The old saying ‘ marry in May and rue the day’ has its roots deeply entrenched in Irish wedding traditions that largely explains why May is not a particularly popular month to marry among Irish folks. These people are quite famous for their strong adherence to superstitious beliefs and this is quite evident in the way they conduct their own Irish weddings. Here are some highly interesting Irish wedding traditions that you find want to know or probably incorporate in your own wedding if you want to veer away from the traditional exchange of “I do’s”:

Lucky horseshoe – you probably heard of this particular practice that have been handed down from one generation to another. There was an old belief that for a successful Irish wedding, the bride must carry a horseshoe to ensure good luck. While these might sound ambiguous at best, a lot of Irish brides readily carry one on their trip down the aisle. However, the popular choice these days are the porcelain horseshoe and the one made entirely of fabric that is worn around the bride’s wrist.

Bunratty mead – this is actually a honey wine that is usually served during those opulent medieval feasts centuries ago. This drink features a recipe that can actually be traced back to the oldest wine in Ireland, and is definitely worth the try. Irish folks believed serving this particular mead would enhance virility and should be drank on a regular basis for about a month or also after the wedding. This drink is supposedly where the very concept of the word ‘honeymoon’ is derived.

Irish dancers – If you want to incorporate just a touch of pageantry and bright colors in your wedding, hiring professional Irish dancers would be a perfect choose to add more appeal. Normally, Irish dancers are used to hand the wedding programs to guests and possibly dance in the reception after the wedding. When dressed in their colorful costume, it will surely become a major and memorable addition to your wedding.

Irish wedding music – Irish folks are quite famous for their gift for music and you will surely enjoy finding appropriate songs for your ceremony and in the reception party among the wide array of selections available for you.

Flowers – years ago, Irish brides were seen wearing colorful wreaths of wildflowers on top of their head. This definitely adds a more charming and earthy touch than settling for those tiaras, right? Just imagine walking towards your future husband with a wonderful flower headpiece that will definitely assure all heads will turn your way and gush over your bridal ensemble. It is definitely one of the great Irish wedding traditions that you might want to add in your very own dream wedding.

Newlywed’s food – back in the olden days, at the very start of the reception the couples are served with oatmeal and salt and the bride and groom are instructed to take three mouthfuls. This is done to protect the marriage against the evil eye and bad luck.

Aside from those interesting Irish wedding traditions, they also believe and take heed in bad omens and portents. Take for example, it is generally not a good idea to marry on a Saturday, and those who are married during the harvest season will spend their entire live gathering. A trip to the location of the location should take the longest and the most distant road from the church.

While most people would probably shrug or laugh it off, these Irish wedding traditions have become a living testimony or the richness and depth of the Irish culture. Much of the beliefs that are still largely observed today and adapted to other regions of the world can be traced back to the Irish culture that have definitely made the art of exchanging those “I do’s” more colorful and interesting.