The distinctive traditions like Claddagh rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes make it really easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from the wedding celebrations of other countries. Let’s take a close look at some of these unique components in the Irish wedding.

One of the most unique of all is the Claddagh ring, a traditional Irish ring made to resemble a pair of hands holding a heart with a crown. According to tradition, these rings must be passed down from mother to daughter and since they are intended to be passed down through many generations it is considered improper to purchase one of these rings on your own. There is also a tradition that states how the ring is supposed to be worn. If someone is engaged, the ring is to be worn with the tips of the crown facing outward towards the fingertips. Someone who is not romantically involved would wear the ring in the outward position, meaning that the tips of the crown are pointing to the wrist.

Some of the other unique aspects of traditional Irish weddings are the strange superstitions that surround them. Although a rainy or overcast day is really unwanted at any wedding, it is even less desirable at an Irish celebration because according to tradition the sun must shine down on the bride so that the couple will be blessed with good luck. The Irish are very superstitious people; another sign of good luck for a new couple is the sound of a cuckoo or the sight of three magpies. When it comes to wishing the couple well and congratulating them it is bad luck for a female to be the first one to offer congratulations to the bride. This is why a relative or close friend of the Groom will always be sure that he is first.

No celebration in Ireland would be the same without the sound of bagpipes and the presence of kilts. By tradition it is customary for the pipes to be played by family and friends of the couple as they walk into the church and also to the reception. In addition, these people who have brought their own bagpipes may also continue to play the pipes for dancing. It is a great opportunity for these individuals to dress in traditional kilts creating a truly distinctive occasion.

Superstitions a play a large role in a traditional Irish wedding and many of the traditional superstitions relate to objects or occurrences that are thought to bring the couple good luck. These events are festive celebrations that involve family, friends, lots of food and great music.

About the Author
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Ireland and Irish Gifts Online at http://www.uniqueirishgifts.com

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What You Never Knew About Traditional Irish Weddings

By Lesley Mattos

While professional photographers shoot many types of events, many are coming up with unique ideas and incentives to offer their wedding clients, which are giving them an edge over their competitors.

Photographers who are looking for ideas that compliment their current wedding offerings are turning to other wedding vendor’s professional photographer programs to market themselves in a whole new and very unique way.

In a recent survey conducted by Adesso Albums, the following five incentives were identified as the most successful incentive-based marketing strategies for attracting wedding clients and referrals:

Engagement Photo Sessions

Many photographers will add an engagement photo session of the couple to their wedding package. This is a great incentive for couples wanting to publish professional engagement photos in their local newspaper or later use their engagement photos in a showcase album at the wedding.

Engagement Photos Showcased At Wedding

Engagement photos are showcased in an album that is later used at the wedding reception as a guest book. The photographer’s engagement photos of the couple are showcased in the album and guests then add their handwritten sentiments and warm wishes on the album pages – a keepsake that is a lasting reminder of the day (and the photographer).

Wedding Photo Website

A website that hosts the engagement and wedding photos is a wonderful way for the couple’s out-of-town guests who couldn’t make it to the wedding feel as if they were a part of it. It also gives the couple an opportunity to stay in touch with their guests with fun pictures of the wedding and wedding reception.

Custom Parent Albums

Creating a custom album for each set of parents can boost the currency of the new son or daughter in law in addition to making a very special and personal gift. The albums feature photographs that are meaningful to each set of parents in a beautifully bound and personally created coffee table album for them to enjoy for years to come.

Hi-Resolution CD

Having a high resolution CD of all their photos gives the couple the ability to have prints made long after their wedding day is over – for family gifts, to frame and send to friends as a reminder of that special day or even to get shots printed and framed for their new home.

Reduced Rates for Enlargements

This incentive is especially meaningful to couples with large families. With a reduced rate for print enlargements, the couple can provide their close family members with more than a few 4 x 6 wedding prints.

About the Author: Lesley Mattos, Founder of Adesso Albums has been happily pursuing her dream of helping people all over the world capture the “Now” in life’s most important moments. By joining the NEW Adesso Professional Photographers Program at http://www.adessoalbums.com/photographers.html photographers can provide an instant wedding memories album with Adesso Albums.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=68421&ca=Jobs

Unless you are incredibly wealthy, when the time comes to get married you will find yourself asking the question: How much is this going to cost? Unfortunately, the days of the bride’s family paying for the wedding are mostly over. As men and women are waiting until they are older to get married, the financial responsibility of the wedding has shifted from their parents to themselves. The following is a description of approximately how much the average wedding costs and what the expenses are. Keep in mind that this is an average amount, which means that you can certainly spend a great deal more, or less, depending on your income and your tastes.

