A romantic anniversary can be simple or elaborate, as long as there is love. You may wish to surprise your wife with a gift of Celtic jewelry, if her heritage is important to her. There are many wonderful choices, as Irish and Celtic designs are inherently romantic, with the symbols of the Claddagh: hearts, crowns, and the like, as well as love knots that symbolize the endlessness of love.

Once you’ve decided on a special gift, you can plan your anniversary celebration around the idea of presenting it to her, at just the right moment. Although you are married now, your wife still craves romantic experiences, just as she did when you were dating. Reviving the thrill of your original proposal, by bringing out another ring, perhaps on bended knee, would be an amazing way to show her that you are thrilled she is your wife, that you made the right choice, and how much she means to you.

Women love romance: remember this crucial fact on your anniversary, and you can’t go wrong. Women also love jewelry, as they can wear it every day and think fondly of the person who gave it to them, so you can’t go wrong with that, either. Putting thought and care into your anniversary will reap dividends, as it means so much to the woman you love.

Tags: celtic, irish, jewelry, anniversaries, anniversary, romance

You look down at your hand at there it is – your wedding band, it may or may not be a Celtic ring, but there it is and you have an Irish hubby to match. Your happily ever after starts right now.

But what will your happily ever after be like now that you have married an Irishman?

You will have more then just your mother-in-law to worry about – when you get married in most cases you try your best to please your new in-laws (well I said in most cases). But since the Irish are known for their big families, you may have got a bit more then you bargained for. There are the immediate in-laws, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins twice removed. And fact remains there is no pleasing everyone.

But look at it this way – if you have managed to navigate the wedding preparations and not insult anyone by not inviting them, you are off to a cracking start. It will take the diplomatic skill of a UN’s peacekeeper but it will pay off in the long run. And there is another benefit to abundance of new family members (see number 2).

Free vacation – lets face it what with the recession and the credit crunch, vacations are becoming a luxury. And this is where all of your new relatives can come in quite handy. Never been to Co. Clare? Never visited Galway? At least now you will have a place to stay. Plus your new spouse is bound to have a few more relatives scattered all over the globe – you know how the Irish love to migrate.

The craic is always exceptional – The French have joie de vive and the Irish have the craic. And frankly I would take craic over joie de vive any day. Expect perhaps on Sundays. One has got to rest from time to time.

As it roughly translates to having a good time and it is one of the premises they live by as a nation, you can rest assured you will be amused and tickled pink.

One additional holiday – sure there is Christmas and Easter that counts as mandatory, but with the Irish you can count on at least one more holiday – St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s is the day when even the river Liffey turns green and it is not beneath the lads of Dublin to pretend they are leprechauns in a bid to chat up the girls.

Sports, sports and then some more sports – now we know that men the world over are passionate about their sports. But while most men will get their fill of football, basketball and at a stretch baseball the Irish do have a good few more. There is the soccer (of course the national team and their Irish league team), then there is the Rugby, Hurling, Gaelic football, Gaelic handball, cricket, horse racing and lets not forget golf.

Tags: marry, irish, celtic, ring, irishman, craic

Things you make yourself always carry such a personal touch, and there are ways to incorporate this sentiment into your wedding. It is always nice to send your guests home with a small favor so that they will have a little reminder of the special day they celebrated with you. Here are some suggestions for Celtic craft ideas you can simply incorporate into your wedding.

The Matchbook Favor: Personalize matchbooks are everywhere: restaurants, pubs, stores, and they have made their way into wedding receptions. While everyone can always use an extra box of matches, why not make a clever spin on this idea?

Buy small, white index cards and fold them in half to resemble a book of matches. Inside, place a picture of the bride and groom, and maybe a quote that you identify with or the story of your engagement. Decorate the outside as you please, maybe with the Claddagh design or a Celtic heart knot, and tie a ribbon around the folded card.

A Custom Wedding “Mix”: Some say that music is the window into a person’s soul. Each individual and couple has their own distinct musical tastes, and you can no doubt think of music that reminds you of different periods and events thorough your relationship. A sweet gift for your guests would be to burn CD’s of songs that help tell your journey as a couple.

There could be a song that was playing during your first date, songs that remind you of the drive you took cross country together, and the song you danced to after ht proposed. This type of wedding favor is a telling and enjoyable glimpse into your journey as a couple.

