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  Natural Non-florals -170023

  An on-trend succulent rosette is wrapped in rustic twine.

  Photo Credit: Urban Succulents

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  Reflect Your Themed Event

  Lovely for a winter wedding: sprigs of fragrant cedar and miniature pine cones are wrapped with jute and satin ribbon.

  Photo Credit: Which Goose/Etsy

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  Reflect Your Themed Event

  A nautical rope knot is a clever alternative for your seaside celebration.

  Photo Credit: Karen's Wedding Shop/Etsy

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  Reflect Your Themed Event

  Rustic feathers are embellished with a bronze arrow for a woodsy, boho look.

  Photo Credit: Luxe and Luster/Etsy

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  Reflect Your Themed Event

  A gorgeous vintage-inspired floral features a single peach rose and silvery lambs ear, bound with cream lace and twine.

  Photo Credit: La Plume de Fleur/Etsy

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  Reflect Your Themed Event

  A blooming burgundy wine cork is the perfect choice for a vineyard or winery setting.

  Photo Credit: Kate Said Yes/Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  A playful paper rose is handmade from comic book pages.

  Photo Credit: The Vintage Owl/Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  For your beach theme, a genuine starfish is embellished with pearls and floral accents.

  Photo Credit: Artseero/Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  Preserve your memories with a sweet sola wood gardenia.

  Photo Credit: Kristy Claire/Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  He holds the key to your heart; a vintage skeleton key boutonniere is an elegant option.

  Photo Credit: Which Goose/ Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  Bright-hued handmade paper flowers will make for awesome photographs.

  Photo Credit: Shop Color Garden/Etsy

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  This quirky vintage bottle cap has enamel and rhinestone accents.

  Photo Credit: Jason Diehl via The Ritzy Rose/Etsy

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  Exquisite Florals

  A traditional baby’s breath buttonhole is adorned with Australian spinning gum and white satin ribbon.

  Photo Credit: La Plume de Fleur/Etsy

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  Exquisite Florals

  A simple and sophisticated red bloom makes a stylish fabric lapel pin.

  Photo Credit: Mojca Kropec via Nevestica/Etsy

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  Exquisite Florals

  A beautiful blush rose and soft pink hydrangea will last for years — these real blooms are glycerin preserved.

  Photo Credit: Floral Escence

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  Exquisite Florals

  Lovely silk calla lily and plumeria in beachy shades of aqua and coral are wrapped in Tiffany blue.

  Photo Credit: Treasured Moments Flowers & Gifts

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  Exquisite Florals

  The classic single rose is stunning in a lavender hue.

  Photo Credit: Cavin Elizabeth Photography

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  Natural Non-florals

  A natural cotton boll has simple rustic charm.

  Photo Credit: Floral Escence

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  Natural Non-florals

  For the craft beer enthusiast or your brewery venue: hops with rye stalks and dried gomphrena.

  Photo Credit: Black Creek Hops/Etsy

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  Natural Non-florals

  A unique air plant is adorned with berries and preserved seeded eucalyptus.

  Photo Credit: Southern Girl Weddings/Etsy

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  Especially for the Groom

  For the fisherman groom: bold-hued feathers embellished with a fishing hook, line, and bobble.

  Photo Credit: Kristy Claire/Etsy

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  Especially for the Groom

  Pretty yellow roses get a bit of masculine flair with a gold shotgun shell.

  Photo Credit: Kate Said Yes/Etsy

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  Especially for the Groom

  A fun alternative for the golf fanatic, made wedding-appropriate with pretty pastel hues and sweet baby’s breath.

  Photo Credit: Kelly Pratt Photography

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  Especially for the Groom

  Beautiful traditional roses hold a hidden nod to the groom's favorite Star Wars characters.

  Photo Credit: Christopher Todd Studios

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  Whimsical Alternatives

  This modern leaf and branch design is 3-D printed in stainless steel.

  Photo Credit: Collected Edition/Etsy

25 Unique and Stylish Boutonnieres

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  Choose Your Date Wisely -169842

  In ancient times, Irish couples were cautioned against marrying between May and August — the busiest time in Irish life. As the saying goes,

  "Marry when the year is new, always loving, kind, and true. When February birds do mate, you may wed, nor dread your fate. If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know. Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man. Marry in the month of May, you will surely rue the day. Marry when June roses blow, over land and sea you'll go. They who in July do wed, must labor always for their bread. Whoever wed in August be, many a change are sure to see. Marry in September's shine, your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, only joy will come, remember. When December's rain fall fast, marry and true love will last." 

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  Claddagh Ring

  The claddagh ring is one of the most well-known Irish wedding traditions. Typically passed down from mother to daughter or grandmother to granddaughter, the ring represents love, friendship, and loyalty. Single ladies wear the ring on their right hand with the point of the heart facing the fingertip. When in a relationship, the ring is flipped around so that the point faces the wrist, symbolizing that her heart has been captured. And when the woman becomes engaged, the ring is moved over to her left hand, with the point of the heart facing the fingertips. The ring is flipped around at the wedding.

  Photo courtesy of claddagh.com

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  Flowers

  Another one of the most popular wedding flowers in Ireland is the Bells of Ireland.

  Photo Credit: Scott Piner

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  Entertainment

  Make a bold statement by having bagpipes as you exit the ceremony or during the cocktail hour.

  Photo Credit: Allyson Magda

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  Bells

  Use modified bells as candle holders.

  Photo courtesy of Malmark

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  Irish Blessings

  Kick off the evening by having the father of the bride offer an Irish blessing:

  "May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. May your hands be forever clasped in friendship and your hearts joined forever in love. Your lives are very special, God has touched you in many ways. May his blessings rest upon you and fill all your coming days."

  Photo courtesy of The Birdman of Orange/Etsy

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  Cake

  The Irish wedding cake is a hearty fruitcake made with honey and soaked in an Irish whiskey, then frosted with a sweet white glaze. Top the cake with shamrocks or four-leaf clovers for good luck.

  Photo Credit: Michael Paul Photo

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  Horseshoes

  Add some good luck to your wedding day with a horseshoe. Make sure you keep the horseshoe upright, resembling a "U" — otherwise, legend says the luck will run out! Incorporate a horseshoe in your bouquet, wear a horseshoe necklace, or sew a small porcelain version inside your gown.

  Photo Credit: Michael Paul Photo

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  Food & Drink

  During your cocktail hour, add a corned beef carving station or an elaborate potato bar. Be sure to stock the bar with plenty of Guinness, Bailey's Irish Cream, and Jameson, and display an appropriate Irish proverb. A favorite: "An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass and not fall off the face of the earth." Sláinte!

  Photo Credit: Milou + Olin Photography

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  Flowers

  Many Irish brides traditionally carry wildflowers.

  Photo Credit: Sweet Little Photographs

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  Flowers

  Wear a wildflower wreath in lieu of a veil. Add a sprig of English lavender; it symbolizes love and devotion. And herbs stand for the bride's fidelity to her new husband. 

  Photo Credit: Three Nails Photography

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  Bells

  A traditional wedding gift for Irish couples, the chime of the bell is said to keep evil spirits away. Ring a bell together after reciting your vows. As you venture into married life, keep your wedding bells in a safe place at home; if you argue, ring the bell and it'll remind you of your wedding vows. 

  Photo courtesy of Malmark

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  Your Look

  Although green is the color most commonly associated with Ireland, it's actually blue that's said to bring good luck to the bride on her wedding day.

  Photo Credit: Turner Creative Photography

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  Your Look

  Many Irish grooms opt to wear kilts.

  Photo Credit: Lauren Rutherford Photography

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  Horseshoes

  Wear your horseshoe around your neck.

  Photo courtesy of Blue Nile

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  Horseshoes

  Add a horseshoe (and four-leaf clovers!) to your wedding stationery.

  Photo courtesy of Minted

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  Handfasting

  In this ancient Celtic tradition, the hands of the bride and groom are literally tied together to symbolize the joining of husband and wife. It's the origin of the phrase "tying the knot." 

  Photo Credit: Larissa Cleveland

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  Honeymoon

  What better place to honeymoon than in a traditional Irish castle? In Gaelic, "honeymoon" is "mi na meala," meaning "the month of honey." It was customary for the newlyweds to spend a month alone together drinking mead, a wine made of fermented honey.  The sweet wine is said to boost virility and fertility — babies born nine months after the wedding were attributed to the mead!

  Photo courtesy of Dromoland Castle

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  Entertainment

  Have a harpist play traditional Irish music before your ceremony — the harp was the national emblem of Ireland from the early times to the end of the 19th century.

  Photo Credit: Brawns Photography

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  Bells

  Transform a bell into a vase.

  Photo courtesy of Malmark

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  Bells

  Hand out bells to your guests and have them ring away as you exit the ceremony or reception, and let those bells work double duty as escort card holders at the reception.

  Photo courtesy of Malmark

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  Claddagh Ring

  Already have an engagement ring? Incorporate the claddagh in your invitations:

  Photos courtesy of Minted 

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  Your Look

  Dress up your braid with a few pretty flowers.

  Photo Credit: Michelle Lemley

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  Your Look

  Incorporate a braid in your hair; it's an ancient Irish symbol of power and luck.

  Photo Credit: Hair and Makeup by Steph

20+ Ways to Include Irish Wedding Traditions in Your Big Day