Queen Victoria reigned over England from 1837 to 1901. Her leadership was characterised by change in virtually every single aspect of life and culture. The population was expanding and moving. Scientific, health related and technological developments vastly and speedily improved the value of living. It was an age filled with optimism and trust that ended in success that stemmed from a fiscal increase. The beginnings of the Protestant work mentality and family ideals lie in the Victorian era. In addition, it would be a romantic time when lovers talked to one another in the dialect of flora and when elaborate wedding parties were the rule.

Bridal Jewellery - About the Victorian Wedding Concept

Ensure your Victorian wedding has a good number of flora. Decide on a spot that’s full of significance. The Victorians were a emotional lot, so a level of nostalgia is perfectly applicable. For an outside wedding, a garden climate like a botanical garden full of flora would be ideal. The Victorians also adored fountains and sculpture, therefore if the garden you select comes with them, an added dimension of significance will be added. For just a modest wedding party, opt for a tea party in a relative’s or friend’s beautifully tended yard or garden. One other great location could be a Victorian mansion or ballroom. In choosing a colour layout for ones Victorian themed wedding, opt for greens, pinks or gold. Other colours preferred by the Victorians consist of vibrant jewel tones such as burgundy as well as emerald green. To add much more significance, select flora and greenery with profound symbolic meaning. One method to discover those meanings is to find out about heraldry.

Bridal Jewellery - Concerning Heraldic Icons of Trees and Fruits

With regard to heraldry, the olive branch is a customary token of concordance and tranquillity. The acacia branch signifies endless and tender memories. Poplar leaves are a symbol of hope and joy — great feelings for a recently wedded couple. Oak trees and acorns possess a range of symbolic meanings. Both the acorn as well as the oak tree mean strength. An oak tree represented with acorns signifies development along with fertility. An oak sheaf means that the harvest of one’s hopes has happened. The apple is usually a heraldic token of felicity and peacefulness, like berries. The pomegranate fruit represents fertility along with abundance.

Bridal Jewellery - Bracelet Tips for ones Victorian Themed Wedding

One stunning bracelet to contemplate spotlights luminous round ivory pearls. Regardless of whether you select normal freshwater pearls or amazing glass Swarovski man-made pearls, which are slightly darker in colour, your bracelet will be an utter highlight. A sterling silver clasp and extender chain wraps up the look. You also may desire to contemplate an illusion bracelet that just would seem to float on your wrist. This bracelet has ivory Swarovski pearls and sparkling Swarovski crystals which have been randomly spaced on a few strands of virtually invisible illusion thread. Showcasing a clasp made of sterling silver, the bracelet also features an extender chain that terminates with a nice Swarovski crystal heart.

Your Victorian wedding will be a lot more romantic and purposeful when you contain some heraldic representations of trees and fruits.

The story of the first Claddagh Ring would make a wonderful romance novel or an unforgettable film. It would stand as a testament to the power of love and faithfulness. Why does the Claddagh story remain so meaningful and charming, thousands of years after its first telling? Once you learn more about the crafting of the very first ring, you will be able to understand for yourself. The Claddagh Story: The first Celtic wedding rings and bands were the creation of Richard Joyce, an Irish fisherman who lived during the seventeenth century. He sailed the high seas all over the world, and he was working near Montserrat when his ship was boarded by pirates and raided. Joyce was kidnapped, and taken to a Moorish goldsmith in Algiers, where he was forced to work in slavery. Joyce was soon a highly skilled goldsmith, able to craft delicate objects of beauty out of the precious metal. His skills in the shop were highly prized by his master.

