Irish Wedding Traditions- The Claddagh Ring

Legend of the Claddagh Ring

     One of the most popular rings that often is used as an engagement or wedding ring is the Claddagh Ring. This ring has a wonderful story associated with it, and to this day it retains it’s rich Irish history which has been shared from generation to generation.
  According to 16th-century Irish folk lore, a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh was captured by Algerian pirates and the crew was sold into slavery. One of the crew was a young man by the name of Richard Joyce, who was to be married the same week he was captured. Instead, Richard found himself far away from his love and his homeland.
   He was sold to a wealthy Moorish goldsmith who taught him the trade and, eventually, he became skilled enough to design a ring of special significance: the hands were for friendship, the crown was for loyalty, and the heart was for love.
  Years went by, but Richard never forgot his sweetheart. Somehow, he managed to escape and make his way home to Ireland. When he arrived back in Claddagh, he discovered that his girl had never married. They were wed immediately, and the ring he gave her was the one he had designed and made while he was a slave.
  Over the years, the design became extremely popular as a betrothal or wedding ring and took on even more significance. Worn on the right hand with the heart pointing out means that the heart is uncommitted. Worn on the same hand with the heart pointing in means that the heart is taken. Worn on the left hand with the heart pointing in means "Let Love and Friendship reign forever, never to be separated."

  In the old days, Claddagh rings were worn widely by women on the west coast and off-shore islands of Galway. Often representing the sole major investment of a fishing family, they were handed down from mother to daughter. Now, many couples, even those not of Irish descent, are choosing the Claddagh symbol for their engagement and wedding rings. They are widely available, as are a wide range of other Claddagh accessories from earrings to cuff links. But one word of caution: it is said to be very bad luck for a person to purchase a Claddagh ring for themselves. It must be given or received as a gift.

Irish Wedding Traditions - The Dress!

Make sure to follow these rules while shopping for your Irish wedding gown! 

Marry in white everything’s right

Marry in blue lover be true

Marry in pink spirit’s will sink

Marry in gray live far away

Marry in brown live out of town

Marry in green ashamed to be seen

Marry in yellow ashamed of your fellow

Marry in black wish you were back

Marry in red wish you were dead

Marry in tan he’ll be a loved man

Marry in pearl you’ll live in a whirl

Irish Wedding Traditions - Hand Fasting (Tying The Knot)

 

  Handfasting is an ancient Celtic custom common in Ireland in which a man and woman come together at the start of their marriage relationship.  During the ritual, the couple holds hands, right hand in right hand, and left hand in left with their wrists crossed.  A ribbon or cord is then wrapped around their wrists in a figure 8, signifying infinity.  Many people say this is where the saying "tying the knot" originated from. 

  I've had a few couples that have included handfasting in their ceremonies, but I wanted to learn a bit more about the history of the ritual.  And I was pretty surprised by what I found!  The handfasting ritual recognized just one of many forms of marriages permitted under the ancient Irish law. The man and woman who came together for the handfasting agreed to stay together for a specific period of time, usually a year-and-a-day. At the end of the year the couple faced a choice. They could enter into a longer-term "permanent" marriage contract, renew their agreement for another year, or go their separate ways.

  Maybe not the most romantic of origins, but isn't that almost always the case? :)

Slainte!

Irish Wedding Traditions - The Lucky Horseshoe

Horseshoes have always served as good luck charms for many people, Irish brides have brought the custom into their weddings in a couple different ways. One traditional way is to tie a porcelain horseshoe to the bridal bouquet or the brides wrist. Some brides will even stitch a horseshoe charm into her gown to be with her for good luck the entire day. If you're looking for a wedding gift for an Irish couple, a real iron horseshoe for them to hang in their home would be a way to keep the luck with them always.

One word of Irish wisdom though, make sure to always have the open ends turned up so the luck and good fortune won't spill out!!

Slaite!

Irish Wedding Traditions-Aitin' the Gander

Have you ever wondered where the phrase "his goose is cooked" came from? Oddly enough, it came from a great Irish tradition called Aitin' the Gander. This was when the groom was invited over by the bride's family to their house the day of the wedding. A goose was cooked in his honor symbolizing the beginning of the wedding day celebrations. After his "goose was cooked" there was no turning back! Romantic, huh? :)

Slainte!

Irish Wedding Traditions - The Blessing

I absolutely love this time of year! March 1st comes around and not only do we know that spring is just around the corner, but it means Irish season has officially begun! My family has always been very proud of our Irish history all year round, but during March we get to celebrate the culture and traditions with the rest of the world. If you take a couple of minutes to look around, you'll see Irish bands, parades, and fundraisers all around for the next few weeks.

