Planning An Irish Celtic Wedding

If planning the perfect Celtic ceremony is what you dream about for your special day, it is most beneficial to educate yourself on the historical wedding traditions of the Celtic community. Your Irish wedding will be one of the most important events you will ever orchestrate, and it is one that you will forever remember as both a blessing and as a tribute to your Celtic ancestry.

The Wedding Song

Here are the beautiful words of the most widely used Celtic Wedding Song.

There they stand hand in hand and exchange wedding bands.
Today is the day all 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 are not needed for wealth.
Have 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.
May their children be happy each day
God Bless this family who started today.

In good times and bad times, in sickness and health
May they know that riches are not needed for wealth.
Have them face problems they’ll meet on their way
God Bless this couple who marry today.

As they go, may they know every love that will show
And as life gets shorter, may their feelings grow.
Wherever they travel, wherever they stay,
God Bless this couple who marry today.

In good times and bad times, in sickness and health
May they know that riches are not needed for wealth.
Have them face problems they’ll meet on their way
God Bless this couple who marry today.

Celtic Wedding Traditions

The ancient tradition of a symbolic hand-fasting ceremony is often performed at a Celtic wedding. To include this beautiful ceremony, a rope or length of fabric to wrap around the hands of the couple being joined by marriage will be needed. The “wrap” should be chosen as something that has meaning to both of you. It could be color-coordinated to compliment the colors of your wedding, it can be made up of remnants of your baby blankets, sentimental heirlooms, or a cherished scarf that your grandmother wore.

Some Irish families pass down a wrap from generation to generation. Whatever you choose your wrap to be, it should be significant to you because it will represent the two of you becoming united as one. This symbolic tradition is modernly referred to as “tying the knot”. In the ceremony, the bride and groom face each other, join right hand to right hand, left hand to left hand, and the fabric will be wrapped around your interlocking hands by either the person performing your ceremony or a family member.

Many Celtic brides often have this “knot” which symbolizing love, commitment, and life embroidered into her wedding dress.

Carrying a horseshoe is an Irish custom dating back as far as 400 years. This is where the bride carries a horseshoe as she walks down the aisle to bring the couple good luck. Since carrying the horseshoe can be cumbersome or a bit heavy, brides who don’t want to
Carry one, but also don’t want to completely do without this tradition, will elect to have the emblem of a horseshoe sewn into her wedding dress or even into the hand-fasting wrap.

The “Gushie” is a another traditional Irish custom that is performed by the groom. He tosses a handful of coins into the crowd of guests at your wedding reception or into the line of recession as he and his bride leave the church after being pronounced lawfully married. Since heavy coins could injure someone, use small coins or ones that have been specifically made for this purpose.

Another very old traditional is to be married in bare feet to symbolize your grounding or connection to the earth. There are many more traditions that you can research for inclusion in your wedding day. Whichever ones you choose will respectfully serve to honor your proud Celtic heritage.

Wedding Bagpipes
Probably one of the most memorable and cherished touches you can add to your ceremony are the unmistakable sounds of the Great Highland bagpipes. A bit loud, they can be, but that is the unmatchable signature of their grandeur and paramount appeal. The effect is breathtaking and will leave even the most laid back person with goose-bumps. Their grandiose sound has no musical equal.

Keep in mind, however, that a little bagpiping goes a long way. It is preferable and makes more of an impact to the piping planned at certain moments thoughout the celebration, than it is to have one long performance.

Many brides wish to have the bagpiper play as few musical selections as the guests are entering the church before the ceremony begins. This makes a grand welcome to all who have come to celebrate your day. Perhaps some piping can be played to offer a bold entrance as the groom and his best man take their place at the altar or as the bride is about to embark down the aisle.

Another great time to play is during the recessional when the bride and groom leave the church as husband and wide while rice is being thrown and the limosine awaits.

At the start of the reception, you can have the bagpipes playing while your guests are arriving at the cocktail hour, and again, as they enter the main room where your reception will take place.

Your Irish Honeymoon
Go full circle with your dreams and honeymoon to the legendary landscapes of Ireland. Marvel at the stunning scenery, discover incredible history, explore fascinating castles, captivating cities, and brace yourself for unparalled cultural delights.

While you’re there, go back to your roots and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage of self discovery. And don’t hold back when bringing home special treasures from the Celtic land. These mementos will be frozen in time, and will forever take you back to this beautiful land your ancestors call home.