The goldsmith soon took a liking to Richard, clever and quick as he was, and trained him as an apprentice to be a master craftsman. Year later in 1689, when King William III demanded the release of all British subjects from Algiers, Richard turned down the offer of marriage to the old goldsmith’s daughter and half of the old man’s fortune for the sweet winds of home and his true love in Galway. Though it had been 14 years since his disappearance, he found his true love waiting faithfully for his return. Overcome with joy, he presented her with a ring that he had designed and forged while an apprentice, the now famous Royal Claddagh, and soon the two were married. It is said that Richard settled in Galway with his bride and there became a successful goldsmith, his most famous work, the Claddagh. Though no one can say for sure where the Celtic wedding rings originated or who first designed it, the earliest Claddaghs to be traced bear the mark “RI”, Richard Joyce, the master goldsmith. An Irish Tradition: The Claddagh ring is a variant of older rings called “Fede”, or faith rings which date to Roman times and were popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe. Since the 17th Century, it was traditionally worn as a Celtic wedding or engagement ring, handed down from mother to daughter for generations.

For many Irish who left Ireland during Great Famine of the 19th Century, the Claddagh was the only reminder left of their homeland. Rich in Meaning and Significance: But you don’t have to be Irish to appreciate the meaning and beauty of Celtic wedding bands. This traditional Irish wedding ring is now worn all over the world. It has become a fashionable exchange of dear friends and lovers, men and women alike. The meaning of the ring is what gives it significance. The hands, crown and heart symbolize the trinity of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, or in Gaelic, “Gra Dilseacht agus Cairdeas” (pronounced ‘Graw Deel-shocked, ogis Korr-diss’). Put another way: “Let love and friendship reign forever”. It is this rich and beautiful meaning that makes the Claddagh perfect for many occasions, whether it be a gift to a cherished friend of loved one, a Mother’s ring, a Promise ring or worn traditionally as an engagement or wedding ring. Wearing a Claddagh: The Claddagh ring is one of the most elegant and meaningful rings ever created and is beautiful no matter how it is worn. However, if the tradition of the Claddagh is followed, then the way in which the Claddagh is worn declares the wearers relationship status in their quest for love. If worn on the right hand, it is a sign of friendship: with the heart pointed out toward the fingertip, the wearer is free for the courting, their heart open and available; with the heart pointed in toward the wrist, the wearer is spoken for or being courted. But the left hand is the prized position for the Claddagh; worn with the heart facing in toward the wrist, the wearer has found their true love and is engaged or happily married, saying, “With these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love.”

When the first humans looked up into the night sky and and marvelled about the shining lights, they sought to assign meanings to the patterns they saw. From these early time ideas emerged the signs of the zodiac, a group of mythological and emblematic signs that are thought to preside over human traits and behaviour. If your marriage ceremony will fall between February 19 and March 20, it will take place under the sign of Pisces.

Wedding Jewellery UK - About the Zodiacal Sign Pisces

The sign Pisces is generally emblemized by two fishes. In Greek myth, the story is that a monster known as Typhon was chasing after the goddess Aphrodite as well as her son Eros. To escape him, they leapt into the water, turned themselves into fishes and swam safely away. During the swim, they tied their tails together so they would not lose each other in the water. Shortly, they were set free by some other fishes and eventually were placed in the sky to celebrate the day that Aphrodite, who was the goddess of beauty, and Eros, called the god of love, were saved from demise.

Wedding Jewellery UK - Additional Information Regarding Pisces

Pisces is one of the water signs. Water is a mystifying and erratic element which can be translucent and limpid or murky and mystifying. Water that is bottled inside a container, pool or fountain, as an example, May be valuable to a person. Water kept inside a container, to illustrate in a flood or a saturating down pouring rain, may be very damaging.
Water also is changeable. It could be in the form of liquid, solid or gas and as such can be seen to represent changeability. A lot of people deem that water is indicative of the profound, dark characteristics of the human psyche. Pisces’ ruling planet is Neptune, who is the god of the sea. Neptune is imagined holding a trident, which bears a resemblance to a 3-pronged pitchfork. Every prong of the trident possesses a indicative meaning that is tri-fold. The first prong is figurative of birth, life and death. The second prong symbolises body, consciousness and soul. The third prong symbolizes past, present and future. Couples who wed under the sign of Pisces possess a powerful spiritual realm and empathy that oftentimes aims towards higher goals. They are understanding, gallant and kind-hearted and have a strong visualization that permits them to find unanimity in all things. Pisces couples also are rather amenable and perceptive – maybe even intuitive. Their bond is a cycle which continually restores itself.

