Irish Culture Theme

[MOB Karen]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/981.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS) http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/6/6_14_7.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS) I just wanted to give you a little bit of Irish wedding tradition before I get into posting some pictures.

An Irish wedding follows much the same form as an American ceremony and reception, but there are a few details that will turn your wedding distinctly Celtic.

One element you may wish to incorporate in your ceremony is the Irish Wedding Bell. At your wedding, you and your husband ring the bell, and afterwards keep it close at hand in your new household. (Perhaps your guests could have smaller versions of the bell, and "ring" you out of the church in lieu of the usual shower of rice.) Whenever you argue or have differences, retrieve your bell and ring it in order to remind you of your solemn wedding vows.

In the attire department, male members of the wedding party wear kilts rather than tuxes, of course.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/981.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS)A favorite benediction at Irish weddings is the Irish Wedding Blessing:

May Joy and Peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, And Happiness be with you now, And bless you evermore.
May your troubles be less, And your blessings be more And nothing but happiness come through your door.



An Irish reception is never without dancing. Customarily the festivities end with the groom seizing and carrying off the bride. This is all done joyously and in good fun, but in centuries past, the staged stealing of the bride was taken a bit more seriously. A historian's book from 1783 recounts how in the past, a number of the bridegroom's friends would approach the bride's party "to make a sportive show of hostility to the cavaliers who advanced on horseback for the purpose of surrendering her to [their] hands." The book elaborates: "The custom was of old to cast short darts at the company that attended the bride, but at such distance that seldom any hurt ensued." Fortunately for you, this just isn't done anymore, so you can save yourself the expense of protective goggles and athletic cups for your husband's side of the wedding party.

Irish brides always carry a small horseshoe in their bouquets (or sometimes a tiny one sewn into the hem of their wedding dress) for luck. This dates back centuries, to a time when iron was considered a good luck charm.
A beautiful traditional Druidic blessing for unity: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."
It's true that traditional Irish wedding cakes are fruit cakes. If you're not big on fruit cakes, why not decide to make the top layer of your cake in the traditional Irish fashion and the other layers to your favorite flavour? The custom of the fruit cake is that its richness symbolizes blessings for wealth and prosperity. The top layer is always saved until the celebration of the christening of an Irish couple's first child!The most surprising thing is that green is actually considered an unlucky color at Irish weddings—the bride is not to wear green, and Irish guests would never attend a wedding in green either!

I'd still put shamrocks on the tables, though. They're darn cute.http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12_3_45.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS)

More to follow...

[SerendipityCrafts]

brides always carry a small horseshoe in their bouquets (or sometimes a tiny one sewn into the hem of their wedding dress) for luck. This dates back centuries, to a time when iron was considered a good luck charm.

wedding cakes are fruit cakes. If you're not big on fruit cakes, why not decide to make the top layer of your cake in the traditional

My background is Scottish. We have a horseshoe pin that all of the women in our family (& brides entering into it) have worn, sewn into the hem of their dresses.

Fruit cake .... it took everthing that I had to agree NOT to have a tranditional fruit cake for this my second wedding.

Hugh won't wear a kilt and his decendents are Irish!

[MOB Karen]

Portents and omens:

* A fine day meant good luck, especially if the sun shone on the bride. If you're a Roman Catholic, one way to make certain that it won't rain is to put a statue of the Infant of Prague outside the church before your ceremony.

* It was unlucky to marry on a Saturday.

* Those who married in harvest would spend all their lives gathering

* A man should always be the first to wish joy to the bride, never a woman

*It was lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning, or to see three magpies

* To meet a funeral on the road meant bad luck and if there was a funeral procession planned for that day, the wedding party always took a different road

* The wedding party should always take the longest road home from the church

* It was bad luck if a glass or cup were broken on the wedding day

*A bride and groom should never wash their hands in the same sink at the same time—it's courting disaster if they do

* It was said to be lucky if you married during a 'growing moon and a flowing tide'

* When leaving the church, someone must throw an old shoe over the bride's head so she will have good luck

* If the bride's mother-in-law breaks a piece of wedding cake on the bride's head as she enters the house after the ceremony, they will be friends for life.

