A Guide to Traditional Irish Wedding Gifts
By Creative Irish Gifts
Traditional Irish wedding gifts celebrate a custom that dates back to when the Irish first invented the phrase "tying the knot."
An ancient Celtic ritual called "handfasting" involved a member of the wedding wrapping the wrists of the bride and groom in festive ribbons or braided cords to celebrate the union of two people.
Today, Irish wedding traditions you will see demonstrated at contemporary weddings include Claddagh rings, which are crafted with a crown, heart and hands to symbolize loyalty, love and friendship.
Irish blessings are included in toasts and gifts, as are Irish gifts of crystal, woolens and lace from Ireland. Made-in-Ireland gifts from websites like Creative Irish Gifts have become favorite sources for traditional Irish wedding presents with prices to fit any wedding-goer's budget.
Traditional Irish Wedding Blessings
Traditional Irish wedding blessings are included in many lovely gift choices for a wedding. Create a keepsake for the couple with a personalized Irish Wedding Blessing, framed. An inexpensive wedding or anniversary present is a pretty ceramic Irish Wedding Blessing Plaque.
Irish Welcome Gifts for Newlyweds
When two people join to become a family, a customizable Shamrock Family Plaque with the Gaelic word, failte, for welcome, is a charming gift. At Creative Irish Gifts, you can find dozens of wedding gift ideas to personalize with the couple's names.
Toasting the Happy Couple
Toasting the couple is an Irish tradition that offers the opportunity to present gifts of fine Irish crystal champagne flutes or lovely Belleek pottery cups or mugs.
Consider a set of Galway Crystal Romance Flutes in a lovely gift box. Or, present the couple with a set of Belleek porcelain Claddagh mugs from Ireland that arrive nestled in a lovely green gift box. Order a set of six fine Parian china Belleek mugs from Creative Irish Gifts.
Lace, Linens or Throws
Irish linens and lace have been a traditional wedding present at ceremonies in Ireland and around the world. Gifts of pretty satin ribbons in green are simple expressions of love and support for a couple "tying the knot."
Newlyweds will cozy up to a traditional Aran wool throw in 100% worsted wool designed and made in Ireland. A cotton lace shamrock throw is another gift that couples will remember on cooler evenings at their new home.
Keepsakes and Jewelry
An Irish wedding cross necklace with Celtic symbols for two crossed rings is a sweet gift for brides, bridesmaids and mothers of the brides.
Irish traditions also include keepsakes and beautifully designed boxes with Irish accents to hold keepsakes from the couple's wedding and honeymoon.
Our Irish wedding memories keepsake box will hold photographs or a DVD of the ceremony. This velvet-lined box with Irish symbols for love and luck has the words, My God Bless This Special Day, embossed on top. This gift can be personalized with the couple's names and wedding date.
Or, choose a lovely pewter trinket dish inscribed with the Irish saying, "May nothing but happiness come through your door." It's an inexpensively priced gift for members of the wedding party, as well.