For the love of Moongates....

Irish weddings are evolving at a rate of knots in the last few years. Until very recently, couples had very few options other than churches and uninspiring registry offices to seal their union. Now that the law has changed, civil and humanist ceremonies have become incredibly popular in Ireland, and couples have an infinite number of options when it comes to choosing a location for saying their vows; from traditional hotels to jaw-dropping clifftops, and tranquil lakeshores to lively wildlife parks.

For those that want a civil or humanist ceremony, the only limits restricting your choice of décor are your budget, and the weather if you want to do it outside! But in my opinion, the moongate is truly something special, and suitable for all locations, both indoors and out. By standing in front of it while saying their vows, the couples are framed visually within a ring of beautiful flowers and foliage, and it makes for wonderful photos.

According to Wikipedia, the moongate has its’ origins in traditional Chinese garden design, and was generally found in the gardens of wealthy nobles, with every element having a different spiritual meaning. In the late 19th century, moongates were incorporated into the gardens of Bermuda, and it is considered good luck for couples to walk through the moongate on their wedding day in that country.

I fell in love with the idea of the moongate from the first time I saw them - the symbolism of the circle reflects the circle of life, as well as the gateway from the single life to the married one. Embellishing that circle with beautiful flowers - what’s not to love? And, once the ceremony is over, it makes a wonderful backdrop for group photos, and even as a flowery photobooth!

If you’d like a moongate for your wedding, just get in touch via https://www.mossandmushroom.com/getintouch/, and we can take it from there!

Cheers, Liza @ Moss and Mushroom

The moongate for Sam and Nick’s wedding, on the shores of Lough Derg at Annacarriga, Killaloe, Co. Clare