Wedding Jewellery UK - Jewellery Selections for a Wedding Event Under the Sign of Pisces

Pearls are the beautiful and rare gems of the sea. To accentuate your Pisces marriage ceremony, opt for a total jewellery ensemble that has reasonably-priced freshwater pearls. Whether you opt for a spectacular pearl tiara or even a modest single pearl pendant, you’re sure to stay true to your wedding’s theme by wearing pearls. To achieve a really graceful style, try pearls which are blended with other stones like glimmering Swarovski crystals or shimmering opalescent glass beads.

Whenever you underscore your wedding ceremony which takes place under the sign of Pisces by implementing pearls, a rare and precious gift right out of the sea, you will be certain to keep in perfect accord with your water theme.

It used to be that if you wanted to buy nice custom-made custom tungsten wedding bands, you’d have to visit some fancy high-end jewelry store and be willing to part with a large portion of your wedding budget. Well that’s still the case for some people, but thanks to our modern times it’s now possible for you and anyone else who wants a custom wedding ring to create a unique diamond wedding ring from the comfort of your own home. Oleg Cassini will have nothing on you as you sit in your chair sipping a soda looking at the various wedding ring photos that your favorite online jewelry store makes easily available.

You will quickly see that it’s easy to design your own wedding ring online. The first thing you want to look at when you set out to build your own custom tungsten wedding rings is the setting. You’ll have your choice of wedding ring settings in various metals like: gold, white gold, sterling silver, and platinum. While studying the stylish settings, be sure to check your ring size for accuracy in purchasing a comfortable fitting wedding ring. Next, you’ll want to select the right diamond to fit your setting.

Sizing: Most rings sold are “off the shelf” and, just as a suit can be altered to fit perfectly, so can a new ring. However, the downside of this process is that it weakens the ring and it may not be perfectly round, and even an untrained eye can often tell whether it has been sized or not. The process of sizing is a straightforward yet highly skilled job. Increasing the size usually involves hammering the ring around a sizing shaft. But because this thins the shank, the jeweller cannot guarantee a perfectly round ring. Gold and silver rings resize fairly easily because they are soft metals, but some jewellers will not size platinum rings because they are too dense and strong. The ring that fits perfectly and has no flaws is one which has been custom designed and measured to fit. Expert Advice: When choosing a design for custom tungsten bands it’s best to seek out a qualified professional jeweller. Word of mouth is always a good starting point, but browse through their portfolio and have a chat about what your requirements are to get a feel for whether the jeweller is on the same wavelength. Very often the best custom rings are made when there is a good synergy between the jeweller and customer. You may already see your new ring in your mind’s eye, but a top notch craftsman will offer new ideas on design, such as the best wedding ring design to suit and fit an engagement ring, type and clarity of stone, mounting, and type and colour of metal. The resulting design is usually far superior to the original.

However, some people come from unconventional families, and might want something different, such as the exclusion of one parent, or the inclusion of a beloved stepmother or stepfather. A custom made design can allow for the inclusion or exclusion of an individual, while still looking beautiful and balanced. Another reason someone might want their jewelry to be custom made is so that the size can be tailored to their body size. If a person is particularly large boned or particularly small boned, it can be challenging to find rings or bracelets that fit properly. Requesting a custom made piece of jewelry will ensure a perfect fit. So, if you find a piece of jewelry that you absolutely adore, you need not worry if it does not come in your size, because chances are you can have that design in the right size custom made just for you.

Few would doubt that choosing a beach as the venue for a wedding is an excellent idea, and if you like such an idea, and then you need to think about how to make use of proper beach wedding favors that can be gifted to guests or which can also be used for their decorative value. Even if the idea of holding a wedding at the beach does not appeal to you, it is still possible to make use of beach theme wedding favors that will help to at least make you think about what a beach wedding is like.

