Irish Weddings

[walkingtheplank]

We are attending an Irish civil ceremony in April. I've noticed that often when there is a thread on Mumsnet about Weddings, someone will say they do something differently - but I can't think of any of those suggestions now,

So, what are the quirks of Irish weddings - is there an expectation of guests being particularly dressy, is there an expected minimum gift (we've had the presence not present poem). TBH I'm assuming its the same as in the UK but good to have a heads up if there is something obvious.

The wedding ceremony itself is at 3pm and guests will be from Ireland, England and Canada.

At the last Irish wedding I attended a young woman wore a full length strapless evening dress. It looked rather ridiculous in a church at 1pm in February.

But no, I've never seen a fight at a wedding in any country.

Never seen a fight at a wedding, never worn fake tan in my life, do my own nails (badly), only had my makeup done professionally when bride or bridesmaid. I've sometimes had my hair done, depending on logistics and how I want to wear it. Typically wear a dress from Coast, a jacket or shawl (or wool coat if winter). That would all be typical in my South County Dublin (but not loaded) circles.

Yes, I would only say get your hair professionally blow dried if you don’t normally do it yourself and it would be less stressful. I just wouldn’t turn up with it wet from the shower, which would have been completely acceptable in some of the English weddings I’ve been too, very posh and otherwise, which are just culturally different but beautiful as well.

I would say that actually looking at the middletons and their circle and all the guests at quite posh English weddings is a good idea... I think they are quite conservative and many Irish areas are a bit more conservative too, therefore an expensive well-cut coat, which might seem ‘mother of the bride-ish’ to some, is seen as a lovely choice.

In fact if you are older but don’t want to look overdone, Carole Middleton is prob good inspiration! Hair nicely cut and done, good makeup, nice dress and jacket, jewellery bag shoes, she always looks well turned out. I’m from quite a well to do area of n Ireland and people definitely like that Middleton look, which I gather from my twenty years in England is not always the case there.

Oh, and only ever seen a fight at a French wedding zut alors!

No people don’t fight at all weddings. Can’t believe that even needs to be elaborated on. I flinch these days at any thread with the word ‘Irish’ in the title.

Yes people are slightly more dressed up than English weddings I’ve attended.
Yes the DJ keeps going till after 2
Yes they are frequently child free

Enjoy OP.