Inspiration Board: Irish Castle Wedding

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today's board was inspired by St. Patrick's Day and the romantic castles of Ireland - many of which host weddings. I love the Irish coin cufflinks as a groom's gift or a groomsmen's gift, the decorated chapel door, the shamrock bouquet, the Bells of Ireland in simple glass vases as centerpieces, the Bailey's Mint Chocolate martini, and the sweet clover topped cupcakes. Dedicated to my "second mom" Janie who would have loved a wedding like this.

Credits: 1st row: Chapel door flowers, Shamrock bouquet on Martha Stewart Weddings, Venue Castle Durrow. 2nd row: Irish coin cufflinks from Red Envelope, green bridesmaids dress on Martha Stewart Weddings, Shamrock boutonniere on Martha Stewart . 3rd row: Veil on chair photo by Gemma Comas via Sweet Paul, clover ring pillow on Martha Stewart Weddings, chandelier photo from Castle Durrow. 4th row: Bailey's mint chocolate martini on Marie Claire Australia, Bells of Ireland centerpieces on Good Housekeeping, shamrock cupcake on Martha Stewart.

Here are some charming Irish wedding traditions that would be great for anyone with Irish heritage looking to incorporate some Irish traditions into their wedding. Via The Knot.

The Claddagh RingNamed after Claddagh, a fishing village in Galway (in Western Ireland), the Claddagh ring is handed down from mother to daughter and is used both as the betrothal and wedding ring. It is worn with the crowns facing inward, toward the wrist, on betrothal, and outward, toward the nail, upon marriage. Today, it is still used as a wedding ring and it is considered improper for a person to buy one for him or herself; it must be given as a gift.
Superstitions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish believed that if the sun shone on the bride, it would bring good luck to the couple. It was also lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning or to see three magpies. After the wedding ceremony, it was important that a man and not a woman be the first to wish joy to the new bride.
Locking the DoorSince Irish men were known for getting cold feet on their wedding days, once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the door to keep the groom inside to make sure he went through with the ceremony.
Irish Toast
The wedding party gathers around the bride and groom. All fill their glasses with mead and the newly wedded couple recites an Irish toast: "Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead and ask God's blessing in your hour of need." The guests respond: "On this special day, our wish to you, the goodness of the old, the best of the new. God bless you both who drink this mead, may it always fill your every need."
Irish LaceWhile bridal fashions in Ireland resemble the rest of the Western world, one distinctly Irish touch is Irish lace. Try to incorporate this beautiful fabric into a gown or veil. If that's too expensive, consider carrying a lace handkerchief or hand them out as attendant gifts. Color scheme? Follow Irish heritage, of course, and go for green, white, and gold.
Bagpipes and KiltsLots of big Irish families have family members who are in pipe bands. So it's not unusual for them to perform at a wedding and pipe the couple into the mass or at dinner. Popular tunes are the "Highland Fling" and the "Stack of Barley," as well as jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Not only do they sound good, they look good too. Most pipers wear Celtic kilts -- plaid skirts that their ancestors wore in medieval times, but it has become a great way for the groom to honor his heritage as well. The Irish weren't allowed to wear kilts during British rule, so now it seems they slip them on for practically every special occasion, maybe in an effort to make up for lost time and to reclaim their stake in what is often regarded as a Scottish fashion statement.
Lord of the Dance
Show off on the dance floor with a ceilidh, a traditional Irish set dance. Consider signing up for pre-wedding lessons -- for just you and your sweetie or for the whole bridal party. Keep in mind that some ceilidh dances are named for locations in Ireland such as the Kerry Set, the Seige of Ennis, while some waltz tunes include names such as "Galway Shawl", or "Home to Mayo" -- choose a song or dance to reflect your family's heritage or ancestral home. Be sure to share the special significance of your dance with your guests.
An Irish FeastThe traditional Irish menu -- Irish soda bread, corned beef, and cabbage -- is perhaps not something you'd typically crave, but when cooked right and served up at a big wedding fete, it's positively delicious. And don't forget the traditional Irish wedding cake, a fruitcake filled with almonds, raisins, cherries, and spice and laced with brandy or bourbon.
The Month of Honey
The word for honey is "meala" in Irish. "Mi na meala," the month of honey, refers to the month after the wedding when the newlyweds celebrated by drinking mead, a brew made of fermented honey. Following the wedding, a sufficient amount of mead was given to the bride and groom, along with special goblets, so they could share the unique brew for one full moon after their wedding -- and thus the term honeymoon was coined. It was believed that this delicate yet potent drink was the best way to ensure a good beginning for a new marriage, and it was also believed to endow powers of virility and fertility. Source: The Knot

Check out this post on Style Me Pretty to find out all about the Irish tradition of hand fasting.

And here's the link to my fave recipe for Irish soda bread, which of course I'm making today.