[WebLady]

Are you Irish Karen? I know I have some Irish somewhere in my family but I don't remember where ;)

[MOB Karen]

Please Note: I'm going to post some pictures that I have chosen to represent the Irish culture theme. When I am finished with this Irish Culture thread, I think it would be really nice if you would post whatever Irish Wedding ideas you might have and want to share. That way, if someone wants to get some Irish wedding ideas from this thread, your Irish wedding pictures will be here as well. Thanks!

Irish Engagement Ring

The Trinity Knot is a popular choice for an Irish engagement ring. The trinity knot design on the shoulder of the band can symbolize the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Some also believe it symbolizes spiritual growth, eternal life, and never-ending love.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/IrishPrincess-Engagement-Ring-Yello.jpg


Irish Wedding Band

Celtic Soul Mate Claddagh Band has three Claddaghs, between each Claddagh are the Gaelic words 'mo anam cara' which is 'my soul friend'. If the ring is turned quarter of a turn, it then reads 'cara mo anam' which is 'friend of my soul'.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/Irishweddingring.jpg

Save The Date Card

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/IrishSavetheDate.jpg

Irish Invitations

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishinvitations.jpg

More to come...

[Jenn060306]

The Claddagh symbol is huge in Irish culture. My best friend is Irish and she's all about it. As well and the knots and woven crosses.

this website has some really nice things for an irish/celtic wedding.
http://us.weddingstar.com/collections/celtic_charm

[MOB Karen]

Irish Wedding Dresses

Made from beautiful pure silk crepe de chine, trimmed with gold thread Celtic knotwork embroidery around the neckline, sleeves and belt, Bonnie (irish for pretty) has a square neck and extra, tight fitting sleeves.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/Irishdress1.gif

Fenella (irish for fair) has a beautiful ivory velvet bodice, with draped neck and copper coloured celtic embroidery. It is matched with a crepe fishtail skirt.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishdress2.gif

Aislin (irish for dream) is a truly stunning dress, made from blue/gold brocade, trimmed with detachable fake fur, detachable sleeves and a fishtail skirt.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishdress3.gif


Flowers

In the old days, many Irish brides wore a wreath of wildflowers in their hair; they also carried them in bouquets. In Wales, brides carried live myrtle and gave a sprig to each bridesmaid which they planted. If it grew, the bridesmaid would marry within the year. You might want to do what many Irish couples do for good luck - add a sprig of shamrock to the bride's bouquet and to the groom's boutonierre. (sorry for the mannekin head lol)
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishfloralwreath.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Are you Irish Karen? I know I have some Irish somewhere in my family but I don't remember where ;)

Yeah, on my Dad's side, our last name is irish. He always loved his Irish heritage. :)

[MOB Karen]

Claddagh Jewelry

Misty fables surround "The Claddagh", one of Ireland’s unique treasures with two hands cradling a crowned heart. The heart symbolizes love, the hands friendship and the crown loyalty. Its unique symbol of friendship makes it the ideal gift for men and women for any occasion.
http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/images/claddagh_story1.jpg
It is believed that Richard Joyce made the original Claddagh ring around 1690. He lived in a small fishing village called “Claddagh” near Galway city. The vast exodus from Ireland to all over the world due to the Great Famine (1847 – 1849) helped the popularity of the Claddagh. The true Irish Claddagh bears a mark of authenticity, which cannot be imitated. A genuine Irish Claddagh is one that is handcrafted in Ireland, assayed in Dublin Castle and hallmarked by the Irish Assay master. The assay and hallmark in a Claddagh can tell the owner the karat of gold or fineness of silver, as well as the year in which it was made, and most important it proves it is Irish.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/clpendant.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/clearrings.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/clring.jpg

[MOB Karen]

Irish Wedding Reception

In days gone by, an Irish couple would likely have married in the bride's parents' barn, and family pride would have compelled the clan to keep both food and drink plentiful. Few things inspired more ridicule than stinginess on a wedding day. To capture this merry atmosphere, consider selecting a rustic location for your reception, and incorporating traditional Irish fare into your menu. Some foods that fit well in an Irish wedding feast include:

Irish Soda Bread
Salmon
Lamb
Prawns (Shrimp)
Colcannon (a mashed potato and cabbage mixture)Irish Castles

How about having your wedding reception in an Irish Castle? I couldn't do this Irish theme without including some Irish Castes. Here's a few I found:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishcastle2.gifhttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/Cabracastleimg.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/knappogue-castle.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/slanecastle2.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Irish Wedding Cake

Traditionally, an Irish wedding cake is a three-layer, whiskey-laced fruitcake with almond paste spread on each layer. The top layer was preserved for consumption at the christening of the couple's first child. If the idea of a wedding fruitcake seems too extreme, consider serving it as the groom's cake. You should make arrangements with your baker early though. Depending on the recipe, an Irish wedding cake may need to sit for several months before it is ready to be eaten.

Irish Wedding Cake Topper
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/wctcladdag.jpg

Irish Wedding Cake Recipe

The Irish Wedding Cake is a culinary masterpiece which, though it may sound difficult, is deceptively easy. The trick is to give yourself enough time to take your time with it, and to have all the ingredients, measuring cups, spoons, and bowls (big bowls!) lined up and ready to go. Make this well in advance of the big day so you have plenty of time to let it mellow, adding the spirits of choice every few days to enhance the wonderful flavor and aroma.

Ingredients:

2 cups of raisins
2 cups of sultanas or baking raisins
2 cups of currants
1 cup of slivered or chopped almonds
1 cup of candied cherries
1 cup of candied peel
2-1/2 cups of self-rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of ground clove
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of allspice
2 cups of butter, softened but not melted
2 cups of dark brown sugar
1/4 cup of molasses
juice of one lemon and one orange
6 extra large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup spirits (brandy, rum, or whiskey)

Technique:

Line a 12-inch springform pan with a double thickness of parchment paper on the sides and bottom. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl mix together the fruits, almonds, and 1/4 cup of the flour to coat the mixed fruits with flour.
In a separate bowl, cream together the dark brown sugar and the softened butter. Whip in the molasses and the lemon and orange juice. Beat the eggs and vanilla and blend into the butter mixture.

Sift the remaining flour, salt, and spices together and add to the floured fruit and nut mixture.
Mix all ingredients plus 1/4 cup of the spirits, stir well until all of the ingredients are well mixed.

Pour the batter into the pan and even off with a spatula, leaving a depression in the center, as this will take longer to bake. Bake in the center of the oven at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Turn the heat down to 300 degrees and continue to bake, checking frequently, for 3 or 4 hours longer.

Watch for overbrowning, as oven temperatures differ, and the mixture of sugars could burn easily. If the cake appears to be cooking too quickly, cover with a double layer of aluminum foil and reduce the temperature slightly, increasing the cooking time.

The cake is done when a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Let the cake cool completely before removing it from the pan. Wrap the cooled cake in a layer of waxed paper, christening it with 1/4 cup of spirits before closing the paper. (Some bakers make small skewer holes in the cake to allow the liquor to seep into the center of the cake.) Wrap the entire package in aluminum foil as well. Let it sit for as long as possible, but at least two weeks, before frosting. Add small amounts of spirits every few days to moisten and mellow.

Fondant Icing

There are many types of frostings used by Irish bakers. They are a far cry from the sugar and lard used by many commercial bakeries. A delicious buttercream frosting is always acceptable on an Irish wedding cake, but more traditional bakers will top an Irish wedding cake with a thin layer of apricot puree or jam, followed by a layer of marzipan, and then add fondant icing, which is a poured icing that dries hard, making it very easy to decorate the cake. This icing stands up well to tranportation as well.

Ingredients:

8 cups of sifted confectioner’s sugar
3/4 cup of water
3 tablespoons of light corn syrup
2 teaspoons of almond extract

Technique:

Combine ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 92 degrees F. The mixture should be slightly thickened, but thin enough to pour.

Place the cake (with a layer of apricot puree/marzipan smoothed on top if desired) on a wire rack with a plate or pan beneath it to catch the overflow. Slowly pour the fondant on the cake in a circular motion, guiding the frosting with a rubber spatula. Let the icing set up in a cool place. Decorate further if desired.

