As the story goes, a young man was off to work in the West Indies. He had planed to later return home and marry his love, but he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith who helped him perfect his art. After a call to return all slaves was made by the current king, the young man was offered the goldsmith's daughter and some of the goldsmith's wealth to stay. The young man denied this offer and went on to marry his love. During his time as a slave, the young man forged a ring to symbolize his love and presented it upon his arrival home.

Claddagh wedding rings belong to a group of Fede Rings, which are finger rings that have the distinction of a bezel cut or cast in the form of two clasped hands. During the Roman times, two clasped hands symbolized marriage and faith. These types of rings continued to be popular throughout the Middle Ages and exist even today with similar symbolism and tradition.

With that rich history and the incredibly intricate and unique designs, Claddagh wedding rings are sure to be the best way to capture the special union between two people. As the Claddagh wedding rings symbolize faith and friendship, so does marriage. The strength and bonds of marriage are unique, and this symbol can be a reminder of those strengths and bonds. The uniqueness of each ring can also symbolize the unique growths that each partner will endure as time goes on. For those couples looking for a special way to represent their new partnership, Claddagh wedding rings should be at the top of their list along with Celtic wedding rings. Serious buyers should proceed by doing some research online and finding a design which they like. Some Celtic designs are similar, and becoming familiar with them is an easy way to find exactly what a buyer is looking for. There are even shops that do custom fittings and custom designs uniquely for the buyer. Most times, it is just a matter of asking. These types of customizations might take a couple weeks to finish, but as long as the ring is not being ordered a month prior to the ceremony the buyer should be okay. As a rule of thumb, it is best to give at least three months time to receive any type of custom-designed ring.

As with all big jewelry purchases, the buyer should be aware of the merchant. They should be reputable and have experience in the industry. A simple question will go a long way when it comes to Claddagh wedding rings, so it is all a matter of asking. Some jewelers might even offer a free cleaning on a month-to-month or year-to-year basis to help keep that special symbol in its most pristine form. With all this history combined with the intricate designs and the beautiful symbolism behind Claddagh wedding rings, there is no reason to look for any other type of wedding ring.