Using Irish wedding symbols on your wedding day symbolizes your love for each other as well as your love of the Irish culture. Using symbols in Irish weddings dates back hundreds and sometimes thousands of years.

Many Irish symbols are thought to bring good luck or keep away bad spirits. It's no surprise why Celtic symbols are so popular at weddings.

Below are five examples of Irish wedding symbols as well as ideas for using the symbols on your big day.

Examples Of Irish Wedding Symbols

Horseshoes symbolize good luck and are a popular symbol used at Irish weddings. While carrying a horseshoe on your wedding day typically isn't attractive or practical, there are other ways to blend them into your day.

Claddagh Rings symbolize love and marriage and are popular for both wedding rings and decorations. The design consists of two hands clasping a heart with a crown.

Shamrocks are probably the most popular Irish symbol due to them being rarely found in nature. If you do find one, hold on to it!

Trinity Knots offer a beautiful, unique design for an Irish wedding. There are many different styles and designs to choose from.

Bells are often received as gifts and are meant to remind you of your marriage. They are also thought to keep away bad spirits.

How To Use Symbols On Your Wedding Day

Symbols can act as the base of your wedding theme, or you can use them as part of a larger Irish wedding theme. Often one or two symbols are chosen for a Celtic theme.

You can use symbol for all of the printed materials in your wedding. This includes your save the dates, invitations and wedding programs.

Trinity knots are very unique and offer a special touch to your printed materials. Do some research for a design you like, and have all of your printed materials use that design.

While it may not be practical to carry some of the symbols, like a horseshoe for example, you can still make them part of your wedding day. Have a small horseshoe or shamrock made of fabric sewn into your wedding gown.

Your wedding bands are another opportunity to use Irish symbols. The Claddagh ring design is an obvious choice, but you can also find rings that subtly use other designs like shamrocks and horseshoes.

Wedding reception decorations and favors are another chance for you to use an Irish symbol. Celtic place card holders, guest books, unity candles and flower girl baskets are examples of items that are often decorated with symbols.

Stephen Badiali is the owner of Wedding Ideas Guide. Visit Celtic Wedding Themes and Irish Wedding Traditions.