March 17, 2024
Every year on March 17, the world turns a little greener. Cities dye their rivers, shamrocks appear everywhere, and people gladly claim at least a little Irish heritage for the day. For those of us who work in the wedding world, St. Patrick’s Day is also a wonderful opportunity to explore the rich traditions Ireland has contributed to marriage celebrations.
Ireland has a long and beautiful wedding heritage shaped by faith, folklore, superstition, and a deep appreciation for love and family. Many traditions were meant to bring good fortune to the couple. Others were intended to protect them from evil spirits. Still others simply celebrated the joy of two lives joining together.
Many couples planning an Irish-themed wedding incorporate some of these traditions into their ceremony or reception:
• Shamrocks and lucky horseshoes
• A sixpence coin in the bride’s shoe for prosperity
• Celtic embroidery or Irish lace in the wedding dress
• The groom wearing a traditional Irish kilt
• Handfasting, the ancient “tying the knot” ceremony
• Claddagh wedding rings symbolize love, loyalty, and friendship
• Irish wedding bells for luck and protection
• Traditional Irish music or Uilleann pipe players
• Celtic wedding blessings and Gaelic vows
Some of these traditions have faded over time. In ancient Ireland, couples avoided marrying during the harvest season because the entire community was working in the fields. Saturday weddings were also discouraged. Ironically, Saturdays in September and October are now among the most popular wedding dates.
Another old custom involved eating salt on the wedding day as a symbol of protection and loyalty.
Many traditions, however, remain alive and well today. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are several Irish wedding traditions and blessings that still appear in modern ceremonies.
At Irish-themed weddings, you may see shamrocks or tiny horseshoes worked into the décor or the bride’s bouquet. In older traditions, brides sometimes carried an actual horseshoe down the aisle. The horseshoe was held open-side up so that the good fortune would never run out.
Another superstition involved placing a sixpence coin in the bride’s right shoe. The sixpence symbolized prosperity and was believed to bring financial good fortune to the couple’s future.
Many brides of Irish heritage incorporate Celtic symbolism into their wedding attire. Celtic knots, crosses, and shamrocks may be embroidered into the dress or veil. Irish lace is often used in headpieces or veils to honor family heritage.
In colder climates, some brides also wear a traditional bridal cloak made from wool or a blend of wool and Irish linen. The cloak adds both elegance and practicality, keeping the bride warm while honoring Irish tradition.
Traditional Irish wedding attire often includes a formal kilt. Irish tartans typically represent counties or regions, while Scottish tartans traditionally represent clans.
A formal kilt outfit often includes a Brian Boru jacket, named after the famous Irish warrior king. The groom may also wear a white tuxedo shirt with bow tie, knee socks with ribbons matching the tartan, a sporran with shamrock detailing, and ghillie brogue shoes.
Interestingly, kilts are actually more common at Irish-themed weddings in America than in Ireland itself. Today, you are more likely to see kilts worn by pipers, musicians, or Irish dancers during the celebration.
One of the most popular unity ceremonies today comes from an ancient Celtic tradition known as handfasting. In fact, the phrase “tying the knot” comes directly from this ritual.
In early Celtic culture, handfasting functioned as a type of engagement or trial marriage. The couple would bind their hands together and live as husband and wife for a year and a day to determine whether they were truly compatible.
Today, the ceremony carries a symbolic meaning. During the wedding ceremony, the officiant wraps a cord or ribbon around the couple’s hands as they exchange vows. Sometimes all four hands are bound together. More commonly, the bride and groom’s right hands are tied.
The binding represents unity, commitment, and the joining of two lives together.
To read our article on all unity ceremonies, click here.
Few symbols capture Irish love and loyalty like the Claddagh ring.
First appearing in Galway in the seventeenth century, the design features two hands holding a heart with a crown above it. Each element carries meaning.
The hands represent friendship.
The heart represents love.
The crown represents loyalty.
Even the way the ring is worn communicates a message. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward, it indicates the wearer is single. When the heart faces inward, the wearer is in a relationship. When worn on the left hand as a wedding ring, the heart points inward toward the wearer’s heart.
