A theme based on a country of origin is one of the best ways you can celebrate your special day with a unique wedding theme. Not only do you get to relay your personal history and culture onto your guests, but the traditional ceremony and games are usually enjoyed by most guests. It's a fun experience, and at the same time a learning experience.

            These unique wedding themes are not exclusive to those who are of a particular descent, however. Even people who have no specific ties to a certain culture, and are simply fascinated by it can have a wedding following a certain heritage theme.

Irish Theme

            An Irish themed wedding is a wedding in which a lot of tradition and ceremony will entertain the guests. If following a very traditional ceremony, the bride's “clan” and the groom's “clan” will enter the ceremony area from separate sides, meeting in the middle to show equality in their union. The practice of hand fasting is also done, in which the bride's hand is tied to the groom's hand with a simple rope in order to symbolize togetherness. The bride also wears a lucky horseshoe somewhere in her dress. At the end of the ceremony, someone is to toss an old show over the bride's head for good luck.

            Because old Ireland is known for its lace, the bridal gown must be made of white lace. The bride can choose to carry shamrocks in her bouquet, and have her bridesmaids dress in leines, traditional Irish dresses. Then men can wear kilts, or dark suits with gold or burnt yellow ties, as are the festive colors of an Irish wedding.

            Celtic jewelry can also be worn by the bride, ceremonially a claddagh (a ring with two hands holding a crowned heart) is placed on her right hand with the crown pointing to the fingertip to symbolize being taken, and during the exchanging of vows, this ring is transferred to her left hand. Bridesmaids, on the other hand, can wear the same ring on their right hands with the crown pointing away from the fingertip to symbolize being available.

            During the reception, a stew, a cabbage dish, and beef dish should be served. The wedding cake (to be traditional) should be a simple fruit cake iced in white. After the cake has been cut, the groom's mother traditionally breaks a slice of wedding cake on the bride's head so that she and her daughter-in-law will always remain on good terms.

            For music, hire a fiddler, a Uillean piper, and Celtic harp player. If some of the older folk can, have them perfom a Celtic jig to entertain the guests. Finally, as giveaways or wedding favors for this unique wedding theme should be little leprechauns or anything green which can symbolize the Emerald Isle. Some couples have given away small jars with chocolate gold coins in them, to symbolize a pot of gold.

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