For the past few years I've wanted to take the opportunity to share some Irish Wedding Traditions that I've come across over the years. Each year March has come and gone and I've not gathered my Irish thoughts together to share. But this is the year! All thru March I'll post some of my favorite traditions, sayings, and customs that relate to weddings in Ireland.

I thought it would be fitting to start March off with sharing a traditional Irish Wedding Blessing. I hope you enjoy the Irish Wedding traditions, Slainte!

Carrie and Brad

Carrie and Brad

July 10, 2010

I've been lucky enough to be helping couples get married for over 6 years now, but this summer I had the opportunity to see things from the other side...as a bridesmaid! I had such a great time working with one of my best friends that I've known since elementary school, and it really was an honor to stand up with her on her wedding day!

We were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, and an amazing venue and vendors that made my experience as a bridesmaid wedding planner as stress free as I hope to do for my clients. Here's a sample of some of the beautiful pictures, but see more on the Purple Clover Facebook Page!

Church: Holy Name, Birmingham, MI

Venue: Oakland Hills Country Club

Photographer: J.S. Photography

Videography: Tri-Foot Productions

DJ: Mike Staff Productions

Flowers: Nature's Touch

Linens: Chair Covers & Linens

The Importance of vendor reviews and WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award!

I'm very happy to announce that Purple Clover Events has again been awarded with the 2011 WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award!



The awards are determined by recent reviews and surveys from past clients and vendors thru the WeddingWire website, which is the largest wedding review website in the nation. Recipients have been determined to be among the top 5% of wedding professionals, and I'm honored to be part of that!

That being said, I also want to stress the importance of giving honest reviews and feedback to of your vendors thru avenues such as WeddingWire.com. Not only does it helps us to be recognized with awards like this, but it allows us to view our services thru our clients eyes. It gives us the opportunity to improve our services, and make additions as needed. Reviews from past clients also allow future brides to get real feedback on a vendors performance that will help them know if they might be a good fit for their wedding. As you think back to your planning process, vendor reviews were most likely a huge part of your decision in who to hire. Once your event is over it's your turn to share the love with future brides and tell them all about your experience!

You can find our WeddingWire Storefront here, and please make sure to search for and review your other vendors too!!

Sandals Royal Bahamian

I don't think I'm saying anything new here, but Sandals resorts are AMAZING!! Most of us had to shovel our way out of our homes this morning, and I am very much wishing that I was back in the Bahamas! Of course the weather plays a major role in that, but there is so much more to what Sandals brings to a vacation than just the destination. They tag themselves as providing a "Luxury-Included Vacation", and I can tell you that's not just a sales pitch. Now that I've experienced two Sandals resorts, I'd like to share a couple of lessons I've learned and highlights from the trips. To see more pictures from my fabulous trips to Sandal Whitehouse and Sandals Royal Bahamaian check out the Purple Clover Events Facebook page! To get more information about how to book your vacation email me at Kate@PurpleClover.net.

A few things I've learned from my trips to Sandals:

1. Each resort really does have its own personality. The size, set-up, and location of the resort help to play a role in that, and it's important to know what you want out of your vacation. Some want nothing more than to kick back and read on the beach, others want to experience the cultural sites outside of the resort, and then there are those that want to pack in all the water sports and SCUBA diving they can. Some ambitious vacationers want to fit it all in! Knowing what kind of vacation you are looking for will help your Sandals representatives pick the perfect resort for you.
2. Sandals makes a HUGE investment in customer service training for their staff, and it really shows. In previous jobs I've helped to develop customer service training programs for staff, and I know first-hand how difficult it is to implement a successful program on all employee levels. I spoke to several of the staff members there about this and it was very clear that everyone understands the importance of this. There are many resorts in the Caribbean that offer all-inclusive packages with the same beautiful ocean view and turquoise water. One of the key ingredients to making Sandals a Luxury-Included brand is the dedication to their customer service program.
3. Always request an Oceanfront room! My first trip was to Sandals Whitehouse, where all of the rooms have an Oceanfront view. Absolutely breathtaking! The layout of Sandals Royal Bahamian, and many of the other Sandals resorts, don't allow for that benefit. While my room at RB was gorgeous, it did lack that stunning view, and let's face it, that's what you go to the Caribbean for! I would definitely recommend spending a bit more to ensure that you're morning coffee comes with a side of spectacular! (Wow...that was cheesy!)
   

Royal Bahamian

A week from today I will be leaving my winter boots and this Michigan weather behind and traveling to the beautiful Nassau Bahamas to spend a few days at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort. Anyone who has stepped outside on a day like today would be more than excited for the climate change, and I am no exception! Honestly, the Sandals Luxury Included Vacations would be amazing regardless of Mother Nature. I've never been so impressed by an organizations focus on customer service, and I look forward to sharing the details about my trip and what Sandals has to offer!

Photos of Sandals Royal Bahamian