As a matter of fact, you can also consider using cheap wedding favors, which have many uses besides obviously for use at your wedding. For example, they can be used at an anniversary party and they are also equally impressive when used for bridal showers, and they make wonderful wedding reception giveaways as well.

Cheap party favors can actually prove to be excellent choices whenever the need arises to make the party feel and also seem to be more special. The good news is that such cheap favors are very easy to find and the choices too are many. In fact, choosing those favors that have a scent to them can prove to be a good way to soothe and also relax your guests who will, upon getting a whiff of an appealing scent, feel more at ease.

In fact, these cheap favors can also be used to decorate a home, especially after the wedding has been held there. This will help to keep the memory of the big day alive for a bit longer. These favors are also ideally suited for decorating tables as well as displays at the venue where you are going to hold your wedding reception.

Furthermore, it is also a good idea to consider presenting wedding favors to your friends as well as family members. This is in fact a wonderful way of showing your appreciation that they took the time to come to your wedding.

First, however, you have to be sure whether to hold a casual or formal wedding. If it is a casual wedding that you want to hold, and then be sure to pick items for the favor that have some special purpose. For example, you can gift flip flop key chains that will prove to be a good reminder of your wedding for people that keep their car key in these key chains.

All that you need to do in order to pick the right beach wedding favors is choose the right theme for your wedding, and keeping this theme simple is to your advantage. Try not to be too elaborate with the favors and in fact be sure that these are chosen according to their ability to withstand damage by ocean sprays as well as by beach sands.

Everyone loves jewelry, especially when it is custom made. Jewelry comes in all forms from custom tungsten wedding rings to anklets. Anything that your mind can think and imagine can be done if it is custom made. The best thing about having your jewelry custom made is that you can have your jewelry made to the exact model that you want it. Say for instance that you want a ring made with blue sapphires and white gold. As long as you can describe it, it can be done. There are many options to choose from when deciding to go with custom made jewelry, Los Angeles has some of the best jewelers around. They are known for their perfectionism and precision. Choosing the right jeweler can sometimes be a tough task, and it can also be more of a headache than it is worth because you want to make sure that you are getting the best jewelry available. If your jeweler is not a good craftsman, then you might end up risking hundreds of dollars and not get what you requested. There are things that you can do that will make your search for the right jeweler a lot more simple than it may seem.

Not all jewelers are the same, and you want to make certain that you are getting your money’s worth. A good jeweler will be able to tell you roughly how your custom tungsten wedding bands are going to turn out. They will be able to help give you ideas where you might lack them when describing what you want. You will also want to make sure that the jeweler that you choose is easy to communicate with. They will definitely act like they know exactly what they are talking about and appear very confident in their profession. Just because one particular jeweler might have a good reputation does not mean that he or she will be easy to work with. The right jeweler for you will be able to understand exactly what you want, be patient, and friendly to work with. You may want to do a simple investigation of the jeweler’s background to see how much experience he or she has. Knowing the length of experience is always a great way to find out their skill level.

Ask to see some of your potential jeweler’s work beforehand so that you can get a good idea of what their style is. A custom tungsten wedding ring is very special. Not every occasion calls for custom made jewelry, but some that do are anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. Engagement rings are definitely something that should be custom made. Mother’s Day necklaces, Father’s Day rings, and graduation jewelry are other things that should be custom made as well. Your jeweler will have experience in making all types of jewelry, and most importantly, they will put you first. Jewelry is very expensive, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love jewelry? Don’t you want to make sure that you are getting the best for your buck? There is no reason to just go out and buy what everyone else is wearing. It shouldn’t matter if it is in style or not, your ideas are your ideas, and that is what makes you who you are. Buying other people’s ideas is just a waste of time and money. It never hurts to be a little indulgent from time to time and want things a certain way. You can find that with custom made jewelry, Los Angeles has the best of the best but, there are jewelers all over the world. With a little bit of time and research, you will find your best jeweler.