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Irish Wedding Favors

Of course, you can always find favors with clovers on them and call it an Irish Wedding theme.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishshamrock-wedding-chocolates-1.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishshamrock_cellophane_favor_bags.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/shamrock_floating_candle.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/shamrock_ball_candle.jpg

Continued...

[MOB Karen]

More Clover Favors

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/shamrock-candle-holder-favors.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irish-wedding-mint-tins.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irish-tealight-candles.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Irish Worry Stone

But I prefer these type of Irish favors that are more authentic and traditional to Ireland, such as the Irish Worry Stone. Planning an Irish wedding and need a unique wedding favor idea with an Irish flair? Well here's your answer! Get your guests a bit o' Ireland with an Irish worry stone! These stones are made out of millions year old Connemara Marble, excavated in the West of Ireland. Rub this stone & rub your worries away! Each stone measures 2 inches by 1 1/2 inches and comes with a special story card.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/worrystone.jpg


Celtic Coins of Faith

Saying on sleeve: "May Luck be with you everyday."
'Luck' imprinted on the reverse of coin.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/coin.jpg

Celtic Large Plaque with the Irish Prayer

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be at your always at you back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, may rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/CELTIC--BLESSING-240.jpg

Celtic Oval Plaque with Blessings



Celtic Oval Plaque -
(1) may the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true.
(2) may your pockets be heavy and your heart be light may good luck pursue you each morning and night.
(3) may joy and peace surround you both, Contentment latch your door, May happiness be with you now; God bless you evermore.



http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/blessings.jpg


More to come...

[Jopet]

Oh wow some interesting stuff there. :)

[AngelinLove]

Everything is really interesting Karen...thanks for putting this together!!!

[MOB Karen]

Irish Unity Candle

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishcelticrossunityivorygold.gifhttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/cladgreenwedding.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishunitycdl.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/bridesvillage_1907_33065232.gif

Religion

The churches Irish folks attend are overwhelmingly Catholic. 92% of the Republic's populace is Roman Catholic. 3% identify themselves as Protestant, and the remainder claim no religious beliefs, or belong to the small communities of believers such as Muslims, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Orthodox.

IRISH WEDDING BLESSING
May God be with you and bless you
May you see your children's children
May you be poor in misfortunes,
Rich in blessings
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Irish Place Holder & Placecard

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishplacecard.jpghttp://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishcard.jpg

Irish Ring Pillow

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishringpillow.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irelandpillow.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

Irish Flower Girl Basket

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishbasket.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishflowergirlbasket.jpg

Irish Toasting Flutes


Toast to your new life together as husband and wife with these beautifully decorated Celtic Charm Toasting Flutes. The Celtic Trinity Heart is a universal symbol with historical significance dating back hundreds of years. Bring in this historical part of your heritage to your Irish themed wedding.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irishflutes.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/caddaghflutes.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

The Irish Honeymoon

No wedding tradition is quite so steeped in Irish history as the honeymoon. The very word 'honeymoon' has its origins in the Irish 'mi na meala' or 'month of honey' which referred to the first lunar month after the wedding. Friends and family often presented the wedding couple with enough mead (honey wine) to last through this first month, along with special goblets to toast each other. Consider filling your wedding day toasting flutes with Bunratty Mead for a one-month anniversary toast. You can honor your ancestors and possibly start an anniversary tradition of your own. And of course, what better way to embrace your Irish heritage than to honeymoon in Ireland!

The history of Ireland is long, colorful, and full of traditions that influence everything from wedding date selection to the couple's route home after the ceremony. A bride seeking to add Irish flavor to her wedding can easily spend many enjoyable hours unearthing inspiration for her special day. Incidentally, an Irish bride of the distant past would have been advised to marry on a Wednesday in November, to bring good fortune to her marriage. While that's one tradition you may wish to leave in the past, there are many others to choose from as you plan the wedding of your dreams. With a little imagination and a lot of Irish humor, you'll be able to plan a celebration that is uniquely Irish and uniquely yours.

Ireland

I am going to end my Irish Culture theme by showing you pictures of beautiful Ireland.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland5.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland4.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland6.jpg

More to come...