Would you believe that the average wedding spends about eight hundred dollars on flowers? It shouldn’t be all that surprising, as flowers add to the beauty and sentiment of your wedding. However, they are one area that you can trim your budget on, if you want to try something creative. You can find these creative suggestions online or in any bridal magazine. Just keep in mind, doing it yourself requires time and patience, two things that can be in short supply while planning your wedding.

Photography also takes a significant portion of your budget, and depending on what you choose to do you can find yourself spending anywhere from nine hundred to twenty five hundred dollars. When all is said and done, your photographs will be all that you have when your wedding is over, and you want them to be the best that they can be. Don’t cut corners on the photography expense, as you may live to regret it.

Your average set of invitations, announcements and thank you notes can set you back around five hundred dollars. If you are looking to trim your budget this is an ideal place to save money. If you have a friend who has neat handwriting, consider asking him/her to address your invitations for you. It will also cost less if you choose a simple invitation compared to a more formal one.

Music is essential to every wedding as it sets the mood and provides the entertainment. You can expect to spend about $1500 on the music for your wedding. The officiant and the ceremony site will cost around $400, and transportation to the site, $450. You will want to buy your attendants gifts for their support and help, and the average cost for these gifts is about $400. A set of wedding bands averages out to $500, the rehearsal dinner around $1000. The reception can run anywhere from $5000 to $8000. The wedding dress purchase and the tuxedo rental will come to around $1500. No one ever said getting married was inexpensive!!! The average total cost of a wedding comes to around $25,000. Do keep in mind that this is just an average, you can still have a fantastic wedding for a fraction of that cost if you are savvy and do some things yourself.

About the Author
Affordable Dream Weddings is a site dedicated to helping couples have their dream wedding without breaking the bank in the process. To sign up for our free wedding planning e-course, visit http://affordabledreamweddings.com

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Easy Ways To Reduce The Cost of a Wedding

With all of the lovely gown styles available to brides, the bride-to-be can now have the type of fairytale wedding that she would like, no matter her budget or season in life. If the bride wishes to have an informal wedding, ceremony on a beach, or destination wedding, there are many elegant wedding dresses from which she may choose. Wedding gowns come in a plethora of fabrics, and brides can decide on either flowing organza or chiffon dresses, or the more traditional lace or satin and taffeta frocks, to wear for an unforgettable walk down the aisle.

If the wedding ensemble budget is limited, a bride still has a very wide selection of bridal gowns, that range in style from quite simple with very little beading and decoration, to the more elaborate gown made entirely of lace. The limited budget bride can also have her choice of elegant wedding dresses that range in length from above the knee to a sweet tea length, or an ankle length dress, which would look very charming with a pair of high heels. Beautiful straight or sheath gowns lend themselves quite well to destination weddings, as well as informal beach ceremonies, and oftentimes do not feature a train.

If the bride has more to invest in her wedding ensemble, she can pick from the host of styles that are more suited to an indoor or church ceremony. A fairytale wedding can be experienced by the bride while wearing a gown of traditional satin or taffeta, and trimmed with several different laces, including either the delicate Alencon or Chantilly lace, or for a more defined look, lovely Venice lace. These elegant wedding dresses may have straight skirts with detachable trains, or the bridal gown may have an elegant A-line silhouette with a chapel length train. A bridal gown with a full ball room style skirt often features a dramatic cathedral train, which is perfect for a fairytale Cinderella type ceremony.

For the bride that is not constrained by any budgetary means for her gown, she can have a lovey wedding dress made of the finest luxurious silk. There are some elegant wedding dresses that are created out of silk satin or taffeta, and these gowns often display very elaborate bead work of genuine pearls, Swarovski crystals and semi precious stones, such as rubies or even diamonds. These gowns are the ultimate in the fairytale wedding gown, with styling ranging from classically modest, to strapless evening looks.

There are limitless choices available to the bride of today, and she can look like a princess, having the fairytale ceremony of her dreams!