One of the most unique options you can purchase on the market today is a combination of two rings. These utilize two designs that combine to make a single ring. Many buyers find these to be very special, because they fully symbolize the connection and unity of the relationship they maintain with their loved one. Other features available include the use of special bands, unusual setting styles, and even unique stones inlaid within the ring you buy. Whether you are purchasing for a man or a woman, you can create a long lasting simple version that is unique and special. When you are creating a special ring for a man though, you must alter your band’s style in most cases in order to make it unique.

Camelot, Lancelot and Guinevere, ageless, eternal love – each of these is thought of at a medieval themed marriage ceremony. Such weddings can be pretty loving and real and enormous entertainment for bride, groom and attendees alike. Here’s some information about the medieval age of chivalry and the idea of chivalrous affection that permeated the Middle Ages.

Bridal Hair Accessories - Chivalry

Chivalry is the common expression that describes the communal codes of knighthood that governed the higher classes conducted themselves within the Middle Ages. The bastion of courtesy is honourable behaviour based on valour and politeness. This secret language of “chivalrous actions” was the strength of character of the laws and communal customs of the era. A chivalrous knight was an hard line and triumphant fighter in encounters who regarded dignified females with civil performance. Courtly performance obligatory admiration for females, honourable actions and good protocol.

Knights

Medieval knights rode into encounters wearing a protective covering and helmets. To tell between an individual knight from other knights, each knight wore a vivid symbol on his shield and on his linen surcoat. Ultimately, this “coat of arms” symbol changed into a traditional family emblem or the mark of a particular order (cluster) of knights. Each part of a coat of arms has a figurative connotation. Case in point, the coat of arms of the the United Kingdom is made up of a shield that’s separated into quadrants that represent England quadrants 1 and 4), Scotland (second quadrant) and Ireland (third quadrant). One idea for your medieval marriage ceremony would be to emblazon your coat of arms right on the invitations and napkins utilized at the nuptial. If you decide to have wedding favours at the marriage ceremony, they, too, can be spruced up with your coat of arms. Not acquainted with your coat of arms? There are a lot of fee - based services on the Web that can aid you to discover it.

Bridal Hair Accessories - Haircut Info for a Medieval Marriage Ceremony

Through the Middle Ages, females wore their hair in loose, sinuous locks. Gold balls secure at the boundary of the hair were trendy ornaments. Ribbons and gold threads also were smart hair frills. Further on within the medieval, females wore hats and veils to conform with church tradition. A widespread medieval style consisted of a couple of mounds, sometimes braided, on each side of the head. Headbands decorated with pearls and gemstones also were preferred. To fashion your own medieval style, you’ll want some pretty hairpins garnished with crystals or pearls (real or fake) to generate the dual style. An additional idea for a really dramatic impression is to purchase a spotless diamante hair band with Austrian crystals physically sewn onto a grosgrain ribbon. Dress in this as a forehead band across the brow with your hair flowing openly. In conclusion, an article in You and Your Wedding periodical featured a simple but elegant silver plated head piece adorned with freshwater pearls mixed with Swarovski crystals that would bring together entirely with a medieval theme.

Bridal Hair Accessories

To characterize Guinevere to your groom’s shining knight Sir Lancelot on your marriage ceremony day, show off your hair long in unfastened locks, decorated with a beautiful head piece instead of a veil.

Wedding conventions come to us from everywhere around the world ; some practices have been in place for centuriess and other customs however are quite new. You can even kick off your own family marriage customs. One of the most famous marriage customs is still seen in many cultures ; that of placing a tiara upon the head of the bride, something that goes back many centuries. Nonetheless the tiara or bridal diadem has changed into a symbol of femininity for a bride as down thru the ages the marriage tiara changed into a half moon formed band, which displays such finery as ribbons, flowers or gems. If the marriage is really traditional then the bridesmaids will also wear tiaras on their heads even though smaller and less well embellished examples than that worn by the bride. The majority of wedding dresses will feature a tiara and there is not any doubt a wedding outfit without one hasn’t got quite the same impact ; many brides will treasure their tiara for the remainder of their lives. Frequently the bride’s attendants like bridesmaids, flower girls and maid of honor are presented with rings shaped like tiny tiaras which can make really gorgeous marriage favors for those directly involved in the marriage.

