The wedding ceremony in modern western traditions tends to have more in common from one nation to another than there are differences. Even most of the prevalent customs such as the bride's white dress, rings, wedding cake, flowers and attendants as well as the feast and pranks played on the couple as they make their final exit are pretty much universal. In planning a wedding with a Celtic theme or incorporating traditions from a Celtic heritage, the basics of your ceremony will be what the Church and State insist upon. Your wedding will be special regardless of the trappings and ornaments you choose because it is your wedding and because of that special person who you are promising yourself to.
Weddings are a time when families look back at their roots and dream about their future.
Our customs and traditions are one way we express who we are. If you research quaint marriage customs from the past, much of what you will find describes the folk ways of largely pastoral, rural or village people. Courtship is under the scrutiny of parents, family elders or match-makers, although escaping that scrutiny has been a challenge that was frequently and boldly accomplished both in fairy tales and in real life as long as boys and girls have had eyes for each other. After consent and eligibility are established and the date is set, preparations for the festivities centers mostly around preparing to entertain and provide refreshment for the guests. In this way little has changed.