Between the Lines: Mona & Brogan’s Wedding

Can you believe it? In just ten days, on December 1st, my novella Mona Lisa is being released. In honor of the occasion here’s a sneak peek into the wedding of my main characters Mona and Brogan.

What She Wore:

Mona wore a pale blue dress for her wedding. Traditional Irish wedding dresses were blue rather than white. Blue represented purity. Possibly because blue is the color associated with the virgin Mary. So before white came to be the go-to wedding hue, blue was the color that Irish brides wore.

Lace was incorporated into Mona’s wedding attire also. Producing beautiful, fine lace is just one of the many things for which Ireland is famous. Traditional Irish brides often used lace for their gowns and also for a “lucky” handkerchief for their wedding day.

Mona wore the sides of her hair braided and tied back together with a wreath of lavender pinned throughout the braids.

“Long, braided hair has long been considered a symbol of feminine power and beauty”[1 – Melanie Louise Peters]

Mona also wears a bracelet with small bells on it. Why? Because bells were traditionally thought to ward off evil spirits.

What He Wore:

Brogan wore a black doublet, which was the equivalent of the modern day suit jacket.

And rather than the simple ties worn by today’s gentlemen, he wore a white cravat.

Brogan also wore a kilt in the pattern of the clan McGregor tartan.

For those of you wondering what on earth a tartan is, no it’s not a sauce to put on your fish and chips. A tartan is a kind of plaid fabric specific to certain clans and families. Therefore Brogan wears the one specific to his ancestor’s the McGregor clan who settled in Carlingford in the 15th century.

The Traditions:

During the wedding, Reverend Murdoch fasts Mona and Brogan’s hands together with an embroidered sash.

The fasting of the bride and groom’s hands is an old, old Irish tradition. It symbolized their coming together and vowing to remain together for the rest of their lives.

It’s also the origin of the phrase “tying the knot”.

After the ceremony, Brogan’s mother begins to wish them well, but Mrs. Campbell stops her. In Irish tradition, it was bad luck for a woman to be the first to wish the bride well.

Fiona reluctantly humors her.

“Besides, there was a part of her that was just the slightest bit superstitious also.”

Brogan’s father then steps forward and recites an old Irish blessing.

“May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”

So, as you can see, there was quite a bit of folklore “in between the lines.”

Want to find out what happens in the rest of the story? Order a copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Lisa-Carlingford-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00OH1V65Q/.