music as a therapeutic tool for all ages

It's hard not to be proud of your Irish heritage, so it only makes sense if your partner wants to incorporate some of the Emerald Isle into your wedding. Though it may seem like you are biting off more than you chew, there are actually several cleverly simple ways to add a dash of Ireland on your big day. Below is a list of Irish traditions you can add that will give your wedding just the right splash of Irish to make your partner feel even more appreciated and loved.

Music

For the music before and after your ceremony, hire someone to play the harp. Up until the late 19^th century, the harp was actually the national instrument of Ireland. You can hire someone to play the harp while you are walking down the isle or while guests are awaiting your arrival at the reception. For an added measure, play bagpipe music while everyone is enjoying their drink during cocktail hour, or famous Irish folk songs.

Bells

In traditional Irish weddings, bells are believed to be an exceptional gift. Many believe that the chimes from the bells will help to ward off evil spirits. Part of this tradition is to ring the bell while you are saying your vows to one another in order to bring luck and prosperity into the marriage. Newly weds will keep the bells where they can see them in their home and every time there is a fight, they will ring the bell in order to remind them of the vows they made on their wedding day.

Wedding Speeches

While it's a tradition to appoint people to give toasts at weddings, members of the wedding party in Irish weddings will actually give long speeches. These speeches are so long that it became tradition to bet on who will give the longest speech. These long speeches have become so popular that you can now download betting sheets so that your guests can bet on whose speech will be the longest. Incorporating this Irish tradition is not only fun, but it's also a great way to get all of your guests involved on the big day.

Fruit Cake

Fruit cake is the traditional wedding cake in Ireland. You don't have to make your entire cake a fruit cake, but you can enlist someone to make the top layer that way. Being Irish, your partner probably has a family member who has an old family recipe for fruit cake, so you can ask that it be made following that.

Finding ways to incorporate your partner's Irish heritage into your wedding isn't as hard as it may sound. There are several clever ways that you add your flair of green without completely revamping your ceremony plans. By using the traditions listed above, both you and your partner can have what you want on your special day.