The Traditional Irish Wedding [Paperback]

Bridget Haggerty (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0937702218 | ISBN-13: 978-0937702215 | Publication Date: June 30, 2004 | Edition: Revised

Written by an Irish mother who put on a traditional Irish wedding for her American daughter, this book explores the rich history and lore surrounding the exchange of vows beginning with the practices of ancient Gaelic tribes. Dress, Claddagh rings, gifts, food, music, prayers, toasts, and readings are adapted for contemporary ceremonies, with extensive resources provided.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bridget Haggerty emigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1963 to marry the man she had met on a blind date. Today, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Haggerty both work out of the 'money-pit'-- a ramshackle Queen Anne residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they raised a family, dropped out of corporate America, and now pursue freelance careers in consulting, writing and whatever else will keep the lights on. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Irish Books & Media; Revised edition (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937702218
• ISBN-13: 978-0937702215
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I had the Irish wedding of my dreams...., August 4, 2000

By 

Kathleen Lonergan "chefkath" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Traditional Irish Wedding (Paperback)

all because of this wonderful book. This was my one and only wedding "bible" - my copy is so tattered, dog-eared and full of notes that it is barely readable anymore. But it inspired and helped me to design the wedding I've always wanted. One and all, our guests told us we had the most unique and wonderful wedding they'd ever attended. (Several people told me they thought our wedding was more fun than their own!)

If you want to pay tribute to your Irish heritage at your wedding, definitely get this book. Not only is it helpful in and of itself, but it also has a great index of mail-order companies and web sites to help further your research. My only hope is that the book will be regularly updated to incorporate the growing body of online ethnic wedding resources.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must buy, this is an awesome book! :), February 9, 2000

By 

J. Kelley (Spokane, WA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Traditional Irish Wedding (Paperback)

I am having an irish wedding and needed some help with ideas. This book did it all from the planning to the reception (it even gave me some great ideas for my vows!) I had done months and months of searching for information and always came up with the same old stuff. When I got this in the mail, it changed my wedding planning from nightmarish to easy and a lot of fun. Besides all of the great ideas and recipes (yum :) it has many sayings, superstitions, blessings, and fun facts that add some charm to the whole aspect of holding an Irish wedding. My fiance even got hyped about helping with the coordination of the event, inspired by the ideas this book had offered. A MUST buy.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Guide for Creating an Irish Themed Wedding, February 9, 2006

By 

SuperWeddings.com - Editor, Linda Kevich - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Traditional Irish Wedding (Paperback)

Today, more than ever before, engaged couples are eager for ways to make their weddings more unique, distinctive, and therefore memorable in the eyes of their guests. Each week, my mailbox is filled with letters from brides who are seeking suggestions on how to do this. One of the first pieces of advice I offer is to consider having a 'theme' wedding - a very in vogue idea at the present time.

A well chosen theme will not only make your wedding day more memorable, it can make it more meaningful as well. This is especially true when the theme is built around the ethnic background of either the bride, groom, or the couple as a whole.

Traditional Irish weddings, in particular, became especially popular as a wedding theme a few years back and continue to capture the imagination with their charm. The interest in this style of wedding has grown so strong, in fact, that author Bridget Haggerty has filled an entire book with information on ways to incorporate Irish customs, traditions, and flourishes into the wedding festivities.

I had the pleasure to getting to know Bridget Haggerty when she was a member of a discussion group I ran at my SuperWeddings site back in 2000, and it was then that I first reviewed her book. I can personally attest that her knowledge of her subject matter is extensive, and I was impressed by the very genuine level of interest she clearly has in helping her readers plan weddings which truly are extra special - a sentiment I completely share.

In The Traditional Irish Wedding, Haggerty presents an inspiring array of creative ideas for planning a wedding with an enchanting Irish flair which will undoubtedly stand out in the memories of all who attend. If it's an *authentic* Irish wedding you crave, this is the book for you.

The author leaves no stone unturned as she guides you through the selection of wedding apparel; invitations; vows, blessings, prayers and readings; music selections for absolutely all phases of the wedding; the selection of accessories and decorations; food; favors; toasts; and the list goes on - ALL in keeping with the Irish theme. Also included are Irish touches for pre-wedding and post-wedding gatherings and parties, including showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner, and more. She even goes so far as to offer menu suggestions for the reception and other wedding-related celebrations, complete with a wonderful collection of suitable Irish recipes.

No book about planning Irish weddings would be complete without a thorough discussion of planning an Irish honeymoon, and once agan, this author does not disappoint. She covers the different types of Irish honeymoon possibilities, places to stay, sights to see, tours, tips from travel specialists, resources and services to use during planning, and even includes a suggested itinerary as well as some Irish honeymoon recollections of a former bride and groom. Her attention to detail is certain to make planning the perfect Irish honeymoon a breeze.

The book is engaging from the very first page, and makes a wonderful read for anyone with an interest in weddings in general, or in Irish culture. You need not be of Irish descent to enjoy this one. While I expected to find information which would only be of interest to those planning an Irish themed wedding, I was pleasantly surprised that this was absolutley not the case. Although I have absolutley zero Irish ancestry in my background, I found the book to be immediately interesting and delightful - and terribly difficult to put down.

This one is labeled a 'must read' for every bride of Irish heritage, anyone with an interest in Irish customs and traditions, or anyone fascinated by weddings in general - and it certainly belongs in the personal reference library of every professional wedding coordinator or bridal consultant.