mrs2be.ie

[AnCiotog]

I really wanted to get married in Gougane Barra, my family is from there and my beloved grandparents are buried there, but we will have too many people for the church. I was very disappointed about it as I was never the bride who wanted the huge dress and big fuss but the sentimentality of the place was huge for me. But now I'm planning to get married in St. Finbarr's Church in my own parish, and to bring in my Gaeltacht background by saying my vows in Irish. H2b wants me and him to play Amazing Grace on my fiddle and his accordion at communion time (he plays a verse, I play a verse and then we both do so together, bit like the two candles and then one) so the tradition of my background will be coming to the fore there too. My gaeltacht heritage is of huge importance to me, but I'm not sure how guests will like the Irish vows, especially as h2b has no Irish. Has anyone here done this and then continued as Béarla for the rest of the mass?

[bingowings]

What a lovely idea! Both the irish and playing at your own wedding I love it. Regrettably I'm the opposite to you h2b is fluent irish I on the other hand understand it enough but I'm not great at it. I'm going to blame the terrible Irish teacher I had in 1st year and leave it at that. We've talked about saying our vows in Irish but are still undecided on it. Have to do the mass booklets up soon so need to decide quickly. Actually it's me that wants to do it and not h2b!!

Anyway I think it's a great idea and maybe if you are doing mass booklets you can have the vows in Irish with an english translation underneath it in italic for non irish speakers. Honestly though everyone knows what the vows are so they'll get the jist I reckon.

Again really lovely idea that you're going to play at your own wedding. Brilliant!

[feb2012]

as you said you are a sentimental person, I think your vows in Gailge would be lovely and the music together, makes it very special for yous

[mrs2be2013]

sin smaoineamh iontach , níor chuala mé i nGaeilge riamh iad!!

[waterplily]

Absolutely fabulous that you want to say your vows in Irish. I want to do the same, but I think h2b would really struggle to grasp the language in time though - he's English. He's said that he wants a piece of the ceremony, even if it's 1 prayer like the Our Father or something, to be in Irish. I was so happy when he said to me he wanted that. I love that fact that we have our own language, so I wanted to incorporate it because it's part of who I am as well.

I say go for it! Especially as it's so important to you. It'll be really lovely And like bingowings said about your booklet - put an english translation as well for that section and people will follow it.

[maurac]

i love it! THATS REALLY LOVELY!

[MrsMac2be]

I think its a great idea, you should definintley go for it. The recommendation of an english translation in the booklet would definitely ensure that everyone understood.

[TanyaBranning]

Lovely idea, saying your vows as gaeilge is lovely!

Your guests are there to watch you get married, and they can do that no matter what tongue you use

[engagedny]

We're very similar. My h2b family are from Gaeltacht, and having the Irish language part of the ceremony is very important to him. I had almost no irish when we met(had only ever did irish in school..which is a long time ago now!!!). I have been taking some lessons over the past year or so. We're having some prayers and songs in Irish.

[MrsCB2b]

Definitely say yours in Irish! I don't speak it but my h2b does and I'd be happy to have part of it in Irish and a little part in French as that is my first language. People at your ceremony will just have to respect your choice! It would be lovely!

[MrsAgnew2Be]

It's a brilliant idea - its lovely to bring some Irish into the ceremony - it is a beautiful language after all. your guest will love it as they will know how important it is to you. Would not work for me i'm afraid - I have good irish but H2B is from the North and would not understand a word.....I want him to understand every single word of those vows!!!!!

[mollybird]

oh my god that is a great idea. so much so it actually brought tears to my eyes. i' m pretty much in the same prediciament as you. i wanted to have at least my reception in gaugan barra but the hotel was horrible. my grandad loved the place and spoke as gaeilge to us all the time so i'm still fluent enough. so i'm doing the next best thing and getting married in our own gaeltacht , An Rinn in waterford. he loved that place and always loved to go out there. ill have most of my songs in irish and my h2b's sister in law who is also from my town said she would do one of the prays of the faithful in irish. i'm going to ask him how he would feel bout me doing my vows in irish. i don't want to do too much of an over kill on the irish as like what some people said the other half of the family don't speak it.

[Oliveoyl]

I think you should definitely do it. I was at a friends wedding where the bride is from the Aran Islands. They got married in Galway but she incorporated her Irish roots by having the whole mass in Irish, including vows Now my friend didn't have fantastic Irish but he was willing to do it as Irish is such a huge part of her life. All the non Gaeltacht guests thought it was lovely even if we couldn't understand everything that was said. I say go for it! If its important to ye then what else matters??

[grogmg]

I think your ideas are lovely, ive never head the vows in Irish, but im sure it can be done. I am planning on having the ceremony half as Gaeilge and half as Bearla. I will have a reading and some prayers of the faithful as Gaeilge and also the likes of Our Father and Hail Mary will be will also be as Gaeilge. I will also be having alot of Irish/celtic songs during the ceremony.

[mrsfa2b]

Hope this works this time, last time had the whole post written and it got lost ...
We are hoping to have our vows as gaeilge too (well, it's more me, if I'm honest!). I think it's a great idea. Neither of us are serious Irish-heads but I have always wanted to have some Irish in my wedding ceremony. The vows in Irish came into my head, at the suggestion of one of the missies here, as we're getting married on paddy's day. Personally I think all the extra lil things for your ceremony made it more special and personal to the couple invovled. It's your own stamp! xx