Not just a love affair, but rather a remembrance of how touching companionship can be. Humanizing love and personifying the beauty of this union is what an Irish wedding constitutes. From children to parents, an atmosphere of pleasant chirping birds surrounds us. From the bride’s mermaid dress to the groom’s kilt outfit, the choice of dress has solid reasoning behind it.
As wedding guests, we may consider bagpipes a musical ornament close to the hearts of many Irishmen and Irishwomen. Today’s story is not just about a man and woman saying, “I do.” It’s about two families coming together to bless a young couple’s love.
This isn’t your typical wedding, but rather your typical Irish wedding
The wind was a witness to the love of these two individuals, and the silence was evidence. Champagne glasses were clicked against each other, and the night was intended to be remembered via faint memories.
Toasts were made to vow to love, seek companionship, and always rise in love for the years to come.
As the groom stood with his best man in his kilt outfit, a Boru jacket, white tux shirt with a bow tie, and knee socks with ribbons that could match the tartan’s color, he conversed with his best man about the love of his life and the life he will get to spend with her.
As guests continued to arrive, Pipers began playing bagpipes with more intensity and thrill. Bagpipes could be played throughout as well. For those unaware, bagpipes are primarily Irish flutes. They were played to welcome guests to the occasion and also as a mark of commemorating something.
Here comes the bride
As the groom continued his conversation with his best man, the bride entered in her most beautiful white mermaid gown. The bride wore an Off The Shoulder lace gown with sequins and a 3-meter-long train on its borders. The dress took the shape of the corset as it started from the bride’s upper body and moved down delicately as it wrapped itself around the bride’s body.
The lace dress contained intricate details with the wedding date sown on the edges of the dress. The bride had tied her hair up. Her last move before getting up and walking down that aisle was wearing her grandmother’s heirloom necklace.
“Do you think you could have gotten married at an earlier time?” the best man asked.
“No. I think it’s the best time. I can now give her my all,” the groom responded.
“Your leannán will now be your wife! Bless you,” the best man replied and took a step away.
The bridesmaids began walking and taking their positions. The Irish Uilleann Piper and the Celtic Harp started playing as the bride made her entry.
These musical instruments were played by handsome young men who were dressed in kilts and Irish history. The piper announced the bride’s entry, and everyone turned heads to look at the woman of the hour.
As tradition suggested, the couple, Jack and Saoirse’s hands were tied. This ceremony is as old as 2000 years and was fundamentally considered an engagement ceremony that would allow the couple to live together and see if they were compatible. In today’s age, it is considered an act of wisdom that holds the essence of a relationship together.
In the handfasting ceremony, the officiant ties a ribbon or rope around the bride and groom’s hands as they utter words of promise and fulfillment that the couple will follow during their marriage. The four hands mark a symbol of union and companionship.
After Jack and Saoirse read their vows and kissed to the magical words of ‘I do’, a bell was heard ringing. It was rung to ward off evil spirits and protect the couple from negative energy. Guests were given tiny bells when they entered the venue. As Jack and Saoirse walked down the aisle as one unit with their hands intertwined with the other’s soul, guests began ringing their tiny bells to send out a message.
As guests rang the bell and the couple stole the limelight, Jack leaned in toward Saoirse’s ear and whispered:
“Lovely bouquet of flowers you got there.”
“It includes the Bells of Ireland flowers.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Wait. Were these your specific instructions?”
“Of course, they were, leannán.”
Jack and Saoirse had their first conversation as lovers. The two had been together for ten years before they got married 10 minutes ago.
Wedding with a view
The couple had exchanged their vows at the Cliffs of Moher. It was quite possibly the most beautiful location for Jack and Saoirse. Towered over the Atlantic coast, the cliffs of Moher provided what no place could come close to – the most exotic view of nature.
Jack and Saoirse always wanted a small wedding – they considered intimate occasions more wholesome and fun. It meant everyone knew each other and wanted good for one another, and no one would be left unattended. This choice worked in their favor considering the pandemic that took place. It was a small intimate wedding that ended soon.
The Irish coastline was Saoirse’s first choice. She loved nature and felt real around it. There was no other place she wanted to get married to the love of her life other than this one.
The wedding reception was held in the evening, many hours later. After the emotionally overwhelming intimate wedding ceremony, it was important to ensure that a party was held. An Irish wedding reception was considered incomplete without Irish dancers. At weddings, students of Irish dancing schools mostly performed to the traditional Uilleann pipes or even an Irish band.
As the young danced and the old sent thanks to the Lord for getting their kind children, Jack and Saoirse wed, and under the name of holy matrimony, there was a bottomless spread of Irish drinks.
A friend in Mead is a friend indeed
An Irish drink, Meade, is manufactured from honey and is considered the oldest drink in Ireland. When Jack turned 14, his dad brought him to the bar and bought him his first ever drink, Meade. Meade holds great importance in Jack’s eyes.
His dad passed away three years ago, but he wanted to ensure that he was a solid part of the celebration and remembered as if he was still present. The couple and their friends and families drank the night away.
The reception did not just encapsulate Meade. There were many other options, but Jack ensured each guest had chugged at least one Meade drink. Other drinks included Irish whiskey, cider, all sorts of beer, and Irish liqueur.
Throughout the celebration, old and new friends gave out toasts and wished Saoirse and Jack a happy life going forward:
“Please don’t wake me up tomorrow saying a child is on the way! I’ll faint!” Saoirse’s sister, Isabelle, said.
“You two have been a solid rock for as long as I’ve known you both. Sometimes, I honestly feel as if we were tied together with a thread in a past life. It’s been real with you, both. May God bless you.”
After the couple had completely evaporated the remnants of the night, they called it all a night, and friends and family all went their way after bidding the couple goodbye and lovely life ahead.
