March 17th is St Patrick’s Day, a traditional day for spiritual renewal and a time to celebrate Ireland with a party or a parade filled with music and merriment. For those planning a wedding in Ireland, or with a Celtic theme or gorgeous green colour scheme, it’s the perfect opportunity to include some traditional Celtic symbols for good luck.
Stained glass image of St. Patrick as seen in Cabinteely Church, Dublin
A St. Patrick’s Day wedding will often take place in church, since St Patrick was credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. St. Patrick is perhaps best known for driving the snakes from Ireland, and it is true that today there are no snakes in Ireland (although it is likely that there never were!) If you’re not heading for Dublin then it is worth noting that you can get married in the Chapel of St. Patrick at beautiful Glastonbury Abbey and there is also a cathedral dedicated to him in New York.
Vintage Medley pictured with Irish shamrocks
There are all sorts of ways you could add St. Patrick’s Day into your wedding, from having an Irish green colour scheme to using shamrocks in your bouquet and table decor. If you have several children at your wedding you could put on a creche where you tell the children all about the saint or even teach them some Irish dancing. But if Irish dancing all seems a little too much for you then consider incorporating some of the following traditional Irish customs.
Trinity Love Knot
As distinctive as it is beautiful, the Trinity Knot is a symbol of eternal love. An endless knot that in medieval times was also said to represent truth. Endless love and truth make a meaningful statement on your wedding day so we have made the Trinity into a very special ‘love knot’ with the three links set inside a heart.
Heart Framed Trinity Knot Cake Topper | “The Love Knot” bottle stopper, gift boxed
Beautiful and symbolic on top of your wedding cake, whether you have Irish roots or not. The same love knot can also be seen on this useful wine bottle stopper, an ideal gift for your best man, ushers and bridesmaids alike.
Claddagh Ring
The Claddagh ring is a very old tradition; a distinctive ring with two hands clasping a heart with a crown on top. It is given by young Irish men to their chosen love and when the couple are courting, the ring is turned inwards, indicating the lady is no longer single. When the wearer becomes engaged, the ring is moved to the left hand and the heart is pointed outward, and when they come to marry, it is then turned inward.
Traditional Celtic Claddagh cake topper
The Claddagh ring makes an alternative symbolic cake topper for your wedding cake. The blessing printed on the base of this topper is : “May your hands be forever blessed in friendship and your hearts joined forever in Love.”
Celtic Knot
The Celtic Knot is another symbol of eternity as, just like a circular wedding ring, it has no end. Based on the four elements of earth, fire, air and water, it represents the balance of natural elements and is said to bring good luck.
Celtic Charm ring cushion | Celtic Charm cake serving set | Celtic Wedding champagne flutes | Celtic Charm bridal garter
The Celtic Charm wedding collection comprises a pretty ring cushion for your ceremony, elegant vintage style champagne flutes and cake knives for your reception and a bridal garter for after! The collection features the Celtic Knot attached with an olive and green ribbon and Irish lace.
Irish Green Colour Scheme
The colour green has been associated with Ireland for hundreds of years and, even if you have no Irish connection but simply love the colour, there are plenty of ways to incorporate shades of green your wedding. From using natural green foliage to organic-looking moss decorations, sage, forest or pale green are all gorgeous shades of green, ideal for rustic, eco-friendly and woodland themed weddings.
Faux moss mini favour planter | Green butterfly cake set | Photo courtesy of Eleanor and James’s Real Wedding | Green table gems | Just Married metallic confetti | Luck of the Irish wedding stationery | Luck Of The Irish table number | Luck Of The Irish wine label | Natural woven favour boxes in green | Decorative moss chandelier | Faux moss pomander
Photo courtesy of the Conrad, Dublin
Find more gorgeous wedding accessories with a green colour scheme when you shop by colour in the Confetti shop.
