Ten Irish Wedding Traditions to Include on Your Big Day

Weddings are a wonderful time to pay tribute to the traditions of the past in a meaningful way. For couples with links to Ireland, there are plenty of wonderful customs that can be easily incorporated into modern-day ceremonies and celebrations.

Advice from Wedding Experts

Michelle Johnstone Clark of Waterlily Weddings, specialists in destination ceremonies in Ireland, helped us pull together some fantastic traditions that will add a lovely Irish touch to any big day. And Gail Quinn, an experienced Irish wedding solemniser, suggests several ceremonial elements to put a Celtic spin on celebrations too!

1. Tie the Knot

Handfasting was the original Irish wedding ceremony and has it's roots in ancient Ireland. Overseen by a person of high standing in the community, a druid, poet or filí, this ritual involves tying the hands of the couple together with rope, ribbon or lace representing their union and their bonds that will only grow stronger, especially in times of pressure.

This ceremony would often take place at important Irish festivals like Lunasa, where "love knots" would be exchanged between young couples intending to marry.

And this wedding tradition has not only survived in Ireland but thrived, helped in no small part by a very public wedding ceremony. Kate and William, included a handfasting element as part of their lavish ceremony in 2011.

It is the number one request that Michelle gets from couples planning their Irish wedding ceremony. “It’s something that I really like because you can personalise it,” she says.

Gail Quinn agrees, adding that the bride and groom can select special colours for the ribbons or cords used and couples can invite children, parents, or friends to get involved by bringing up the individual strands. As Michelle explained, "the ribbons are put over the couple’s hands individually.”

Gail tells us that the knot itself then becomes a lovely keepsake for the couple that can be framed as a memento of a special day. Many of our customers get in touch for keepsakes to add to their hand fastening ribbons - a brooch or charm, like this beautiful Sterling silver Claddagh, pieces that are lasting mementos of the ceremony that can be treasured for a lifetime.

2. Incorporate Irish Music with Uilleann Pipes

Although many may associate bagpipes with Ireland, uillleann pipes as a more authentic Irish instrument. “They’re much quieter, sweeter and have a better range,” Michelle says. “They’re kind of like the Irish cousin of the Scottish bagpipe. They’re a very unique sound and they accompany the ceremony very well.”

“Imagine being in the garden of a castle or a beautiful old Irish church. You’re all standing waiting excitedly, and the bride comes in to these uilleann pipes, a sound that you just instantly associate with being Irish. That’s a pretty cool tradition to add in.” We would add that there won't be a dry eye in the house. Uillean pipes are pretty emotive!

3. Keep a Lace Handkerchief

A useful accessory for dealing with any of those happy tears on the day, an Irish bride traditionally comes prepared with a lace or linen handkerchief, which is later used to make a bonnet for the christening of the couple’s first child.

“It’s a really simple but beautiful tradition,” Michelle comments. “The handkerchief can also get handed down from generation to generation, which is really nice. And of course, Ireland has such a long history with lace.”

4. A sixpence in the shoe or a coin exchange

Being a superstitious bunch, there are a lot of Irish wedding traditions that are based on luck and warding away evil spirits! Michelle tells us that a "sixpence is supposed to be a good luck charm for the bride," bringing her wealth and prosperity in her marriage.

Historically, it would have been a silver coin, a very old tradition that has links back to medieval Brehon law in Ireland in the Cáin Lánamna, the "Law of Couples."

Traditionally it was a bride's parents and the groom that would give the bride coins on the big day. The one from her parents, was placed in her shoe for the wedding, and only used to buy something that would last down the line. The other coin was presented to the bride by the groom during the ceremony, as a symbol of his commitment to provide for their family.

Gail tells us that today, many Irish brides opt to glue a coin to the sole of their shoe in a nod to the tradition, certainly more comfortable! These days, couples typically exchanging coins during their marriage ceremony to mark their mutual commitment to each other.

This is a lovely tradition as again, Gail tells us that the coins exchanged can be meaningful for the couple, one from their birth year, one from their home nation, or with a symbolic design. They again are something to be treasured, an investment, and a family heirloom that can be passed on along with the story of the day they commemorate.

5. Get Your Good Luck Horseshoe

Like the wedding coins, a horseshoe was thought to bring the bride good fortune for her nuptials. While a real iron horseshoe doesn’t quite fit in everyone's idea of an elegant wedding look, this ancient custom can easily be given a modern makeover. Some brides choose to incorporate a horseshoe in their bridal bouquet with a charm, or horseshoe made of porcelain or fabric.

Michelle explains that brides “wrap Irish lace around the stems of the flowers and they’ll sew a tiny horseshoe into the lace, just to carry on the tradition. Or, they’ll have it on a pin and they’ll pin it to the underside of their dress.” Some brides will even incorporate a horseshoe on their garter if they are wearing one.

6. Warming Irish Wedding Rings

Gail tells us that despite there being no official requirement to do so, without fail, every couple that she works with exchanges rings as part of their wedding ceremony.

