The wedding or civil partnership ceremony and the exchanging of vows and promises represents a couple's eternal and everlasting love for each other. The wedding ring or band is symbolic of this commitment.

In Pagan times in Britain the wedding was known as handfasting. The tradition of handfasting would allow couples to be betrothed for a year and a day, after this time they could agree to part without any obligation on either side. Handfasting is still practised today as an alternative wedding ceremony. Couples handfast for life and eternity.

The Ancient Celts of Britain believed that Beltane, May 1st was a very lucky day to marry. This festival day celebrates the beginning of summer and the cycle of life and re-birth. Spring fertility rites were practised at this time with many young girls falling pregnant as a result of the celebrations. However, the puritans in 1644 banned any further celebrations.

Confetti

The throwing of confetti over the married bride and groom is believed to date back to Pagan times. It was believed that by showering the couple with grain it would transfer fertility powers to their union.

Our beautifully embroidered pot pourri bags are ideal for holding confetti in the form of paper, lavender or rose petals which are now very popular at weddings.

Favours

A wedding favour is a small gift or keepsake given to guests of the wedding and also those who are unable to attend. The giving of favours was originally a European tradition but is now practised worldwide.

The original favours were sweets or pastries given in small bags or boxes. The giving of bomboniere has become international. Favours make a wonderful lasting gift and memory of the wedding.

Our gift / favour bags are available in five Celtic and four Rennie Mackintosh influenced designs plus Christmas, the Claddagh, Scottish Thistle and Shamrock designs. The last three make perfect keepsakes for Scottish or Irish weddings. New to the range is the English Lavender design. They can all be used for sweets, pot pourri, jewellery or any small gift. Soon to be added is the option of Lavender for the bags.

We now have handmade natural soaps from Soap of the Earth available to purchase individually or with the favour bags.

For wholesale prices and further information please contact beverley@celticglassdesigns.co.uk.

For the Bride and Groom

To celebrate the union of a couple why not purchase from our range of Celtic glassware. Our Celtic champagne flutes are one of our most popular items to toast the health and happiness of the bride and groom. The following designs are the most popular choices of our customers.

We have created a fabulous Celtic Heart design (shown left) for the wedding market. The heart shape developed as a symbol of love in the Middle Ages. Our Celtic Heart is a simple design representing the endless path of eternal love with a golden gem placed at the centre of the heart. Truly a gift of the heart.

The Claddagh (shown right) is a traditional Irish symbol. The heart expresses love, the hands friendship and the crown loyalty. It represents a token of love and became traditional during the 17th century to wear the Claddagh ring when engaged or married.

The Double Love Knot design (shown below) is based on the legend of St. Valentine, the patron saint of all lovers. The intertwined love knots symbolise lovers' never ending eternal love.

The Eternity Knot design, shown left in a version with 'Eternity' written underneath the design, symbolises all that is eternal as in everlasting life or an eternal love/relationship. It is available on our glassware and our table linen. We also have the Trinity Heart design, shown right, with the Trinity Knot encircled by hearts. This is available on a range of our glassware.

For the Bridesmaids and Brides' and Grooms' Mothers

We have a selection of exquisite jewellery and pewter items from two of the UK's leading Celtic jewellers and pewterers St. Justin and Sea Gems. These would make excellent gifts for bridesmaids and a lovely way to say “thank you” to the matron of honour.

For the Groom, Best Man, Brides' and Grooms' Fathers and Ushers

Just arrived: a fabulous range of quartz and skeleton pocket watches and cuff links in Celtic and Wedding designs.

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Celtic Glass Designs offer a range of stunning hand painted glassware and matching embroidered table linen for all occasions - Birthdays, Corporate and Special Events, Anniversaries, Weddings, Burns Night, Valentine's Day, St Davids Day, St Patricks Day, Mother's Day, Easter Sunday, May Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hogmanay.