Irish Wedding Invitations

If you are Irish you want to have Irish wedding theme and send out elegant Irish wedding invitations. Each culture has its own set of traditions when it comes to holidays and life celebrations. The Irish are no exception-and neither are wedding and Irish Wedding invitatons

Irish wedding invites almost always bear the distinctive Claddagh design somewhere on the invitation. The Claddagh is the Irish symbol for faith, honor and love. It is comprised of a heart held by two hands, with the heart being topped by a crown. The heart stands for love, the hands for friendship and the crown for loyalty.

Because the Claddagh symbol is also the traditional engagement and wedding ring for and Irish bride and groom, it is only fitting that the symbol be used on Irish wedding invitations.

The Claddagh isn’t the only special feature of an Irish wedding invitation, though. Others include

• Irish Wedding invitaton will traditionally be either green or blue. White or ivory are acceptable as well, but it’s safe to say that the ink will be green or blue. Most people understand the significance of green to the Irish, but blue is used to symbolize the purity of the bride.

For many centuries, blue, rather than white, was the color of purity, and because the Irish have a heritage that goes back many centuries, they still recognize the tradition. Some brides even choose to wear blue instead of white.

• Irish wedding invitations often include the shamrock or lavender plant etched, drawn, or embossed on the invitation. The shamrock is representative of luck and the lavender of love and loyalty.

• The motto of the Claddagh, “Let love and friendship reign” is also often included somewhere on the invitation.

• Old Irish or Gaelic proverbs or blessings such as “May the road rise to meet you” are often included as part of an Irish wedding invites. Sometimes the blessing will be written in Gaelic or Old English and translated underneath.

Irish wedding invites are a specialty item. In other words, you won’t be purchasing them in a do it yourself kit. Irish wedding invitations are available from Artfire, Things Festive and Bonanza.com.

These online sources also offer coordinating wedding supplies to go with the Irish wedding theme. Wedding shops should be able to accommodate such a request as well through their sources for wedding invitation and stationery needs.

Other than the Gaelic proverb or blessing that is often included and/or the motto of the Claddagh, the wording of an Irish wedding invite will look much like that of any other wedding. The tone of the wedding-formal, informal or simple/casual will be the deciding factor for the wording used. And just as it is with any wedding, the ‘dress code’ should be noted as well as RSVP instructions given for the festivities.

An Irish wedding invite (and other distinctively cultural ones, as well) are expressions not only of the personalities of the bride and groom, but of a heritage and traditions as honorable as the marriage they are announcing.