- A famous Irish wedding tradition, the Claddagh ring is a symbol of love and loyalty. This traditional ring features a heart topped by a crown and held by two hands. Each of these elements has a symbolism, the heart signifying love, the crown standing for honor and the hands symbolizing faith. Women wear the ring on their right hand when they are single or engaged and on the left when they get married.
- Shamrocks, the national emblem of Ireland, represent the Holy Trinity and are used at traditional Irish weddings. The bride's bouquet includes a small horseshoe for good luck, a tradition dating back centuries. In Northern Ireland, some brides prefer to carry a white Bible instead of flowers. Other flowers used at Irish weddings are white lilies, white roses, daisies and Bells of Ireland.
- Even though many Irish brides opt for a standard white dress, the traditional color for bridal gowns in Irish tradition is blue. In the past, blue represented purity and some Irish brides choose to add blue accessories to their gowns. Traditional gowns use Irish lace and they incorporate traditional symbols, like the Celtic knot. The bride carries a "magic" handkerchief that signifies fertility in her bouquet or sleeve. At the birth of the first child, the handkerchief is used as a christening bonnet.
- An Irish bride does not fix the veil herself, but calls an already happily married woman to do it for her. To show devotion for her new life, the bride must take a different path to get from church at home than the one she used to get there. Many Irish brides choose to walk along their future husband to the church instead of meeting him there. An old Irish wedding tradition is the "Hand fasting ceremony" which is to tie the hands of the couple with a ribbon during the wedding ceremony. Although the origin of this tradition is unknown, the symbol is quite simple, meaning the unity of the couple through this link. During the wedding ceremony, traditional Irish or Celtic music is played. In the evening, at the wedding party, the bride and groom raise a toast to their guests using a traditional Irish glass.
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