Irish Wedding Traditions

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Comes through your door

- an Irish Blessing

Irish people are known to be very superstitious and this is certainly reflected in some of our Irish Wedding Traditions.

The Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof.

When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.

Locking the Church Door

It is thought that Irish men started to get cold feet on the big day. So to prevent the groom from making a dash out of the church the guests would lock the front door.

Lucky Irish Horseshoe

In Irish culture horseshoes are often seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity. The lucky horseshoe should always be displayed upwards!

Braided Hair

Traditionally a symbol of feminine power and luck, braided hair on your wedding day is said to bring Irish brides luck in their marriage. Try this elegant up style!

Magic Handkerchief

The magic handkerchief is a sign of fertility and the bride should carry it with her throughout the day. Once the wedding was over, it is said that the magic handkerchief was kept safely until the first born child arrived. It was then used as part of the christening attire.

Wedding Bells

Not quite the same as the tolling church bells! The bells were used to ward off malicious spirits. After the wedding it is kept in the house to remind married couples of their vows.

St. Patrick's Day

A wedding that takes place on St. Patrick's Day is said to give couples lifelong happiness.

Something Blue

Traditionally the colour blue has been associated with purity, so Irish brides normally have something blue with them on their wedding day. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!

Wedding Cake

The traditional Irish wedding cake is a hearty fruitcake made with honey and soaked in an Irish Whiskey, then frosted with sweet icing.

POWERSCOURT HOUSE WEDDINGS

www.powerscourt.ie/weddings

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Weddings at Powerscourt House & Gardens

Happy Ever After Starts Here.....

A warm welcome awaits you at Powerscourt House. A country estate with elegance and sophistication. Powerscourt House & Gardens evoke a sense of timelessness which is particularly fitting and comforting to couples engaged in a journey that will last a lifetime!

Powerscourt is an historic country house set in the beautiful countryside of County Wicklow. The estate sits just at the foothills of the romantic Wicklow mountains and is one of Ireland's top wedding venues. 

This stately home was originally a castle, around which the Palladian mansion was later built. From the exposed brick of the old castle to the ornate ceilings in the double height Georgian ballroom, this country wedding venue is perfect for your wedding reception. The garden rooms overlook the 47 acres of magnificent gardens, which are a delight in every season. You and your guests can enjoy an evening drinks reception in the Italian Garden.

Powerscourt Ballroom

The Italian Garden at Powerscourt

Our catering & events partners Feast Catering, lead by the culinary duo Domini & Peaches Kemp, will guide you through the seasonal menus and ensure that your day is seamlessly catered for from start to finish. Choosing from only the finest of Ireland’s finest local home producers we guarantee the finest in dining with our 5 star seasonal menus.

We offer a highly personalised service and work closely with our network of preferred suppliers. Everything from the linen, flowers, lighting, wines, menus and music are carefully considered to ensure they meet the highest expectations.

My heart is and always will be yours

Powerscourt is surrounded by scenic beauty and there are plenty of photo opportunities in the magnificent grounds and gardens.

"Thank you so so so much for everything that you did for our special day. From the moment we contacted you the service has been flawless. You knew exactly what we had envisaged and captured it beautifully. You made everything personal from creating our bespoke English themed menu to congratulating us on the day when we arrived at the House. The detailing and thought that had been put into our menu was perfect and since then we have been inundated with compliments on how fabulous and unique the food was. The service on the day was excellent and our guest wanted for nothing. When we walked into the Ballroom at Powerscourt it was even better than we had imagined. It looked absolutely stunning, everything and more that we could have dreamed of.

Thank you so much again for all of your hard work and commitment on the day, we could have not asked for more. We will definitely being using you again for any other occasion and will be sure to recommend your expert services to anyone that asks."

Becky & Will, April 2013

"A heartfelt thank you from my new husband and I for what was the most perfect day. It exceeded all of our expectations for our wedding day. Feast and Powerscourt House were amazingly helpful both on the day and in the run up. We have had so many of our friends and family comment on the beautiful setting and excellent service. The highlights included, having our drinks reception outside over looking the gardens and seeing everyone enjoying the meal in the stunning ballroom. We are delighted we chose Powerscourt House."  

Anne Kehoe, August 2012

“Now that the dust has settled I feel it is important that I write to thank you and put on the record how happy Isobel, Jamie, Kay and I were with how everything went on our big day. You and all the staff at Feast were really great, as evidenced by the many compliments we have received from guests. And of course your personal attention not just on the day but right through the run up was second to none”.

Gerry McMahon - September 2012

We were recently listed in the One Fab Day 100 Best Wedding Venues 2013!

"Enjoying the iconic view of Powerscourt gardens to the Sugarloaf, sipping champagne under the soaring ceilings of the ballroom - it's an Irish wedding dream"

They loved: The entrance hall, used for ceremonies, is a masterful renovation - its exposed brick walls contrast perfectly with the grandeur upstairs.

Contact us to make an appointment

T: 01 204 6000

E: hospitality@powerscourt.net

www.powerscourt.ie/weddings

Catering

Feast Catering

www.feast.ie

Photography

www.photographybybrideen.com

www.willoreilly.com

Flowers

www.bloomsday.ie