At one point during the past it was fairly ordinary for the newly married couple to be taken to their honeymoon location by all of the folks attending the marriage. It was then the party’s task to try and take the garter from the bride’s leg as the prize would be for this person to then wear it like a band around their hat or otherwise to a lady for whose attentions they were after. Over a period of time it became standard for the men of the marriage party to unclothe the bride to get to the garter so to stop this, brides revealed that with this marriage convention it was better to take the garter off and throw it to the men once the marriage ceremony was over.

In olden times things like marriage linens were family owned and the whole family would bring their tablecloths and chair covers to help decorate the reception tables. They would also do things like make marriage centerpieces and napkin rings. Of course today most of these items are acquired and put on the tables by the marriage venue staff.

The lucky man to catch the garter would be thought to be as the following person to wed but once again drunken behavior signaled many men to try and take the garter before the bride was prepared to throw it too them. In an effort to maintain good taste at a dignified occasion the bride then started throwing her bouquet instead. Nevertheless although it no longer has the same significance that it once did, tossing the garter to male members of the marriage has returned and many women feel extraordinarily strongly about wearing the garter once again.

One reasonon why the garter belt of many brides can be found in the colour of blue, or having blue as one of the colours in the marriage garter, is for traditional good luck, although at times , a bride may select a little ribbon to be attached to the hem of her marriage robe. Infrequently the groom will now take away the garter and fling it to the men of the marriage party or toss it over his shoulder so it cannot be aimed at any person in particular. While the meaning for this act hasn’t changed over the years ; the individual to take hold of the thrown garter will marry within 12 months, it is doubtful many guests actually know this.

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What do we do when we first get married? We usually go on a honeymoon. That’s why the first part of a marriage can be known as the honeymoon stage. We really feel deeply in love, bonded, and connected. We really feel like our marriage can help us to reside happily ever after.

One of the first marriage ideas that you should comprehend is that the “honeymoon phase” of our marriage is just that. It’s just a stage. It will not last. That close, cannot spend sufficient time with my partner feeling is temporary. Then we move to the Me/Us stage, where we have to disengage some and get on with our own goals and existence.

In this stage of the relationship, we can still love our partner strongly, but we want to focus also on our own goals in existence. We may want to spend much more time alone, or at work, or with our own friends on our own hobbies. This is totally normal and there’s absolutely nothing incorrect. Many Aurora marriage counselors, marriage counselors in Lincoln and certified Garland marriage counselors will tell you this.

If you think marriages should remain within the honeymoon stage, you will be gravely disappointed. You might fight with our mate over how much time they want to spend alone or why they want to be with their friends rather than you. But if you’re able to allow some separation and get on with each other with your own existence some, you will benefit from this stage.

A second marriage tip has to accomplish with a crucial to any excellent long phrase relationship. That crucial would be to play. Do not let the burdens of job and and children and outside responsibilities get in the way in which of enjoying one another. You’re able to end up too tired or busy to play together.

Sure, it’s organic over time in marriage to spend a lot of time on our career or hobbies or children. But this shouldn’t get in the way in which of getting the time every week to play together. Get a sitter and go out and enjoy dinner and a movie, or whatever actions you like. Playing as a couple frequently will maintain each of you sane and a lot happier, studies have shown.

A third excellent marriage tip would be to discover the ability of making effective requests of your mate. Whenever you are bothered or irritated by some thing, make a request. If he doesn’t assist with the dishes and this frustrates you, then ask him to assist. Do not anticipate him to read your thoughts! Asking for what you would like will make you much more most likely to obtain it.

