Ancient traditions meet modern fashions in an ostentatious culture clash in the world of 21st century gypsy and traveller weddings. Gaining rare access to this fascinating and often misunderstood community, this series documents gypsy weddings, revealing a culture where brides compete to have the biggest dress, but having children out of wedlock is still taboo and divorce is unheard of.
Considered 'on the shelf' by 20, many girls in gypsy and traveller communities get married soon after their sixteenth birthday, with the full support of their family. The weddings are visual spectacles; girls parade into church in enormous dresses that sometimes weigh more than the bride herself. And, although the women appear sexually provocative, there is a tradition of premarital chastity that is increasingly unusual in Britain today.
This is a community that lives alongside but detached from mainstream society. It is a community of contrasts, living by centuries-old religious and cultural traditions, but at the same time embracing the gaudier extremes of the celebrity and fashion-obsessed times in which we live.
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OMG I have never seen anything like this show .. I am speechless
Sadily in a world where most minority groups are getting a fair go, the travellers bless then are not, I agree with you Virinia that their morals ethics and sense of family are much higher then those of settled people and we could leanrn ever so much from them-in these days where money tends to come before our religious faith /family and honour we should duck our heads in shame for how these people are treated-for they are people to with a special life style of their own and they clearly have a better sense of humour or laighter and love then the many who critisise and put them down, The whole world is made up of all sorts of people who are given space to be who they are! who are we to deny the natural human rights of these people; As it says in ther bible judging others unless your pure of heart etc is a no no especially as no such person exists. They have as much right to live and love as we do. They I bet you don't have as many bad eggs/people in there peoples as we do thanks to their codes of honour and they deal with wrong doers as we deal with ours. Your know they are human too they spit eat sleep,love and pass wind just like the rest of us!
I don't know much about these people but I beloeve everyone is entitled to a fair go and as an Australian that is what we are known for and besides as we all know you can't judge a book by its cover it is when you open it up it gets fun intersting and you learn.
Cheers pminxy
This TV Series is very interesting. I have Romany Gypsy blood but I live in Australia now. I had no idea that Travellers were still being treated with such out dated and prejudiced views. Travellers are entitled to their customs like any other culture. Hopefully this series will help other people to understand that Travellers are like anyone else in society. They deserve respect and as far as their morals are concerned they are much higher than most peoples. The importance of family and religion in a Traveller's life will hopefully shock and enlighten people and helpt to change age old biases.
To those who knock these people do you personly know travellers-their traditions beliefs and way of life?! They are no better or worse then those of use stuck in our set modrn routines etc and as they are not perfect nor are we!
I am not for the under dressing or abuse though mind you some of our top acters artists etc wear much less and there is not such a big fuss over half naked people in our lives. the das thing is people fear the unknown and most ignore or destroy it and it is not until it is wrecked beyond recognition or destroyed that more often then not people mourn the loss of what was, like the devastation of so many original people to lands all over the world.
My Mum thought me to think first then act or say and even research the unknown to understand it better and what I am learning of the travelling folk is very sad, i ask veiwers watch the show with open minds and hearts before judging. I don't judge any of you as your entitled to your opinions, like I know I care to much about to many but as I said to my D.O.N. some one has to spread the love around as Ru Paul says!
Thanks for checking me out cheers
I think that the bad habits/criminal behaviour of a few have helped give travellers /gypsy's/romany people a bad name for throughout history there was always a gathering when gypsys came and pots and pans and other things and trinkets were availible from the travellers for sale or barter and because they travelled they alwaysbrought news of what was going on outside the villages/towns throughout Europe, I am via a spanish great great great great grandmother a relative of the spanish version of these people and I think that the jealousy of their ability to travel mosty where they will and their strong sense of honour and right it not something a lot of people can abide in a world built on abuse of a planet that supplies use with food clothes and air to breathe-I am not a greenie or a tree hugger but like the gypsys I understand there has to be a balance of give and take and harmony living in sympathy with not only each other but the world at large.
though their girls have lost the freedom of the past in what to a degree was a matriarchal society foe in times gone by because of the powers they held to heal and give life it was considered a great coup if you could gain a clever and useful mate/wife by the men.
