Old-Fashioned Irish Wedding

Rev. Phil Passantino is now available for
Weddings and Baptisms
in
Ireland.
Phone: +353 766 060 827

Call or email
spruceweddings@yahoo.com

to reserve your Amazing Ceremony!

www.AmazingCeremony.com


On June 21, 2008 I officiated Amanda and Jack's wedding on the roof of the Metro Hotel in downtown Manhattan, USA. (It was a hot day, let me tell ya!)

Amanda is from Ireland  :)

Jack actually proposed to her at the top of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's sacred mountain and a pilgrimage place for Catholics & for all who are inspired by Ireland's pre-Christian traditions (SEE PHOTO BELOW). I recently saw an episode of the TV show "Catholic Ireland" which was about making the journey to the mountain's summit; and believe it or not, the very next day I met Amanda & Jack for the first time and they told me their connection with Croagh Patrick. An interesting bit of serendipity...




THE MOUNTAIN OF CROAGH PATRICK, IRELAND

The ceremony we did was mostly traditional, including rings & prayers. They wrote their own heartfelt vows. Amanda told Jack that he was truly her "Anam Cara" (Irish for soulmate). We also honored Amanda & Jack's lovely children. But the most special & unique part of this wedding to me was the ancient Irish/Celtic tradition of "Hand-fasting". This is the original way that Irish weddings were conducted, hundreds and perhaps thousands of year ago: Amanda & Jack held each other arm in arm, while I draped a beautiful sash with a Celtic weave design on it (handmade by Amanda!!) over their hands, tying it loosely. Then we blessed their hands.



I assure you, this ceremony is unforgettable and whether you're Irish or not, it has a lot of meaning and beauty. Other cultures have similar traditions: I've officiated several Filipino weddings where a cord and veil are tied around the couple. What better symbolism for a wedding ceremony, than to tie the two people together?
(Amanda & Jack's hands remained tied together only for a few minutes, and the sash was removed after they kissed, but we carefully preserved the knot as a keepsake - the ancient tradition is that as long as the knot remains tied, their marriage will stay together...)

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