Wedding favors are an old tradition for the Irish. The custom was for the newly wed couple to give their guests some small memento for them to take home. No one can be sure exactly why this was custom, or what was used for the gifts.
One known tradition was for the bride and groom to place charms inside their wedding cake. These items included rings, thimbles, buttons, dried peas, and coins. Serving as wedding favors, the guests would have fun discovering which items they had received. The charms’ meanings vary and are based on folklore and superstitions.
Getting a ring means being married within a year. To find a thimble is to live a life of spinsterhood. Finding a button means being a bachelor for life. Dried peas do not make happy guests, for they indicate a life of poverty. Receiving a coin in your piece of cake means you will see prosperity and wealth.
Though giving Irish wedding favors went through a period of unpopularity, the ancient custom has been recently revived. In modern-day Irish weddings, a gift is usually given to your guests upon arrival to the wedding party. The wedding favor is supposed to be a keepsake of the special day.
One great Irish wedding favor to give is Irish tea. Barry’s Gold Blend is an especially high-quality brand. They specialize in premium tea sold from its original location in Cork. There are many other brands of Irish tea that are great for giving as Irish wedding favors.
Irish linens make special wedding favors. Give each of your guests a section of fine Irish linen such as Irish crochet, Kenmare lace, Limerick lace, and Yougal lace. Irishop has a selection of linens to choose from to use for your Irish wedding favors.
Who doesn’t love chocolate at a wedding? Give Irish chocolates and they are sure to be a hit with your guests. If you can find a place in your wedding budget, Butler’s Irish handmade chocolates are gourmet chocolates. However, if you are like most everyone in America these days, you are looking for more economical routes. Chocolates in Celtic shapes and designs work just as well for your Irish wedding favors.
In recent years, it has become popular to give music as wedding favors in Irish weddings. Both traditional and modern Irish music work to give your guests. Of course, they are in the form of CD’s, so send your guests home with beautiful Irish music.