Birdseed: Birdseed, you ask? Guests may be perplexed as they take their seats in your wedding venue and see small decorated bags of birdseed on the table in front of them, but with a little explanation they’ll understand.

It has been a long standing tradition to throw rice on the bride and groom as they leave the church, but rice is very bad for birds to eat. The little packets containing birdseed will still allow guests to sprinkle the new married couple with good fortune, but will help keep the wedding a lot more environmentally friendly. Little bags can be purchased at any craft store, and their ribbons can even be adorned with little Irish trinkets or bells.

There are countless other ways you can add a personal touch to your wedding, and all of them will no doubt be appreciated by your friends and family.

There are countless other ways you can add a personal touch to your wedding, and all of them will no doubt be appreciated by your friends and family. If you are looking for ways to bring a personal feel to your special day, please visit Irish Celtic Jewels. We feature the best in Celtic jewelry that is crafted in Ireland. We have a large selection of Irish wedding and engagement rings that can help lend a distinct sentiment to your vows. We have the highest in quality customer service and superior products, and guarantee you will always find what you are looking for.

Tags: celtic, crafts, wedding, jewelry

All Celtic jewelry seems timeless, since the artisans of medieval times relied upon the same attention to detail and craftsmanship utilized today. Handmade Celtic jewelry can become a family heirloom, a treasured piece that honors the family’s heritage, from generation to generation.

Celtic engagement rings follow the same principles as other Celtic jewelry: the reliance on ancient Celtic symbolism, history, and lore. It is romantic to imagine a similar ring on someone’s finger, hundreds of years ago, and, indeed, your ring will likely share many qualities and features with a ring from medieval times.

If this concept is appealing to you, you should consider a Celtic engagement ring, perhaps with a matching band. If your ancestry is important to you, and you wish to carry on the traditions of your Celtic ancestors, what better way to be reminded of the past, than to remember it every time you glance down at your hand?

If you are planning an Irish wedding, or perhaps a honeymoon on the Emerald Isle, your engagement ring will provide you with wonderful memories of these special times in your life. Whether you are intending to propose to the woman of your dreams, or become a blushing bride yourself, you can add a touch of the hallowed past to your ceremony, by indulging in beautiful, handcrafted wedding jewelry, from the artisans of Ireland.

Tags: celtic, engagement, rings, irish, jewelry, symbolism

1. Scale – Petite women should keep their gown and jewelry in scale to their smaller body, choosing delicate jewelry, rather than the larger, bolder pieces that might suit a taller, larger woman so well. Your gown should flatter you by fitting snugly in your thinnest places, and just brushing the body in areas you’d rather hide. There are many tricks and tools you can use to emphasize your best qualities, and using scale as a guideline is an excellent way to start planning your outfit.
2. Colour - The white dress may seem simple, but just as there are a million shades of white at the local paint store, there are myriad variations in wedding dresses, as well. Ivory, for example, is white with a yellow tinge, and very suitable to those with some warmth in their complexion. If you have a porcelain complexion, a pure, snowy white will flatter you the most.
3. Makeup - Some women go all out on the big day, hiring a makeup artist and wearing much more makeup than they usually do. While glamour is always a goal on a day like this, you might consider some test photos in various lighting, indoor and outdoor, with the makeup you plan to wear. You might be surprised to find out it seems a little more intense than you would like. The important thing is to deepen your lip colour a little, not too much, so that your features have definition in photographs. That being said, a natural look, that looks like you, only more polished, should be your primary goal.

Tags: perfect, wedding, style, scale, color, makeup, jewelry

But how are you to choose? The market is flooded with so many choices; it can be difficult to settle upon the perfect ring.

If you are thinking of purchasing an engagement ring that honors your Irish heritage, here are a few things you should know about Irish engagement rings, to help you make a decision you will be happy with all of your life.

1. Symbolism: Irish engagement rings have special symbols, such as love knots, or Claddagh features. The love knot symbolizes eternity, while the Claddagh ring carries with it the idea of romantic love which lasts forever: loyal and true.
2. Stones: The emerald is resonant with Ireland. The lush green vistas of the Emerald Isle would be best evoked with an emerald engagement ring and it would be a more unique choice as well. Bear in mind that the emerald is seen as equally precious, when compared to the diamond. The emerald is the most precious, by weight, of all the precious gems.
3. Matching Wedding Bands: There are many ways to match your Irish engagement ring to a matching, Celtic-inspired band. By doing so, you can add to the overall look, and perhaps start a collection of Irish jewelry pieces that you can wear together for a coordinated look.

