piper was just one of the most memorable aspects of our wedding. After we said ‘I Do’ and the ceremony was just about over, we had the piper start playing at the beginning of the aisle and pipe all the way down to where we were standing at the alter. I will never forget the feeling I had when the bag pipes started roaring up and echoing through the church. It was beautiful and I know it meant a lot to our guests, especially the older family members. After he marched us out of the church, he continued to play outside as the guests existed the church. Later, we had the piper play at our reception during cocktail hour, we had  him play outside on the grounds of the golf club. He was heard by everyone and others who were enjoying a round of golf! Bringing tradition to our wedding was so humbling to us and very unforgettable.

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