All About Irish Wedding Rings
by Patty Buttonweiser
There is nothing like Irish wedding rings to accompany an Irish wedding celebration. Wedding traditions run deep among the Irish because there is much folklore and ancient culture surrounding an Irish wedding. Many Irish couples to be like to choose the attire, decor, music, vows and toasts to have them reflect the Irish sense of style and sensibility. From Irish wedding gowns all the way to the organ music for mass many Irish wedding planners want these things to be distinctly Irish. Similarly there is no reason to exclude the wedding rings as there is an abundance of online and offline stores where Celtic Irish wedding rings abound.
Irish claddagh wedding rings take their inspiration from the traditional claddagh ring with the tender symbols of the crowned heart and hands which are often given in the spirit of romantic love. These symbols are meant to show loyalty and true everlasting love. They may adorn a gold band in a two tone configuration with the symbols crafted in white gold and laid on top of a gold band. It’s not really an eternity band since the symbol does not repeat but appears once and that is the top of the ring. This band could be part of what are known as Irish wedding ring sets where the other half of the set would be the engagement ring.
In this ring the shoulders would be decorated with an abbreviated version of the symbol on either side of the ring giving it symmetry. These would lead in from the shoulders to the actual prong setting or head where the diamond would be mounted. These rings could be worn together or separately. They don’t have to match exactly as long as the symbolism is the same.
Another commonly used symbol in traditional Irish wedding rings is the trinity love knot. This is a version of the Celtic knot symbol which is the most recognizable symbol in Celtic history. It is also referred to as the mystic knot or the endless knot because we cannot see a beginning or an end and therefore we are reminded of the timeless nature of our spirit and our love. It also can represent on a more secular level an uninterrupted cycle of life and so may be used as a sort of amulet or charm to ward off sickness or misfortune that would interfere with the stability of life. In this way you see this symbol used as emblems in clothing, jewelry and home items. These kinds of items given as gifts with Celtic knot decoration are meant to convey best wishes of longevity or good fortune with new ventures.
Men’s Irish wedding rings use the common symbols like the Celtic Knot in its various forms and the Claddagh. There is also the symbol of the Celtic warrior shield symbol whose inspiration comes from the Ardagh Chalice. This is one of the most revered pieces of Celtic art to be created in Ireland and dates all the way back to the 8th century. The celtic shield wedding rings gets their design from the gold filigree band of the chalice. These are available as mens Irish wedding rings as well as women’s with the shield in a prominent position on top of the ring with the other designs on the chalice going around the band.
Another type of mens Irish wedding ring is one that has inscriptions of Gaelic writing going around it interspersed with the symbol of the claddagh. Some of the inscriptions like the Gra Dilseacht Cairdeas which means love loyalty and friendship are particularly meaningful in the context of Irish wedding ring sets. Then you have the Gra Geal Mo Chroi which translates to “love of my life”. These types of wedding rings are available as gold or silver Irish wedding rings in case your budget is a bit stretched for the wedding expenses and you need a cheap Irish wedding ring to serve a temporary purpose till you can afford a gold Irish wedding ring costing hundreds of dollars.
There is nothing like Irish wedding rings to accompany an Irish wedding celebration. Wedding traditions run deep among the Irish because there is much folklore and ancient culture surrounding an Irish wedding. Many Irish couples to be like to choose the attire, decor, music, vows and toasts to have them reflect the Irish sense of style and sensibility. From Irish wedding gowns all the way to the organ music for mass many Irish wedding planners want these things to be distinctly Irish. Similarly there is no reason to exclude the wedding rings as there is an abundance of online and offline stores where Celtic Irish wedding rings abound.
Irish claddagh wedding rings take their inspiration from the traditional claddagh ring with the tender symbols of the crowned heart and hands which are often given in the spirit of romantic love. These symbols are meant to show loyalty and true everlasting love. They may adorn a gold band in a two tone configuration with the symbols crafted in white gold and laid on top of a gold band. It’s not really an eternity band since the symbol does not repeat but appears once and that is the top of the ring. This band could be part of what are known as Irish wedding ring sets where the other half of the set would be the engagement ring.
In this ring the shoulders would be decorated with an abbreviated version of the symbol on either side of the ring giving it symmetry. These would lead in from the shoulders to the actual prong setting or head where the diamond would be mounted. These rings could be worn together or separately. They don’t have to match exactly as long as the symbolism is the same.
Another commonly used symbol in traditional Irish wedding rings is the trinity love knot. This is a version of the Celtic knot symbol which is the most recognizable symbol in Celtic history. It is also referred to as the mystic knot or the endless knot because we cannot see a beginning or an end and therefore we are reminded of the timeless nature of our spirit and our love. It also can represent on a more secular level an uninterrupted cycle of life and so may be used as a sort of amulet or charm to ward off sickness or misfortune that would interfere with the stability of life. In this way you see this symbol used as emblems in clothing, jewelry and home items. These kinds of items given as gifts with Celtic knot decoration are meant to convey best wishes of longevity or good fortune with new ventures.
Men’s Irish wedding rings use the common symbols like the Celtic Knot in its various forms and the Claddagh. There is also the symbol of the Celtic warrior shield symbol whose inspiration comes from the Ardagh Chalice. This is one of the most revered pieces of Celtic art to be created in Ireland and dates all the way back to the 8th century. The celtic shield wedding rings gets their design from the gold filigree band of the chalice. These are available as mens Irish wedding rings as well as women’s with the shield in a prominent position on top of the ring with the other designs on the chalice going around the band.
Another type of mens Irish wedding ring is one that has inscriptions of Gaelic writing going around it interspersed with the symbol of the claddagh. Some of the inscriptions like the Gra Dilseacht Cairdeas which means love loyalty and friendship are particularly meaningful in the context of Irish wedding ring sets. Then you have the Gra Geal Mo Chroi which translates to “love of my life”. These types of wedding rings are available as gold or silver Irish wedding rings in case your budget is a bit stretched for the wedding expenses and you need a cheap Irish wedding ring to serve a temporary purpose till you can afford a gold Irish wedding ring costing hundreds of dollars.
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celtic irish wedding rings,
irish claddagh wedding rings,
irish wedding ring sets,
irish wedding rings,
men's irish wedding rings