[MOB Karen]

The island of Ireland

Is 84,288 sq km (32,544 sq. mi.) divided into two separate countries which encompass four historical provinces that are further divided into a total of 32 counties. It is about the size of South Carolina and would fit in Texas a little over 8 times.

There are two northern and southern Irelands: geographical and political. The geographical areas of the island of Ireland are north (Ulster), the east (Leinster), the west (Connacht) and the south (Munster). The entire island is divided into these four provinces which are further divided into 32 counties.

The island is politically divided into two countries. Northern Ireland, consisting of 6 counties in Ulster and politically part of Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, or the south, made up of the other 26 counties, 3 of which are in Ulster.

You can visit beautiful northern Ireland on the northwest side of the island and still be in the Republic or visit Northern Ireland and enjoy the beauty of the northeast part of the island. To confuse things a little more, the most northerly point of the island is part of the south (Republic) of Ireland.


More Ireland Pictures

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland3.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland7.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland9.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/ireland10.jpg


The End

[MOB Karen]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_9_8.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS)I'm now finished with my Irish Culture Theme. If you wish to add your pictures or anything else, please do so. Thanks!

[Amber818]

I think this was an awesome thread...I feel like I went on a vicarious trip to Ireland. Very cool.

[MOB Karen]

I think this was an awesome thread...I feel like I went on a vicarious trip to Ireland. Very cool.

Thanks for saying so, Amber!!!

[Amber818]

I do not think I would like the Irish wedding cake, too many dried fruit peices...

[Kacie_bride]

You did a wonderful job Karen!

[Valmai]

Well done Karen that was lovely - as u know im in Wales and we are also Celts so lots of these apply to us. As close as it is though i have never been to Ireland and its one of those places on my list of where to visit before im too old lol xxx

Amber818I do not think I would like the Irish wedding cake, too many dried fruit peices...

I cant imagine a wedding cake being any different - wot we r used to i suppose hey? xxx

[Amanda&Jason]

Here is a picture of a Shamrock cake:http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d931b3127cce8793f3e8c33b00000025108EZtHDdmzbA

[Smashingpennies]

We had a bagpipe at our wedding, I am big into doing geneology and I had found out that my husband family was scottish and my side of the family has both scottish and Irish. We then did research to find out which Clan the names went with, and found out that both clans had a wedding march. I have a friend that plays the bagpipes and she played both wedding marches for us. At the time my husband didn't own a kilt, but he would have worn it for the reception if he had. I just love bagpipe music, it is just so soulful.

[soontobemrs]

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-12207172810064_1959_198692442 (http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-12207172810064_1956_16374585)

[miranda]

Maybe you could answer a question I had.

I read somewhere that in Ireland ring bearers didn't carry a pillow, they carried a large ring, which was hung in the newlywed's home later. I've searched and searched but can't find anything like that. I always thought that was cute, though.

[Smashingpennies]

I am not sure about the ring thing, but I do know that they used to take the coals from the longest wedded couple and give them to the newest married couple so that they could start thier first fire.

[Irish Eyes]

im irish and must say its the scots who wear kilts not the irish hope i dont offend anyone by pointing that out :bbredface:

[MOB Karen]

im irish and must say its the scots who wear kilts not the irish hope i dont offend anyone by pointing that out :bbredface:

Sorry, but that's not true. :)

Do the Irish wear kilts?

Yes, the Irish wear kilts but they are not as well known as the Scots for doing so. The Irish kilts are often solid colors, as opposed to the tartans of the Scottish kilts.

[Smashingpennies]

Yes, the Irish wear kilts but they are not as well known as the Scots for doing so. The Irish kilts are often solid colors, as opposed to the tartans of the Scottish kilts. But as for clan significance, the Aran Island are more well known for this purpose. Off the coast of Galway are 3 islands that make up the Aran Islands. On them fishing is the primary source of income. So, when fishermen died in a storm, it could be a week or more before they washed on shore, plenty of time to cause damage to facial features. So, the sweaters they wore would be embroidered with a family 'crest' and the bodies could be identified that way.