Many couples also engrave a Gaelic phrase or blessing on the inside of the ring.
In many cultures, bells are believed to drive away evil spirits. At weddings, they also symbolize harmony and joy.
Some churches ring bells as the couple exits after the ceremony. At receptions, guests may ring small bells to celebrate the newlyweds. It is also common to give a decorative bell as a wedding gift.
You may even see Bells of Ireland flowers included in the bouquet, symbolizing good luck in the language of flowers.
Irish brides often carry a white linen handkerchief embroidered with shamrocks. After the wedding, the handkerchief is sometimes transformed into a bonnet for the couple’s first child’s christening. It is a beautiful tradition that connects the wedding day with future generations.
Music is an essential part of Irish weddings.
Irish dancers often perform at receptions, accompanied by traditional musicians. A Uilleann pipe player may perform before the ceremony or announce the bride’s arrival.
Unlike the louder Scottish Highland bagpipes, the Irish Uilleann pipes produce a softer and more intimate sound, making them well-suited for indoor ceremonies.
Another option is a harpist playing the Celtic harp, Ireland’s national symbol. The harp appears on everything from Irish government documents to labels on bottles of Guinness.
No Irish celebration would be complete without a toast.
One traditional drink is mead, a honey-based beverage among the oldest in Ireland. In medieval times, newly married couples would drink mead together for a full moon cycle following the wedding.
This custom is believed to be the root of the word “honeymoon.”
Other popular Irish drinks include Irish whiskey, Irish Mist liqueur, cream liqueurs, cider, and beer.
And of course, many toasts end with the traditional Irish cheer: Sláinte!
Ireland has a rich tradition of wedding blessings and vows that draw heavily on nature, seasons, and faith. Trees, rivers, mountains, and wind often appear in these ancient words. Some couples incorporate these blessings into their ceremonies or use them during toasts at the reception. Here are a few traditional examples:
Catholicism is the largest religion in Ireland. Many couples still opt for a traditional church wedding, so many Irish wedding vows come from Roman Catholic ceremonies.
Groom: I (name), take you(name) as my wife,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
till death us do part. (Or: all the days of our life.)
Bride: Repeats this with alternate names and titles.
Priest: What God joins together, man must not separate.
May the Lord confirm the consent that you have given and enrich you with his blessings.
The couple exchanges rings.
Priest: Lord, bless (name) and(name) and consecrate their married life.
May these rings be a symbol of their faith in each other
and a reminder to them of their love, through Christ our Lord.
The couple then recites the following prayer, and the ceremony is complete.
Bride and Groom: We thank you, Lord, and we praise you for bringing us to this happy day.
You have given us to each other. Now, together, we give ourselves to you.
We ask you, Lord: make us one in our love; keep us one in your peace.
Protect our marriage. Bless our home. Make us gentle.
Keep us faithful.
And when life is over,
unite us again where parting is no more in the kingdom of your love.
There, we will praise you in the happiness and peace of our eternal home. Amen.
a) Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone. I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One. I give ye my Spirit, `til our Life shall be Done. You cannon possess me, for I belong to myself, but while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give You cannon command me, for I am a free person, but I shall serve you in those ways you require, and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
b) I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine, from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night and into your eyes that I smile each morning; I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine, never shall a grievous word be spoken about us, for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance. Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life and into the next.
c) I, (name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee (name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness, and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
d) By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me. As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh one that I love, `til death comes to part us asunder.
e) We swear by peace and love to stand, Heart to heart and hand to hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, Confirming this our Sacred Vow.
f) You are the star of each night, you are the brightness of every morning, you are the story of each guest, you are the report of every land. No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank, In field or valley, on mountain or in glen. Neither above, nor below, neither in sea, Nor on shore, in skies above, Nor in the depths. You are the kernel of my heart; you are the face of my sun; you are the harp of my music; you are the crown of my company.
g) Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Walk beside me and just be my friend.
h) May the gentle breeze bear witness to this ritual and carry its message to all lands. May the sun warm their hearts, and its ever-burning fire fuel their desire for each other. May the water provide for them from its bounty and comfort their souls with their sounds. May the land lend its strength and reveal its mysteries.
