Whether you are Irish or just a fan of Irish culture, having an Irish wedding theme is definitely a unique way to celebrate customs that have been around for hundreds of years. Plus, the Irish are known for having a great time at parties so it definitely makes sense to incorporate some of that fun into your reception.

Traditions

Irish wedding traditions begin with the select of the wedding date. Originally, weddings were always held during one of the major Irish festivals – Beltane in May, Lughnassadh in August, Samhain in November, and Imbolc in February. If you don't want one of those dates, New Year's Day and St. Patrick's Day are other lucky days for an Irish wedding.

Another tradition was to decorate the path from the bride's home to the ceremony location so guests could easily find their way. You can do the same thing by attaching signs, balloons, or other decorations to trees along the way even if guests won't necessarily need them as guides to your location.

Because luck is important at an Irish wedding, couples who wanted a lucky marriage give a donation to charity. Today, you can make a donation in one another's name to your favorite causes if you want to have good luck in your wedding.

Rituals

Many of the wedding rituals for the Irish ceremony are the same as for other Western weddings. For example, there is still the exchanging of the rings between the bride and the groom. However, the couple may choose a different style of ring. Emeralds are a popular choice because of their dark green color (a symbol of Ireland) or the Claddhaugh ring which shows two hands holding a single heart. Other rings with Celtic designs would also be great choices for this wedding ritual.

Style

Irish weddings are a combination of fun and formality. You'll want to have a good time, but you'll also want to stick close to many of the Irish and Celtic customs that have shaped the culture. In terms of color, you probably shouldn't have an Irish wedding if you don't love the color green – it's practically a prerequisite.

Decorations

Decorations for your ceremony and your reception should be very floral in nature. For example, you might want to use potted flowers or plants as centerpieces on all of your tables. Try to choose foliage that you'd normally find in Ireland, such as the primrose, ivy, or violets. Don't shy away from other traditional symbols of Ireland either: some planted shamrocks or painted Celtic designs on your table linens can help capture the feel you want.

Food

Depending on how far you want to take the theme, you can even serve an entire wedding reception based around Irish dishes. If you're lucky enough to have an Irish restaurant or pub in your area, then talk to them about what to serve or who to hire for your catering. If not, check out some cookbooks from your local library or find Irish recipes online that you can prepare or hire someone else to prepare for your reception.

In terms of alcohol and wedding cakes, you should also stick with tradition. Plan on having a bar serving Irish ale as well as plenty of other drinks. And remember that the traditional Irish wedding cake is a fruitcake.

Clothing

For your wedding apparel, try to find some traditional Celtic clothing. With the Internet, you'll probably be able to find someone who can design the apparel for you but it may be a bit costly. If you don't want to go that route, then consider adding in Irish touches to traditional wedding clothing, such as green bow ties or Irish linen handkerchiefs. Don't forget that it's good luck to get married while you're wearing old shoes.

Favor Ideas

Anything green makes a great Irish wedding favor, but if you want something more unique why not plant shamrocks in small green pots and give these to each of your guests.