The Irish wore kilts up to the 18th century, but a long robe like a Roman toga was actually more common. Both the robe and kilt died out in the 19th century, but Irish people still sometimes wear kilts for Irish dancing competitions. Irish kilts are plain, without any tartan pattern. The welsh do not wear kilts.</SPAN></SPAN>

[Irish Eyes]

oh i didnt realise you were on about what we did in the past ie 18 century i thought you were talking about life in ireland today.
weddings in ireland are just like normal everyday weddings in the uk and usa. we get offended when people still think we do things that were done hundreds of years ago.

[MOB Karen]

When I created this thread, I researched Irish weddings of the past and present. And, based on this research, some Irish grooms choose to wear the traditional Irish kilts for their present day weddings. Obviously, your wedding is not one of them, but that doesn't mean that others don't choose to do this. I'm sorry that you're offended, but I'm quite sure that I haven't offended all of Ireland with this harmless thread. :)

[Always&Forever]

More Clover Favors

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/Karen602/irish-tealight-candles.jpg

More to come...

Hi Karen -

I just found the thread. You posted a picture of tealight candles with shamrocks on them. Do you by any chance have the website you got the picture from? I have been searching for something like this and have been unsuccessful! Thanks for any help.

[WebLady]

Hi Karen -

I just found the thread. You posted a picture of tealight candles with shamrocks on them. Do you by any chance have the website you got the picture from? I have been searching for something like this and have been unsuccessful! Thanks for any help.

I doubt Karen will respond, she hasn't been around in months.

[Always&Forever]

Kay, thanks. I was thinking I had seen her around but I must have been thinking of someone else. If anyone can find these please let me know! They would be absolutely perfect on our tables!

[WebLady]

I found these shamrock chocolate favors -

http://www.favorsandflowers.com/images/shamrock-wedding-chocolates-1.jpg

and other Irish wedding theme things here - http://www.favorsandflowers.com/irish_wedding_theme.htm

[HisMuse]

So cool. We're doing a little bit of a mix of Jewish and Irish. Well really, we're just going to Ireland on our honeymoon, I think that is really the only Irish thing we're doing lol.

[Always&Forever]

Lol, I think that a honeymoon to Ireland would be enough!! That was our original plan..However..my parents went this summer and said that if we plan to pay rent and food after the honeymoon, we might want to choose something a little cheaper. I can't believe the exchange rate over there!!

I can not wait to hear all about your honeymoon, though!!!!

[HisMuse]

I can't wait to go! I'm an amateur photographer and this is like a dream come true. Oh and also the history we have there.

[luna]

Well i'm actually irish, as in i was born and raised here but you guys all seem to be alot more irish in spirit than me! lol! I have to say nothing in my wedding plan really seems to be what i've seen listed here, i'm not even having a traditional wedding, i seem to have lost my irish roots somewhere, i needs some from you guys!

[Always&Forever]

I love having Ireland in my heritage. When choosing a wedding theme, it only seemed appropriate to include our heritage since both of us are primarily Irish. I certainly did not have much in mind when I began planning, but I have done lots of research to help with that. My grandmother and her siblings visited Ireland a couple years ago which helped and my parents brought back some wonderful ideas. My biggest tool has definitely just been the internet, though! Just start googling and all the wonderful possibilities will then appear!

[crazycatlady]

this is really cool! My family is super irish. My dad takes every chance he can get to talk about how our family came over from Dublin a little over 100 years ago in 1892. Our invitations that we picked out have the same kind of intertwined designs like was shown on the irish engagement ring. The color we're going with is probably peridot. Its my birth stone and he really likes the color. My finacee's dad's side also is very irish so I think his family would be happy with an irish wedding as well. Thanks for all the ideas :)

[Always&Forever]

this is really cool! My family is super irish. My dad takes every chance he can get to talk about how our family came over from Dublin a little over 100 years ago in 1892. Our invitations that we picked out have the same kind of intertwined designs like was shown on the irish engagement ring. The color we're going with is probably peridot. Its my birth stone and he really likes the color. My finacee's dad's side also is very irish so I think his family would be happy with an irish wedding as well. Thanks for all the ideas :)

Oh there's so much you can do with an Irish wedding! There are plenty of resources on-line that can give wonderful ideas. Feel free to look at my wedding journal for some ideas as well! http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=12467