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Finding Irish Wedding Dresses

Brides considering this look won’t have much luck in most mainstream bridal salons, but that isn’t to say that Irish wedding dresses are difficult to find. Online Renaissance costumers and corset shops are usually the best sources, and finding these is as easy as going to your favorite search engine. Unlike traditional wedding dresses that need a lot of alterations to fit, most Irish wedding dresses come from small, independent dressmakers and are made-to-order according to the measurements of the bride. They are also typically priced quite reasonably.

If, however, you would rather not leave something as important as your wedding dress up to chance (and the vagaries of the postal system), consider hiring a local seamstress to design and sew an Irish wedding dress custom made to your specifications. While this is likely the more expensive option, it is also the option that allows you complete freedom to choose the fabrics, colors, and embellishments you love best.
The Magic Handkerchief

The single unifying feature shared by all Irish wedding dresses is the magic handkerchief crafted from the same fabric as the bride’s dress. Though not part of the gown itself, it is a necessary accessory carried by the bride in her bodice or sleeve. After the wedding, the handkerchief is stitched into a simple baby’s bonnet symbolic of the bride’s future motherhood. If her first child is a girl, she will eventually be given the magic handkerchief to carry at her own wedding and hand down to her own daughter.

If you’re considering wearing an Irish wedding dress, don’t think that you have to integrate other Irish rituals or rites into your wedding ceremony. Rather, your choice of wedding dress can be just one of the ways you feature the traditions of other cultures in your wedding. In other words, your gown can stand alone as a tribute to the brides of Ireland’s past and your love of legend.