History

It is believed that the Irish tradition of the wedding coin has its roots in the Brehon law, when the groom would gift his new bride with a coin to represent that from this point forward, everything he owns would be equally shared.

Symbolism & Meaning

There may be variants of this tradition depending on which family and region of Ireland, and availability of coins.  Some believe that once the wedding coin is gifted to the bride, it should be put into the bride’s shoe to ensure prosperity in the marriage.

The wedding coin can also be handed down from parents to eldest child, or first son, or so forth.  The great thing about wedding traditions is that you are free to make your own variation of the tradition in order to make it meaningful to you.

Example Words

I have written beautiful words for a wedding coin ceremony on a number of occasions, each ceremony unique and individual to the couple. 

Below is one of the example wording I have written for a couples who wanted to include the wedding coin in the unique & special wedding ceremony I created especially for them.

Wedding Coin Sample Ceremony Wording

Kate & Eoin have chosen to include the Irish tradition of exchanging a wedding coin, to represent that from this moment forward everything in their life will be shared.

For this occasion Eoin’s grandparents have gifted him with the wedding coin which they themselves exchanged during their own marriage ceremony, some 60 years ago.

By using the wedding coin from his grand-parent’s long and happy marriage, Eoin will add an extra blessing to his own marriage when he shares the coin with Kate.

[Name], would like to bring us the wedding coin?

Eoin, would you like to repeat after me:

Kate, I present this coin
to share with you as symbol,
that from this point forward,
all that I have, and ever will have
will always be ours to share.

[Eoin presents the coin to Kate]

Kate, would you like to repeat after me:

I accept this coin
to share with you as a symbol,
that all we possess now and in the future,
will always be ours to share.

[Kate presents the coin back (or a 2nd coin) to Eoin]

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