Tags: irish, engagement, rings, bands, celtic, wedding, claddagh, emerald

If you order any product worth over $400 between August 7th - 14th, you will receive a silver Claddagh birthstone ring and a matching Claddagh birthstone pendant worth $146, absolutely FREE.

In order to avail of this exclusive offer, just add the Claddagh birthstone pendant and ring to your shopping cart along with your other items. The pendant and ring will appear as $0 and you will see this displayed: This item is FREE for you!

Tags: free, silver, claddagh, pendant, ring, offer, birthstone

But what does it mean? What is the true nature of the Celtic Cross, and what is it thought to represent, from ancient times, to modern-day?

The answer is not as easy to find as you might imagine: the Celtic Cross is cloaked in mystery, but some of its secrets are revealed here for you.

The Celtic Cross was not a common symbol of Christianity until the 4 th century. The Presbyterian and Catholic churches both claim the cross as their own symbol, so it could be said it belongs to both orders. While there is some ambiguity with regard to the crosses true meaning, the inner circle is said to represent eternity, and the endlessness of God’s own love.

As well, the four corners of the cross are thought to represent the directions: east, west, north and south. Each direction was thought to have special meaning. The North was meant to represent wisdom, stability, winter, and death. The East was associated with learning, youth, and springtime. In the South quarter, passion, life-force, and summertime were symbolized. The West quarter was thought to represent intuition, feelings, and inner knowledge.

A Celtic Cross is an object of beauty, mystery, and spirituality: whether it is found in a churchyard, or in the form of an exquisitely wrought Celtic Cross pendant, it will resonate with meaning and history.

Tags: celtic, cross, crosses, pendants, necklaces

1. Do it in public: romantic comedies such as Love Actually celebrate the public proposal, in a crowded restaurant, where everyone cheers and shows their goodwill toward the happy couple. Perhaps you could mimic this by planning a special dinner party, well-stocked with friends and family, so your bride-to-be can have this special moment, and also enjoy the attention and excitement of her peers.
2. Make an adventure out of it:  schedule a hike, or a tram ride up a mountainside, and propose at the top, surrounded by blue sky and a stunning horizon that is new to both of you. You can get on bended knee amidst the beauty of nature, and she will always remember that special place, and the special way you got there. If she’s the sporty or adventurous type, this type of proposal will thrill her. Bring up some champagne and glasses in your knapsack, and have an impromptu picnic to celebrate!
3. Let her know how you really feel: women love to know how much you care. Think about writing her a poem, or a romantic note, to give to her just before you propose, to set the mood. You could also find just the right song, one that expresses your feelings for her, before you ask her to marry you. Some candles, a quiet dance to a special song, and your proposal, will ensure a romantic night that will be remembered forever.

Tags: marriage, proposal, special

Here are the stones for each month, and what they are thought to represent:

• January – Garnet – thought to provide protection in the afterlife, and to protect the wearer from infections and diseases.
• February – Amethyst – thought to control evil thoughts, and protect the wearer from poisoning.
• March – Aquamarine - sailors wore aquamarine to protect them from seasickness and drowning: also thought to prolong youthfulness in the wearer.
• April – Diamond or CZ – thought to heal illnesses: in the middle ages, sick people would take the diamond into bed with them, but only after warming it first.
• May - Emerald – the emerald was thought to enhance fertility and rebirth in the wearer
• June – Alexandrite – rare and precious, this stone is thought to bestow joy and good fortune on its wearer.
• July – Ruby – the ruby was thought to predict peril by growing darker in colour, and was worn by royalty for protection and as a talisman.
• August – Peridot – sometimes referred to as “evening emerald”, the peridot is thought to aid strength and good relationships for its wearer.
• September – Sapphire – the Sapphire is believed to strengthen sincerity and faithfulness in the wearer.
• October – Pink Tourmaline – this stone is thought to inspire creativity and artistry in the wearer.
• November – Topaz – the topaz is said to heighten the ability to give and receive love in its wearer.
• December – Blue Topaz – this stone is a symbol of love and fidelity

Tags: claddagh, ring, birthstone, silver