Turning issues into requests is one of the very best marriage ideas you’re able to use over the long phrase. Your partner will not usually say yes to your requests, however it will be much more most likely to obtain you what you require much more frequently than yelling and nagging will. Look. You’re heading to possess issues inside your marriage and about your mate. That’s heading to occur.

If you manage individuals issues by nagging, you damage the relationship. If you cope with your issues by withdrawing, you damage the relationship. If you anticipate your mate to read your thoughts and just know what you would like, then you will be frequently disappointed. Learning the effective ability of making intimate requests will not fix all your issues, however it can help with most of them.

So if you’re able to introduce the device of turning issues into requests into your marriage, you will each benefit over the many years. It isn’t hard to accomplish, and it’s a excellent method to cope with ongoing irritations that can arise between you.

The story of the first Claddagh Ring would make a wonderful romance novel or an unforgettable film. It would stand as a testament to the power of love and faithfulness. Why does the Claddagh story remain so meaningful and charming, thousands of years after its first telling? Once you learn more about the crafting of the very first ring, you will be able to understand for yourself. The Claddagh Story: The first Celtic wedding rings and bands were the creation of Richard Joyce, an Irish fisherman who lived during the seventeenth century. He sailed the high seas all over the world, and he was working near Montserrat when his ship was boarded by pirates and raided. Joyce was kidnapped, and taken to a Moorish goldsmith in Algiers, where he was forced to work in slavery. Joyce was soon a highly skilled goldsmith, able to craft delicate objects of beauty out of the precious metal. His skills in the shop were highly prized by his master.

The goldsmith soon took a liking to Richard, clever and quick as he was, and trained him as an apprentice to be a master craftsman. Year later in 1689, when King William III demanded the release of all British subjects from Algiers, Richard turned down the offer of marriage to the old goldsmith’s daughter and half of the old man’s fortune for the sweet winds of home and his true love in Galway. Though it had been 14 years since his disappearance, he found his true love waiting faithfully for his return. Overcome with joy, he presented her with a ring that he had designed and forged while an apprentice, the now famous Royal Claddagh, and soon the two were married. It is said that Richard settled in Galway with his bride and there became a successful goldsmith, his most famous work, the Claddagh. Though no one can say for sure where the Celtic wedding rings originated or who first designed it, the earliest Claddaghs to be traced bear the mark “RI”, Richard Joyce, the master goldsmith. An Irish Tradition: The Claddagh ring is a variant of older rings called “Fede”, or faith rings which date to Roman times and were popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe. Since the 17th Century, it was traditionally worn as a Celtic wedding or engagement ring, handed down from mother to daughter for generations.

For many Irish who left Ireland during Great Famine of the 19th Century, the Claddagh was the only reminder left of their homeland. Rich in Meaning and Significance: But you don’t have to be Irish to appreciate the meaning and beauty of Celtic wedding bands. This traditional Irish wedding ring is now worn all over the world. It has become a fashionable exchange of dear friends and lovers, men and women alike. The meaning of the ring is what gives it significance. The hands, crown and heart symbolize the trinity of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, or in Gaelic, “Gra Dilseacht agus Cairdeas” (pronounced ‘Graw Deel-shocked, ogis Korr-diss’). Put another way: “Let love and friendship reign forever”. It is this rich and beautiful meaning that makes the Claddagh perfect for many occasions, whether it be a gift to a cherished friend of loved one, a Mother’s ring, a Promise ring or worn traditionally as an engagement or wedding ring. Wearing a Claddagh: The Claddagh ring is one of the most elegant and meaningful rings ever created and is beautiful no matter how it is worn. However, if the tradition of the Claddagh is followed, then the way in which the Claddagh is worn declares the wearers relationship status in their quest for love. If worn on the right hand, it is a sign of friendship: with the heart pointed out toward the fingertip, the wearer is free for the courting, their heart open and available; with the heart pointed in toward the wrist, the wearer is spoken for or being courted. But the left hand is the prized position for the Claddagh; worn with the heart facing in toward the wrist, the wearer has found their true love and is engaged or happily married, saying, “With these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love.”