Forget 12-piece bands, bridal clothes, and gold wedding bands. It's traditions like bagpipes, kilts, and Claddagh rings that keep Irish eyes smiling during the wedding festivities. Following, the traditions that have made their way over from the old country and into Irish American wedding celebrations . . .

The Claddagh Ring
Named after the Claddagh fishing village in Galway, the Claddagh ring has been handed down from mother to daughter and is used as betrothal and wedding rings. It is worn with the crowns toward the knuckle on betrothal, and toward the nail to symbolize marriage. A famous Irish ballad has been written about the Claddagh ring: "The Old Claddagh Ring, It was my grandmother's, She wore it her lifetime and gave it to me." Today, it is still used as a wedding ring and it is considered improper for a person to buy it for him or herself; it must be given as a gift.

Strange Superstitions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish believed that if the sun shone on the bride, it would bring good luck to the couple. It was also lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning or to see three magpies. After the wedding ceremony, it was important that a man and not a woman be the first to wish joy to the new bride.

The Honeymoon
The word for honey is "meala" in Irish. The word for honeymoon is "mi na meala", the month of honey, and refers to how the bride and groom spend that period of time. Irish monks first produced the fermented honey brew called mead for medicinal purposes, then found it could make well people feel even better. Following the wedding, a sufficient amount of mead was given to the bride and groom, along with special goblets, so they could share the unique brew for one full moon after their wedding -- and thus the term honeymoon was coined. It was believed that this delicate yet potent drink was the best way to ensure a good beginning for a new marriage, and was also believed to endow powers of virility and fertility.

The Honeymoon Gift
A presentation to the bride from the groom's mother or family, it's recommended that the honeymoon gift be formally presented at the start of the celebration so the bride can use the sachet and the wedding party can review their poems.

End of the Wedding Toast
The wedding party gathers around the bride and groom. All fill their glasses with mead and the newly wedded couple recites an Irish toast: "Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead and ask God's blessing in your hour of need." The guests respond: "On this special day, our wish to you, the goodness of the old, the best of the new. God bless you both who drink this mead, may it always fill your every need."

Bagpipes and Kilts
Lots of big Irish families have family members that are in pipe bands. So it's not unusual for them to hook up at a wedding and pipe the couple into the mass or at dinner. Popular tunes are the Highland Fling, and The Stack of Barley, as well as jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Not only do they sound good, they look good too. Most pipers wear Celtic kilts -- plaid skirts that their ancestors wore in medieval times. The Irish weren't allowed to wear them during British rule, so it seems they slip them on for practically every special occasion, maybe in an effort to make up for lost time.

Food and Drink
The traditional Irish menu -- Irish soda bread, corned beef, and cabbage -- is perhaps not something you'd typically crave, but when cooked right and served up at a big wedding fete (not to mention it all gets washed down with plenty of whiskey and Guinness Stout), it's positively delicious.