The following are some old Irish blessings, usually used during toasts and speeches, but can easily be incorporated into personal vows;
May the gentle breeze bear witness
to this ritual and carry its message to all lands.
May the sun warm their hearts,
and its ever-burning fire fuel their desire for each other.
May the water provide for them from its bounty
and comfort their souls with their sounds.
May the land lend its strength and reveal its mysteries.”
As A Light to The Eye, As Joy to The Heart
By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.
As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me.
As a light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart,
May thy presence be with me,
Oh, one that I love, `til death comes to part us asunder.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
And, today, may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts.” “May joy and peace surround you both, Contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now. And God Bless you evermore. May you live your life with trust, and nurture lifelong affection, may your lifelong dreams come true for you, Move ever that direction.” “Happy is the bride that rain falls on. May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
and your hearts joined forever in love.
May your lives be filled with happiness
And may God bless all your days together.
May the sunshine brighten your heart, may the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you. And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.” "May the longtime sun shine on you, All love surround you, And pure light within you Guide you on your way." "There they stand, hand in hand, and exchange wedding bands. Today is the day of all their dreams and plans. And all of their loved ones are here to say, God bless this couple who marry today." “In good times and bad times, in sickness and health, may they know that riches aren't needed for wealth. Help them face problems they'll meet on their way -- God bless this couple who marry today. May they find peace of mind comes to all who are kind, may the rough times ahead become triumphs in time ay the rough times ahead become triumphs intime, may their children be happy each day -- God bless this family who started today.
As they go, may they know every love that was shown,
and as life gets shorter, may their feelings grow.
Wherever they travel, wherever they stay,
God bless this couple who marry today.
This is a common Irish blessing bestowed on the couple by the priest before leaving the church:
“May the meaning of this hour be fulfilled through the days and years to come. May the love of this man and this woman, their unity of spirit, grow deeper and stronger in the uncertainties and changes of life they will share.
Loving each other, may they love all persons. Trusting each other, may they learn to trust life. May their love reach out to the love of all, that their lives may bless all whose lives they touch. May they find comfort together in shared hours of shadow, as well as in the bright sunshine of joy.
May they be to each other both strong and gentle. May all who follow their lives with interest and affection have cause to rejoice not alone in their happiness, but in their brave and generous living, which makes life beautiful and significant.”
In Ireland, couples may exchange vows in either English or Irish Gaelic. While Gaelic vows add a strong cultural element to the ceremony, not everyone present may understand the language.
For that reason, even the gaeilgeoirs (Someone who speaks Irish), choose to use English or a mixture of both languages. For anyone who wants to try to say their vows in Irish, here is a similar version of the traditional Irish wedding ceremony vows above;
Here is an example of a traditional vow in Irish Gaelic:
Chun grá a thabhairt dá chéile go dílis, más fearr sinn, más measa, más saibhir, más bocht, más tinn nó más slán go scara an bás sinn.
This reflects the familiar promise to love one another faithfully for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, until death parts them.
As I wrap up this St. Patrick’s Day post, I should confess something. My own heritage is Scottish. With a last name like Anderson, that should not surprise anyone.
There is an old joke that says, “Everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Except the Scottish. We are still Scottish.”
Since the Scots do not have a holiday quite as famous as St. Patrick’s Day, I will borrow this moment to share one of my favorite traditional Scottish wedding vows.
I take thee to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
for fairer, for fouler,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death we depart,
according to God’s holy ordinance,
and thereto I plight thee my troth.
No matter the country, culture, or tradition, the heart of a wedding remains the same. Two people stand before God, family, and friends and promise to walk through life together.
That promise is the real blessing. And that is something worth celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day.
If you are planning a wedding and would like to incorporate traditions like handfasting, Celtic blessings, or other meaningful ceremony elements, I am always happy to help couples design a ceremony that reflects their story.
Thumbnail Image: Image by Dee from Pixabay
Main Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay