Did you watch Big Fat Gypsy Wedding last night on C4

[factor-fiction]

Did you watch Big Fat Gypsy Wedding last night on C4? Was this a true reflection of the Traveller Lifestyle? They seemed to have strong moral values and principles and there was a real sense of community. And they all seemed to have plenty of money! Or was the programme painting far too rosy a picture?

[LoftyLottie]

Don't think it's snobbery at all Craft. I just can't understand how anybody can like these dresses, but each to his own. What makes me laugh is most of them have to wear trainers on their big day in order to be able to walk carrying all that weight. It just seems so incongruous and really doesn't add to the fairy tale occasion they want. How stupid do they look having to be pushed and pulled out of their carriages and when they walk down the aisle - well it's just hilarious. And all the men at the weddings looked completely scruffy - just like they were going to work on a building site. You would think as the girls make so much effort they could at least try to look the part.

[DEN53]

To be honest Craft - I did wonder if it was what the bride wanted - as everything is tradition - and one girl did break from the big frothy type of dress and went for a more slim fitted one. Also when the brides went for their dress fittings the friends that went with them, did'nt go 'oh my god that is really beautiful' they just stood there with a stunned look on their faces, most probably thinking 'sh!t, its my turn next'.........

[LoftyLottie]

What I can't understand is that if the girls are expected to be virginal and pure why their parents were quite happy for them to go around dressed like prostitutes wearning next to nothing. It doesn't make much sense!

At the Appleby Horse Fair they were expected to show as much of themselves as they could in order to find a husband!!

[craft1948]

lol Den you're possibly right. I think gypsies do place great emphasis on bling and putting on a show so are hardly going to do 'subtle and understated'......

[redcrx]

these girls had been planning their weddings and dresses since the age of 5 and to be honest a lot of them looked like they had, very ott.
The emphasis seemed to be on the dresses rather than the marriage.
They are all wanting to have a bigger dress than the previous bride, scarring themselves for life doing so. Its akin to those women who want the biggest boobs to the point of looking totally fake.

[DEN53]

Mind you, when I was watching this programme - I did wonder if these girls tried to model their dresses on .... http://newsitemstoday...and_katie_wedding.jpg

[LoftyLottie]

Ah the pure and virginal Ms Price!!

[DEN53]

I thought the bridesmaids had forgotton to take off their hen night outfits.....

[DEN53]

Vibra - can you tarmac my drive ?

[ELVIS68]

There was a programme on sky last year about pikey weddings and the brides dad was proudly telling the camera that he has hired the same carriage Jordan had

[craft1948]

Well I thought Princess Di's dress was a bit OTT.........and she arrived in a carriage.

[DEN53]

Craft - I have seen many a bride that looks hideous - the trend seems to be for those strapless, silk type dresses with very wide skirts. The sad thing is most of the brides that choose this type of dress are normally well fat....

[mccfluff]

is it repeated, i wanted to watch it but i was forced to go out.

only time i've been genuinely scared in the pub was when a fight broke out between locals and travellers - locals started it all but the travellers were not going to back down at all.

when they came in though they ordered about 100 halves of guiness and took them in the lounge for the ladies, the men folk sat in the main bar and that was it, they didn;t speak to each other the whole night, well until i chucked em all out.

[Ric.ror]

Well done Craft1948

[snags]

Fluffs:

http://www.channel4.c...y-wedding/4od#3034485

[mccfluff]

cheers snags but i was looking fro a repeat, at home my netbook is tiny and its a pain watching on it!

just saw this on one of the comments made about the show though

"I am from a romany gypsy family and my mum and I were shocked watching this programme! Please be aware that we do not all wear those awful dresses at weddings! There is a difference between Irish and Roma gypsies and we are upset that this was not mentioned in the programme. Our culture is wonderful and the people are generous, kind and hard working but there was still sterotyping in this programme. I am getting married next year age 24, but I am at university and do not think it is ok to just get married and expect to be provided for. I do not know any traveller girls who do. I think channel 4 should come to kent and do another programme on roma gypsies. I cannot believe that the only programme on television about travellers still labelled us....and still got it wrong! I suppose its better than nothing tho! "

http://www.channel4.c...de/series-1/episode-1

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Craft about Princess Di's dress. Dreadful.

[deggers316]

mccfluff
it was pointed out there was two types of gypsies one romani which originated in india (i didn't know that) and the Irish travellers,but this prog concentrated on the travellers, when i was young we had romani gypsies park up near us in the colourful covered wagons pulled by horses they were very friendly,but the Irish lot are a crude bunch, dirty and thieving

[lankeela]

When they had Watton Horse Sale they all descended on the area for about a week and there was so much stuff stolen and damage caused locally, plus several dogs went missing. The girls used to parade round in next to nothing made up to the nines, and the blokes all had loads of bling. The young kids tried to pass off fake £20 notes on the stalls but the best bit was their own stalls all had plastic wire guards up so no-one could nick anything off them!