Irish Wedding Vows
Wedding vows are integral and essential aspect of wedding ceremony. Wedding vows are promises that couple made to each other on wedding day. There are different wedding vows depending on religion, culture and also type of marriage. Many couples choose to use Irish wedding vows to honor their Irish heritage.
Basic Irish wedding vows which are exchanged in contemporary Irish wedding are:
"I, (name of groom/bride), now take you, (name of bride/groom) to be my (wife/husband). In the presence of God and before these witnesses I promise to be a loving, faithful and loyal (husband/wife) to you, for as long as we both shall live. "
In traditional Irish wedding vows, wordings that are used is like:
"By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me. As the Sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may the presence with me, oh one that I love, till death comes to part us asunder."
Simple unity Irish wedding vow says, "We swear by peace and love to stand, heart to heart and hand in hand. Mark, O spirit and hear us now, confirming this, our sacred vow." It is spoken by bride and groom.
Traditional Irish wedding ring is called Claddagh. When exchange of vows includes exchange of rings or Claddagh, it is exchanged with phrase of Claddagh, "With this hand I give you my heart, and crown it with my love."
Loving cup ceremony is another important ceremony of exchange of Irish wedding vows. In this officiant says, "And now please drink to the love you have shared in past." Couple sips from cup. "Drink to the love in the present, on this wedding day." Couple sips from the cup. "And drink to your love in the future and forever more." Couple sips from cup.
With Irish wedding vows which are reflection of Irish heritage, you can celebrate a romantic and beautiful as well as traditional wedding.