Celtic Wedding Bands - Things to consider when buying

What is the one thing you will keep after your wedding day is over? And for the record we are not talking about your bride/groom. What is one thing you will keep and look at day after day, long after your wedding day becomes just a memory?

Give it some thought. Memories? Sure but those fade after a while. Wedding dress? Stored and in all probability rarely, if ever, worn again. Wedding pictures? You might pour over them but you are hardly going to pull them out of the drawer and leaf through every day. Same way with your wedding DVD. In some countries the tradition is to keep a piece of a wedding cake, but seriously why would anyone want to look at a piece of moldy cake is beyond me. Even if you do decide to look at it, for whatever reason, just do not even think about eating it.

Ready for the answer? One thing you will see day after day is your wedding ring.

That is reason enough to take a pause (yes even in the blurry haze that is wedding planning) and think long and hard what type of wedding band would be most appropriate. Well that, and also wedding bands should be pretty, unique, meaningful and symbolic of your relationship. Hmm yes, piece of cake.

But there is no reason to panic, the good news is there is plenty to choose from. And one of the options you might want to consider is Celtic wedding bands.

Yes, even if you do not have any Irish ancestors to speak of. Why should the Irish have all the fun?

All joking aside, speaking from a purely visual point, Celtic wedding bands are beautiful. But what is even better - each and every one of those Celtic symbols has been around for thousands of years and each and every one of them has a significant meaning.

Let me tell you a story about the Claddagh ring. Richard Joyce, who lived in a small fishing village of Claddagh near Galway was kidnapped by the pirates. Joyce was sold into slavery where he was forced to learn the craft of a goldsmith. Thinking of his one true love that he left behind, he crafted the Claddagh ring ( also known as the Faith ring). With its distinctive design of hands, heart and a crown it is said to represent friendship, love and loyalty. When Joyce managed to break free, he returned to his village and found his true love still waiting for him. They married and lived happily ever after.

Another popular option when it comes to Celtic wedding bands is the Celtic knot. While the Claddagh story has become an Irish legend and even though Celtic knots can be found in many aspects of Celtic life (from manuscripts that are centuries old to tattoo designs) scientists and historians have pondered their meaning for years.

The wedding band is a symbol of endless love and devotion, while Celtic knots represent eternity. The way they are interwoven together is a symbol of how the lives of bride and groom will interweave from here on. Celtic knots made of spirals represent the cycles of life.

The Trinity knot (also know as Triqueta) on the other hand represents mind, body and spirit and the interconnectedness of all 3.

Brides and grooms seem to prefer the significance of Celtic knots, but if you would prefer something more unique you will be spoiled for choice. The most popular combination is the Claddagh and Celtic knot design - love, loyalty and friendship and two people coming together - now that is meaningful and special.

Meaning aside the choice will not end there. There is still color and metal to decide on - silver, gold (10k, 14k or 18k) although you can go with the two toned. 14k white with yellow trim being the most popular these days.

It is a lot to ponder on - from symbols and their meaning to design, from the color to the metal. But this is a decision that should not be taken lightly, after all it is forever we are talking about here.

With Celtic wedding bands the choices are limitless.