I believe that we should cherish these people learn from them-don't be jealous and belittle those you don't know or understand welcome and learn from them you will win great pleasure and friendship if you resect and honour them as then they will in turn if your lucky gain the same it isa big world and there is room for all and people shouldn't listen to rumours because the next bad onemay be about you people out there who listen to what you should and do as they say instead f trusting your heart.
To any traveller that reads this may you roam long well and free.
Jeannette
I can sea where the Irish gpysy's are coming from, when I was akid in the 50's they were known as tinker's not Irish gypsy's and u were told by people not to trust them, but I never felt that way, some I did'nt like but that goes with all walks of life, no matter how they live. I know my mother once blew her top with me, as I was at home, mum was at work and 4 ladies were walking the street's trying to sell there wears and I felt sorry for them and invited them in and made them all a cup of tea, they did'nt steal anything, I trusted them, they finished there cups of tea and went on there way and I felt good about it, I was about 13, didn't the neighbour's run and tell mum as soon as she got home, I got told in no certain terms not to do it again, I don't think it bothered mum what I done just the b neighbour's, but i didn't do it again, mark u I didn't see any again perhaps that's why.
I first saw the original episode and i couldnt stop laughing. im so glad they bought it back. great viewing and great laughs. keep them coming pleaseeeeeee
I've never seen such tackiness before lol. The dresses are tragic, the girls dress like sluts but aren't allowed to do anything, I think they are brainwashed and I feel sorry for them. All the will ever do I be housewives and breed.
Just viewed second episode and enjoyed immensely but OMG someone should tell the mother of the bride how terrible she looks and she is not even a gypsy, she insulted my eyes.
Just wonderin how to get in contact with the lady that makes all the dresses my daughter would luv one please.
Not sure if you still want this but you can contact her on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/ThelmaMadine
I have never seen so many hideous dresses in one place before, money definatly cant by good taste.
so true!!
I agree, they're pretty much UK bogans/trailer trash that just travel.
your a bit rude aren't you?
I'm shocked at how the girls dress while parading around the streets
These girls are brought up to know only a couple of things and that is they reach a certain age it's marriage and the hard life of an old fashioned house wife so they need to do whatever they can to win a husband without the savery of being grabbed and like the males in the animal world have the prettiest colours to win the female in the gypsy world it is the girl who shines brightest that hopefuly gets her man and so she can be princess for a day something she can remember when things get tough , they do what they must as we women who are landlocked do what we need to to win a man as our husband and mate.As for being shocked at there dress the fashions our teenagers are wearing lately have me wondering is there such a thing as getting a cold in your private places and the lanuage that comes from our youngs mouths make my hair curl. with their rigid honour and strict rules they do what they must in their way as we do in ours thanks for reading
it's gross! maybe their morals are high but it's so sexist!!
it isn't that bad, it is their culture. While they dress like that, their morals are extremely high
Saw the show, very interesting, I married a Rom Gypsy 40 years ago, back in the U.K. and still happily married. What we saw tonight are travellers and their customs are so much different from the rom families
i'm very surprised at how the girls porade around and show off???? but yes some of the girls do look very hot.
Josie is hot! I want yo marry a gypsy woman. Cant wait from show.
Luv the show the dresses amaze me even the communion ones...
Communion dresses should be white, it's to show purity, I felt sorry for the young girl she would be laughed at by school friends
Have seen the ads for this so many times.... i am so excited to watch it can't wait :)
this show was awesome only saw one episode and have been waiting for it to come back on.... i love it!
This has been on Foxtel before - on a different channel possibly? Hopefully its a new series .....
I think you've seen the original documentary which screened on YOU. They produced this series because the doco was so popular.
Yeah I've seen it before on Fox too!!
Saw the first one when I was living in England, can't wait for this!
Have heard so much about this show - can't wait to see it!
What about homosexuality in gypsie culture?
You'll love it, only they don't tell the price of the dresses.