Of course, exchanging rings isn't a uniquely Irish tradition - wedding rings are a near universal symbol of marriage. But Irish ring designs have beautiful and romantic symbolism that have fitting significance for a wedding. The Claddagh and the Celtic Knot are just two examples:

The Claddagh

Claddagh rings have been exchanged in Ireland for centuries. The heart, hands and crown of the Claddagh are said to represent Love, Loyalty and Friendship. The Claddagh ring was originally offered as a wedding token and is still a hugely popular ring for Weddings. With this ring we have adapted the design to sit in a band making it a more versatile piece that can sits well with a claddagh engagement ring.

A bride can also wear a claddagh as a bracelet, pendant or earrings and her bridesmaids can get in on the act too, wearing their own claddagh jewellery.

Celtic Knot

The Celtic Knot is at the heart of many traditional Irish designs. Our Celtic Knot rings are inspired by the infinite variety of designs found in the pages of our ancient manuscripts, adorning ancient metalwork, or on the proud high stone crosses that still stand on our hills after thousands of years. The Celtic Lovers Knot in particular has perfect symbolism for a wedding ring, representing an unbreakable bond and eternal love.

This symbolism is so fitting in fact that many couples we work with choose to make Celtic Knotwork a theme of their wedding, incorporating it into stationary, jewellery, their handfastening and even their bridesmaid and groomsman gifts.

And we Irish like to take the ritual of the rings up a notch, with the warming of the rings. Who knows how this old tradition first got started? Perhaps it taps into the Irish love for audience participation! However it started, Gail tells us that ring warming is VERY popular here in Ireland and always a hit with guests.

Early in the ceremony, the wedding rings are passed between the hands of the couple's wedding guests. Friends and family are invited to infuse these symbols with their love and blessings for the couple.

This lovely tradition involves everyone at the ceremony, and it also gives your guests a chance to see and appreciate the beautiful rings you have chosen up close. Gail assures us that the rings always make their way back to the couple for the all important ring exchange!

7. Salt Covenant

This is another Irish tradition with ties to good luck and prosperity! In years gone by, salt was a hugely valuable commodity - more valuable even than gold - and so was seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity.

Given this value and significance, agreements and promises were often sealed by a salt covenant. People would exchange a pinch of salt on the understanding that their agreement could not be broken unless they could retrieve all of their own grains of salt - a close to impossible task!

This is a lovely ceremony and perfect for the couple that likes to cook! Gail tells us that again the couple can tailor it to themselves - each person choosing a salt that they like. Achill sea salt is a favourite in our house for that Irish touch. This mingled salt can then be used by the couple when they are preparing dishes in their newly married life together, as a tasty reminder of that happy day. And when the salt runs out, Gail encourages couples to repeat the process of mingling salt, as a way of reaffirming that bond and commitment throughout their lives together.

8. Honey Wine and Drinking from the Quaich

The phrase honeymoon stems from the Irish tradition of toasting with mead, a honey wine. Although not commonly served at modern Irish weddings these days, it's a pricey liquid being made primarily from honey, this is a ritual that many couples carry on today, according to Michelle.

For those that prefer a different tipple, Gail suggests incorporating drinking from the Quaich into their ceremony. This is a decidedly ancient ritual with ties back to the tales of Oisín, son of one of Ireland’s greatest heroes, Fionn MacCumhail, and both Ireland and our Celtic cousins in Scotland lay claim to it.

Wherever it started, the Quaich, is simply an ornate Gaelic drinking vessel. Typically, drinking from the Quaich happens at the end of the ceremony: a great tradition to get the party started and again to involve the wedding guests.

Gail tells us that loved ones, friends, or family can bring up two drinks of significance for the couple. These are mixed in the Quaich and the couple then take their first drink of their married life together. It is traditional for the the couple to polish off the lot and hold the Quaich aloft, in some cases upside-down over the grooms head, to the cheers of all. I've been at a several Irish weddings that finished this way and I can confirm it is certainly a rousing way to end the ceremony!

9. Traditional Irish Wedding Cake

Although cakes of all flavours and varieties are common at Irish weddings these days the traditional Irish wedding cake is a fruit cake. And Irish couples will often choose to have at least one of the layers made in this dense and rich cake as it is yet another tradition to save a small piece to eat at the christening the couple's first child. But this cake is not to everyone's taste and if you don't fancy it, you can always update the recipe keeping the spirit of the spicy traditional cake.

Check out our own Irish wedding cake recipe which combines the flavours of the traditional cake with a lighter texture that is a little easier to combine with dancing and celebrations on the big day!

10. Celebrate in Ireland

Finally, one way to ensure you have an Irish feel to your wedding is to locate the celebration in Ireland!

Have you ever dreamed of a Destination Wedding in Ireland? Waterlily Weddings help couples from around the world to arrange “the perfect wedding day in Ireland.” Check out their gallery for inspiration! And of course Gail is the safest pair of hands to help you craft the perfect Irish ceremony for you.

Here to help

And of course if it is wedding rings or jewellery you need, we are here to assist and put our decades of experience in your service. We have been honored to help so many lovely couples find their perfect Irish wedding rings and jewellery over the years.

Each couple are different, and are drawn to the real connection to Ireland that comes from working with our expert team, and of course to the wonderful symbolism of our designs! We are here and ready to help if you have any questions about your own wedding plans, our Irish or Celtic Wedding rings, engagement rings, bridal jewellery, or gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen.