Lavina & Taka - Where Are They Now? | Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

[00:00:08]Is this a big hoop?

[00:00:09]No, it doesn't look as wide around the bottom.

[00:00:12]>> [music and bell] >> Thelma Madine is the Gypsy and Traveler community's favorite dressmaker.

[00:00:19]And she's just had one of her busiest years.

[00:00:24]Having worked through hundreds of miles of material and attached nearly a million crystals, Thelma and her team have been responsible for putting [music] the bling into countless wedding and communion outfits.

[00:00:37]>> [music] >> Now with Christmas approaching, things are only going to get busier.

[00:00:43]>> Crazy weeks. [music] As I say, most weekends now I sleep here. I don't go home on a weekend because there's that much to get out. It's Christmas time, so there's a lot of weddings at Christmas.

[00:00:55]One after the other.

[00:00:56]>> The majority of the wedding dress orders around Christmas time are destined for the same location, a small town in Ireland called Rathkeale.

[00:01:05]>> We've made dresses for for travelers for years, and we've always done wedding dresses in that to be picked up in November and December, not knowing why until recently that they're all going back to the same place, which is Rathkeale. Now, we've never visited Rathkeale before. As with all traveler things, it's very hard to get into. They like to keep everything quiet. They like to keep everything hidden away from anyone.

[00:01:30]But this time, this year is the first time that basically we've been invited over.

[00:01:35]>> [music] >> Many of the estimated 23,000 Irish travelers in Ireland today [music] are true to their nomadic roots, working abroad for much of the year.

[00:01:50]The town of Rathkeale in the southwest of Ireland is relatively quiet for 11 months of the year.

[00:01:56]Then in December, it wakes up.

[00:01:59]>> [music] >> Rathkeale's population nearly trebles as traveler families return from the four corners of the world to their hometown.

[00:02:11]>> [music] >> Keen to keep marriage within the community, there is only a narrow window of opportunity for bonds to be made between families, meaning the Christmas period is crammed with wedding celebrations. [music] Non-traveler Davey Mann runs a club over the Christmas period to help cater for the great traveler migration. [music] >> Rathkeale is like another version of Hollywood at Christmas.

[00:02:43]They're in all parts of the world, including England, they're in Australia, they've been they're in America, they're in Europe, all over the place. But, these all come back to Rathkeale on [music] December to have their functions, to have their weddings, to have any parties they have. It's like a holiday resort for 3 or 4 weeks.

[00:03:01]>> [music] >> They drink, they eat, and they party, and they enjoy it. And we very, very, very rarely have any trouble, thanks be to God.

[00:03:13]>> Having traveled across the Irish Sea, Thelma and Pauline are on their way to help one of Rathkeale's brides-to-be get ready.

[00:03:21]>> It's 10:37 now.

[00:03:23]And she's getting married at 11:30.

[00:03:30]And I know her mom wasn't very happy with her getting married that young. She wanted her to wait.

[00:03:40]>> With the wedding less than an hour away, they arrive at a household in chaos.

[00:03:50]Where's my wedding crown?

[00:03:52]>> The bride's mother, Eileen, is concerned the winter wedding may be scuppered as her daughter's wedding crown has gone missing in transit from England.

[00:04:01]>> The crown was sent to them at the airport to pick it up.

[00:04:05]They should be here any minute.

[00:04:07]You said she's not getting married without us.

[00:04:10]So, what's going to happen then?

[00:04:12]>> Mom would not have that.

[00:04:13]>> Whilst most of the family are nearly ready for the church, bride Lavinia is still in her pajamas.

[00:04:19]>> Mom would not have that.

[00:04:21]>> Look at her. Does she look like she's ready for marriage?

[00:04:26]>> Lavinia's is the eighth of nine weddings in Rathkeale this Christmas.

[00:04:31]Dad Clifford and brother-in-law Johnny are struggling with the pace of the sub-zero partying.

[00:04:38]>> Feeling very, very sick.

[00:04:40]>> What's that?

[00:04:41]>> Bad hangover.

[00:04:43]Lot of beer.

[00:04:46]Jory here never stops.

[00:04:47]>> Went to bed early last night.

[00:04:48]>> 4:00 in the morning.

[00:04:49]>> 4:00 he went to bed.

[00:04:51]>> They wake up, they get dressed, they go to the pub, they get drunk, and they get drunk and they get drunk until they get sick, they go home, and that's it.

[00:05:00]>> At long last, the crown has arrived.

[00:05:03]>> This is what we're all waiting for now.

[00:05:05]>> Oh, it's nice.

[00:05:06]>> You see? Yeah, it is nice.

[00:05:13]>> What a relief.

[00:05:15]>> Lavinia is already late for the church.

[00:05:18]Dad Clifford is anxious not to keep the priest waiting.

[00:05:26]>> Fiona, Momma, get me a roller.

[00:05:28]>> Are you ready now?

[00:05:29]>> You're doing the glass place, Momma.

[00:05:33]>> Close.

[00:05:35]You're getting married today, do you know that?

[00:05:38]And do you know what day it is today?

[00:05:41]>> It's Christmas Eve.

[00:05:47]>> When beauty is finally achieved, a horse-drawn carriage arrives for the journey to the church.

[00:05:55]>> [music] [bell] >> Lavinia became engaged 2 months ago, having just turned 17.

[00:06:08]>> [music] [music] >> She will soon be marrying 24-year-old Thomas Edward, who also comes from [music] Rathkeale.

[00:06:31]>> She looks really lovely. And Mom said she wasn't going to cry, but she started crying before cuz that's her baby, isn't it? Her baby girl, so you know, I know she [music] didn't want us to get married for about 2 years or something, and this year she's off.

[00:06:43]Going.

[00:06:46]She's a very young bride, she is, but obviously she thinks she's doing the right thing.

[00:06:53]>> [music] >> Lavinia arrives at the church a touch later than expected for the Christmasy union with her husband-to-be.

[00:07:02]But there's a slight issue. Groom Edward is nowhere to be seen.

[00:07:08]>> I'm calling the future son-in-law.

[00:07:11]>> He's late and still in the pub this time.

[00:07:14]>> Where is he?

[00:07:15]>> The pub.

[00:07:19]>> I'm trying to get him out of the pub, Lavinia.

[00:07:27]>> It's the Christmas wedding season in the Irish town of Rathkeale.

[00:07:32]17-year-old Lavinia is ready to be escorted down the aisle, but [music] is left waiting outside on one of the coldest days of the year while her husband-to-be is down the pub with his mates.

[00:07:46]>> All right. I'm telling him come up James, you know, for God's sake.

[00:07:50]What?

[00:07:51]>> He wants to be married more than I did.

[00:07:53]I think he's nervous.

[00:07:55]>> Edward, the priest is going mad here.

[00:07:57]Call his witness.

[00:08:00]Come on Edward, the priest is going to go mad. I swear to God, the priest is going to go mad.

[00:08:05]It's supposed to be at half 11. It's 12:00 o'clock now.

[00:08:08]Half 12. Come on.

[00:08:10]>> Half four.

[00:08:11]>> Lavinia is keen to keep moving to stop herself from freezing.

[00:08:17]>> Where are you?

[00:08:18]>> [music] >> Is there anyone in there?

[00:08:29]>> I'm walking in. You can be in there or not, I don't care.

[00:08:32]You can go in the side door.

[00:08:33]Come on.

[00:08:34]>> How are you feeling, Lavinia?

[00:08:37]>> Nervous.

[00:08:38]Freezing and excited.

[00:08:40]>> After nearly an hour, the groom and his entourage arrive from the pub.

[00:08:45]>> [music] >> All right, just wait here.

[00:08:49]Go to the back there.

[00:08:52]>> There is precious little time for the lads to get themselves organized.

[00:09:01]And fit in a pose for the wedding video.

[00:09:03]>> What's the crack?

[00:09:05]How's it going, everybody?

[00:09:06]>> We're 100% >> Car bomb eyes.

[00:09:08]>> How's it going?

[00:09:09]>> Leave it.

[00:09:10]>> City goals.

[00:09:11]>> [music] >> Having ushered the groom into the side door, Clifford can finally give his daughter away.

[00:09:20]>> there now.

[00:09:22]Where's she gone?

[00:09:31]Get in.

[00:09:34]Hello.

[00:09:44]>> In Surrey, England, Irish traveler Josie [music] and English traveler Swanley are about to spend their first Christmas together.

[00:09:52]>> What are you getting?

[00:09:54]Christmas pudding with brandy.

[00:09:56]>> Fine.

[00:09:58]>> [music] >> They have come a long way since meeting earlier in the year.

[00:10:01]>> First I saw him on Facebook and thought nice guy.

[00:10:07]>> I've got to buy you a dress.

[00:10:09]>> [cheering and applause] >> 17-year-old Josie is now 5 months pregnant.

[00:10:18]So has reality lived up to the fairytale?

[00:10:21]>> This time this time last Christmas, I was at home single, no boyfriend, no fiance, waiting for Christmas with my mom and dad.

[00:10:37]Now I'm married to him.

[00:10:41]>> Josie is looking forward to the trappings that come with a traveler marriage.

[00:10:46]>> I'm so happy about the future because in the future we'll have loads more children. We'll go to our own children's weddings, christenings, holy communions, the whole lot of it.

[00:10:55]We're all of it to come.

[00:10:57]>> There's only one day in the future I'm really looking forward to.

[00:11:02]That's divorce.

[00:11:04]Oh god, I can't wait.

[00:11:07]>> You know you're dope.

[00:11:13]>> For the meantime, Josie has far more important things to think about, like the Christmas shopping.

[00:11:20]>> So I'm just going to get my mommy and my daddy something today. And he's going to get his daddy and two free children, sort them out.

[00:11:27]>> [clears throat] >> For laborer Swanley, this is a painstaking chore.

[00:11:32]>> So this is what I hate about going shopping with Josie.

[00:11:34]You blink and she's gone.

[00:11:37]>> [music] >> As if shopping wasn't tough enough, trying to agree on presents is even harder.

[00:11:44]>> Oh, I was going to say, Sam, the big doll for Sonny.

[00:11:47]A boy doll.

[00:11:48]>> No, Josie. He ain't queer.

[00:11:49]>> I know he's not a queer, but he's always He's only a child, so it's only >> You don't get a doll for a boy.

[00:11:54]>> He's only a baby.

[00:11:55]>> It doesn't matter.

[00:11:59]Josie, you're up.

[00:12:00]I don't want to sit him down. You do what you want.

[00:12:02]>> Can we have a look at the Come on then, follow me.

[00:12:04]>> I don't.

[00:12:06]>> Where is the doll?

[00:12:07]The Oh, I don't know. Why is it you Why are you doing everything like your life is so sad and you're just fed up of living?

[00:12:11]>> I am.

[00:12:12]>> Can you show me a bit happy and >> Yeah, I can be happy.

[00:12:15]>> You aren't. For a whole long all you've done is be hap- un- unhappy.

[00:12:19]>> I'm happy, Josie.

[00:12:20]>> Why are you acting like you're I know you're happy, but you're acting like all sarcastic.

[00:12:24]Stupid.

[00:12:25]>> Cuz that's how I roll.

[00:12:30]>> Dope.

[00:12:31]>> [music] >> After a slightly rocky start to their Christmas wedding, 17-year-old Lavinia [music] and 24-year-old Edward have tied the knot.

[00:12:47]>> [music] >> But the bride is paying a price for her fairy tale dress.

[00:12:52]>> [music] >> She's actually got two nappies on her on her hips.

[00:12:56]>> Yeah.

[00:12:57]>> And and a big bandage as well. But she It's hurting her.

[00:13:03]She's walking in pain at the moment.

[00:13:05]>> Mhm.

[00:13:05]>> Isn't she?

[00:13:06]>> Hit my my barren.

[00:13:09]>> [music] >> Lavinia's diamond-encrusted dress is held up by over 20 underskirts.

[00:13:22]>> It is the most painful in my life, carrying this.

[00:13:26]It's about 15 stone.

[00:13:28]>> Happy Christmas.

[00:13:30]>> I I so very excited.

[00:13:32]>> [music] >> Lavinia has a whole day of celebrations to get through.

[00:13:40]But before the couple head to the reception, there is an important visit to be made. [music] Showing respect for the dead is an important part of traveler culture, and it's traditional to visit the graves of loved ones on your wedding day.

[00:13:57]>> It's my best pal, Edward.

[00:13:59]He died very young. Do you remember about him?

[00:14:03]So it's appreciation. You know what I mean?

[00:14:14]This is what we do when we all get married. We come over here to show our respects.

[00:14:18]That's what happens.

[00:14:19]>> Of course, paying your respects doesn't have to mean a somber mood.

[00:14:23]Some of Edward's friends want to give him advice about his wedding night.

[00:14:28]>> What he's got to do is tonight, right, because this is his wedding, he's got to release the cannon.

[00:14:33]>> [laughter] >> I THINK SO.

[00:14:35]>> COME ON, LADS. Let's go.

[00:14:45]>> [music] >> Over in Middlesex, England, Josie and Swanley are on their way to find out the sex of their first [music] child.

[00:14:54]>> And how are you feeling?

[00:14:55]>> I'm feeling very nervous and excited.

[00:14:58]>> Uh boy first is always better, but I'm not too fussed as long as it's healthy.

[00:15:04]I mean, I can cope with either way.

[00:15:07]>> Finding out the sex [music] of their baby is an early Christmas present for the young couple.

[00:15:13]>> I'm feeling very excited.

[00:15:15]>> [music] >> Um I don't know. It's just I don't know.

[00:15:16]It's stupid, I think, but I don't know. I just can't wait to find out what I'm having.

[00:15:21]>> Don't know how to take it. Just cuz it's so it's so emotional or No, I ain't No, you don't ask questions like that.

[00:15:29]I'm a geezer. You know what I mean?

[00:15:32]You don't ask questions like that.

[00:15:35]>> With Swanley's emotions carefully tucked away, the couple get their results from an ultrasound scan.

[00:15:46]>> What's the news?

[00:15:47]>> It's a little girl.

[00:15:50]Everybody was wrong. They both like a girl.

[00:15:52]>> And how are you feeling?

[00:15:54]>> I'm very good. I'm happy.

[00:15:55]>> Just say that thing at the moment seems all okay. She's healthy at the minute.

[00:16:00]I think it's all good.

[00:16:02]What are we going to do now?

[00:16:04]>> Have a look in some shops, some baby shops.

[00:16:07]>> Now that the sex is known, it's the perfect excuse for Josie to go shopping with cousin Shannon.

[00:16:13]>> Which one do you like better? That one there?

[00:16:15]That one there or that one?

[00:16:16]>> No, this one, Josie. Josie, this one.

[00:16:19]>> But the bright colors and soft fabrics are out of Swanley's jurisdiction.

[00:16:25]>> Bloody waste of all to it. Best of luck.

[00:16:28]>> Bye.

[00:16:32]>> I don't say what I think. I don't I don't know what I'm buying, do I? I don't know what I'm getting. I just leave it to the women.

[00:16:37]>> You want to see the glass bottles?

[00:16:39]>> Yeah.

[00:16:40]I see. Once I can have a look at them pink shoes up there, please, the size ones with the diamonds on.

[00:16:44]>> The shoes here?

[00:16:46]>> Oh, they're lovely, aren't they?

[00:16:48]>> 17-year-old Josie has always wanted a little girl.

[00:16:52]>> I don't know what I'm really looking forward getting its clothes and dressing it and fixing it and winding it. And I'm just looking forward to being a mommy, really.

[00:16:58]>> And so how does it feel that now now it's not it's not toys anymore. It's now a real >> Well, it's still a toy to me, kind of.

[00:17:04]And I'm also anxious and sick. But it's still a little toy.

[00:17:07]>> [laughter] >> The baby will be getting dressed up. It won't be able to sleep.

[00:17:12]>> Good luck and we wish you all the best.

[00:17:14]>> Thank you very much. I'll So, we'll in to see you, to see you go in a couple of weeks, yeah?

[00:17:18]>> Or or a few days, probably.

[00:17:20]>> Is that okay with me? I got it.

[00:17:22]You got to show them I'm pregnant.

[00:17:24]>> I can't lift it.

[00:17:33]>> [music] >> In Ireland, Lavinia's wedding celebrations are in full swing.

[00:17:42]As is tradition at traveler weddings, the sexes tend to stay separate. The boys close to the bar, the girls on the dance floor.

[00:17:52]Thelma has attended hundreds [music] of traveler weddings over the years, but the outfits at this one have surpassed them all.

[00:17:59]>> Right, the colors, loads of different colors. It's like more blingier than what it usually is.

[00:18:06]Well, I've never seen like the really young children, like that baby over there with the only a belly top and and a little skirt. I've never seen them that young at the other weddings.

[00:18:17]>> Sometimes people outside the traveling community view the revealing outfits in a negative light.

[00:18:23]>> These young girls who are dancing, they're like, say, 14, 15, whatever, and you know, they're just dancing, having a good time. You know, like, sometimes, you know, you see 14 and 15-year-olds who are rotten drunk.

[00:18:35]You know, but these don't drink. They just have a good time dancing, and they're not doing any harm.

[00:18:43]>> [music] [music] >> When the wedding celebrations are over, Lavinia and Edward will escape Ireland's cold weather, honeymooning in Tenerife with a group of other newlyweds.

[00:19:08]>> I'd like to thank my mother and father for having me at this wedding. I thank everybody for coming to our wedding. Thank you.

[00:19:19]>> I'm happy with what you said.

[00:19:21]I'm happy she's got a lovely husband and I'm sad that she's leaving me.

[00:19:34]>> Lavinia will now leave home, joining Edward on the road as he works around Europe.

[00:19:43]As the celebrations wind down, thoughts will turn to the next Rathkeale Christmas wedding in 12 hours time.

[00:19:55]During the Christmas period, travelers return to the Irish town of Rathkeale to celebrate a succession [music] of wedding celebrations.

[00:20:03]>> [bell] >> But there's also another tradition that calls for a special kind of dressing up.

[00:20:09]>> [music] >> 9-year-old Jacinta is preparing for her first Holy Communion.

[00:20:15]>> Close your eyes. Look at me.

[00:20:20]>> As part of a special all traveler service, there will be dozens of girls making their way to Cork, all looking to outsparkle one another.

[00:20:31]>> Diamonds and shooting stars.

[00:20:32]>> And they're just shooting stars.

[00:20:34]>> They're done all that.

[00:20:35]>> Niches and the boots.

[00:20:38]>> I'll have sequins to match dress.

[00:20:40]>> Here, look.

[00:20:42]>> Diamond earrings to blend in with the dress and crown.

[00:20:45]>> These first communions, are they a special >> Yeah, they're special cuz it's kind of first time she wears the kind of white dress and >> time you wear this kind of dress.

[00:20:54]>> So now then, she's a big girl.

[00:20:58]The next time they'll be the bride, won't they?

[00:21:00]>> Yeah.

[00:21:02]>> Celebrating Holy Communion is of huge importance to many in the traveler community. But, it's only recently that the bling factor emerged.

[00:21:12]>> Years ago I had to cut the the long kind of dresses that just started.

[00:21:15]>> dresses that just started.

[00:21:16]>> Now, it's kind of all >> It was all finer.

[00:21:19]>> Years ago I had to be limousines.

[00:21:20]>> I had got the big limousines and had got these dresses years ago.

[00:21:24]>> And is the limousine an important part of community?

[00:21:26]>> Yeah. Yes.

[00:21:29]>> [snorts] >> That's most important.

[00:21:37]>> In ice-cold [music] temperatures, hired photographers and cameramen captured Jacinta's first big taste of glamour.

[00:21:44]>> Stop there.

[00:21:46]Can we do another one?

[00:21:49]>> [music] >> You just sit there till the mouth will do sit back.

[00:21:54]>> [music] >> Jacinta now has a 2-hour limousine ride to consider what the other girls will be wearing at the church.

[00:22:21]>> Jacinta's Kathleen will have a stand out dress done with all diamonds.

[00:22:27]But, my dress will be nicer than hers.

[00:22:33]>> [music] >> Dressing up at Christmas time [music] is a big deal for many traveler girls and something that starts at a very early age.

[00:22:46]>> In the traveling community, this is thing that it's the same way with wedding dresses.

[00:22:52]I mean, it's which little girl has got the biggest dress and best material, the nicest. Kind of like contest.

[00:23:00]>> Married Irish [music] traveler Martina is hoping that her daughter Princess will be the best dressed 2-year-old on Christmas Day. [music] >> Should we get them big princess dresses?

[00:23:09]Just for Martina and I.

[00:23:11]And we all going to get made for Christmas. [music] And it's got to be like a special one for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

[00:23:18]They're like special ones on New Year's Day, obviously.

[00:23:23]>> Princess's grandmother joins them at their regular dressmakers.

[00:23:27]>> Hello.

[00:23:29]Look. What are these?

[00:23:30]>> These are cute. We're going to get them when we go back home.

[00:23:33]>> [gasps] >> This is for her.

[00:23:34]>> Look at these.

[00:23:37]>> two and three >> And another one. Look at that.

[00:23:43]>> You got You got another one.

[00:23:45]>> Are you ready?

[00:23:48]Oh, she's beautiful. We're going to put sweets in your bag.

[00:23:52]What's your name, Princess?

[00:23:54]>> Having dresses made at Christmas time is a traveler tradition that stretches back generations.

[00:24:00]>> I know Mommy used to do it for me and things, all this, and for my sister, but it was years ago. I can't remember. And now just see her so happy and to think then that that was me 18, 19 year ago walking in with my mother.

[00:24:14]I mean, it makes me happy, too. My mother done done it with me yet. So, she teach me how to do it with my kids and I teach my daughter how to do it with her kids. Hopefully then years and years to come you'll be doing it with your little girl, won't you?

[00:24:28]That's your one. Look, it says Princess.

[00:24:30]That's not mine, it's yours.

[00:24:32]Same way with all our traditions. This is one of ours [music] and it will stay that way for generations and generations to come.

[00:24:38]It's a good baby. Show Mommy do again.

[00:24:40]Show Mommy.

[00:24:43]All right, thank you.

[00:24:44]>> Bye.

[00:24:45]>> See you soon. Bye.

[00:24:47]>> Bye.

[00:24:48]>> Bye.

[00:24:48]>> Bye.

[00:24:53]>> In the south of Ireland, the town of Cork is about to experience an influx of glamour like never before.

[00:25:03]>> [music] >> I've never seen so many homos in one place together. I've seen one on television every now and then, but that's it.

[00:25:22]>> [music] >> Have you ever been in a limo Jack like >> this?

[00:25:26]>> Never been in a limo like but it's great. Great experience.

[00:25:32]>> [music] >> Having traveled from Rathkeale, 9-year-old Jacinta is joining dozens of traveler children in a First Holy Communion ceremony and she is hoping to out-dazzle them all.

[00:25:45]>> How many diamonds do you think your dress has got?

[00:25:47]>> About a thousand. A thousand.

[00:25:51]Definitely a thousand diamonds.

[00:25:53]>> Do you think anyone else will have diamond lashes?

[00:25:55]>> Eyelashes?

[00:25:57]>> Diamond eyelashes.

[00:25:58]>> No.

[00:26:01]>> But Jacinta is up against some fierce competition.

[00:26:27]>> But I got it made in Holland.

[00:26:33]One minute now. Excuse me. One minute.

[00:26:35]>> Tell me about your dress.

[00:26:36]>> It's all feathers. It's all diamonds and it's it's actually beautiful.

[00:26:42]>> Even for the girls who've already had their First Communion, it's a chance to get involved in the red carpet fever.

[00:26:49]>> There's Dior, there's Gucci, there's There's designs, like there's one princesses, there's feathers, there's the whole lot actually, you know what I mean? The whole shebang.

[00:26:59]>> Mine is a Sex in the City original.

[00:27:02]>> I've white diamonds.

[00:27:04]I've green diamonds, and I've green on it, and I've um stringy stuff down the bottom, and I've rather.

[00:27:17]>> For some girls, a little helping hand is needed to get them to the church.

[00:27:24]>> We can't bring her, we have to lift her.

[00:27:26]She's too heavy.

[00:27:28]>> What's going on? Tell us.

[00:27:30]>> It's a gypsy traveler communion.

[00:27:33]>> Gypsy traveler communion. Is it?

[00:27:52]>> [bell] >> Holy Communion is the second of seven sacraments practiced by the Catholic traveler community.

[00:28:00]Once the children have accepted communion, tradition dictates another photo opportunity.

[00:28:06]>> [music] [music] >> The celebrations will continue back in Rathkeale.

[00:28:20]>> Did you have a good time? Half the staying on my friend, we're all drinking.

[00:28:25]Booze on for the next couple of days.

[00:28:29]>> As for the prize for the most glamorous individual, for one little girl, there's simply no contest.

[00:28:37]>> Who had the best dress at the end of the day?

[00:28:39]>> Me.

[00:28:42]>> [music] [music] >> Irish traveler Paddy Doherty runs a caravan site in Salford.

[00:29:04]He's what you might call a man's man.

[00:29:08]>> From the day I was born, I was bred to fight.

[00:29:13]Look at this. Look at this.

[00:29:14]Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:29:15][screaming] a bit of booze like that.

[00:29:19]>> Rosanne helps maintain a softer side.

[00:29:22]>> Come on, Rosanne. Come to daddy.

[00:29:25]Come to me, baby.

[00:29:30]>> [music] >> Their five grown-up children have all decided to spend their Christmas lunch away from the family chalet. So, Paddy and Rosanne will be spending this Christmas on their own.

[00:29:42]>> It's our first Christmas ever, no. With none of them to chill them out.

[00:29:46]No. Not even the grandchildren.

[00:29:48]I get them all some stick over this.

[00:29:50]>> [music] >> I let it go over the floor and I'll pretend that I say, "It's okay."

[00:29:55]They'll get some stick off me then.

[00:29:56]>> [music] >> With only one shopping day left, Paddy has been roped into some last-minute dress hunting with wife Rosanne.

[00:30:06]>> That's not like the way she's meant to dress. Look at the bottom.

[00:30:08]>> Yeah.

[00:30:12]Is this how I do now? Stand there like a duck.

[00:30:15]Like a pure sausage. Stand here and look at her.

[00:30:18]Ah.

[00:30:20]>> Look at the gold there.

[00:30:21]>> It's going to make me have all nightmares for men in the clothes shop with a woman.

[00:30:28]>> Look at the shop next door.

[00:30:29]>> It's closed, thank god.

[00:30:32]Come on.

[00:30:34]>> To help with the Christmas spirit back at the caravan site, Rosanne is trying to persuade Paddy to dress up as Santa.

[00:30:41]>> All you do is, buy this Santa outfit here, and buy a lot of selection boxes for all the children.

[00:30:47]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:48]>> them out to them. Paddy, they'd love it.

[00:30:49]>> What's that?

[00:30:50]>> He's on the part of children who would really think you're Santa, cuz you'd be well covered up.

[00:30:54]>> What's that? I don't I don't save that.

[00:30:56]>> Ah, Paddy, be nice. How excited would they get?

[00:31:00]>> I know, look. Santa's not me.

[00:31:02]>> Why?

[00:31:03]>> What's that? Will you behave yourself, William Barrett?

[00:31:05]>> Ah, Paddy, be honest to god.

[00:31:10]>> [music] [bell] >> It's Christmas Eve, and caravans across the country are lighting up.

[00:31:23]>> What's that, baby? Look.

[00:31:25]>> Father Christmas.

[00:31:28]>> Is it?

[00:31:30]>> [music] >> At Cane Hill site in Hampshire, married Irish traveler Martina is putting 2-year-old Princess to bed.

[00:31:38]>> I'll see you tomorrow. Father Christmas has been done tonight, and left all your presents.

[00:31:44]Yeah?

[00:31:45]All right, then. Nighty night.

[00:31:48]See you tomorrow.

[00:31:51]>> [music] >> Although proud of her traveler roots, Martina finds living in a caravan hard, and wants a different life for her daughter.

[00:32:00]>> There's just so much more that is inside of a house for people.

[00:32:05]You know what I mean?

[00:32:06]Here, it's nowhere to live, I don't think. It really ain't. It's no way of living your life.

[00:32:11]Would my little girl, Princess, the life I want to concentrate on education, and a job, and a proper lifestyle for herself.

[00:32:22]>> For the time being, Princess will spend her Christmases on a caravan site, >> [music] >> and Martina will do her very best to make it a magical time.

[00:32:31]>> Going into the caravan now, where I've hidden all Princess's presents for tomorrow.

[00:32:37]It's the only place [music] you can find them.

[00:32:39]>> [bell] >> Thanks.

[00:32:48]>> [bell] [music] >> Just get Princess's stocking up now.

[00:32:55]I just say her name, Princess.

[00:32:58]And this is most of her presents now. I just got to get a few more and the rest to put inside her stocking.

[00:33:05]And I just can't wait until Christmas morning.

[00:33:08]Until I see her face when she sees all the presents out.

[00:33:12]It's just going to be amazing.

[00:33:19]>> Merry Christmas, Jesus!

[00:33:24]>> Christmas Day has arrived.

[00:33:27]>> [music] [bell] >> But Irish travelers Paddy and Rosanne are spending Christmas without their children and grandchildren for the first time.

[00:33:36]>> Yeah.

[00:33:37]>> Thanks.

[00:33:38]>> Yeah.

[00:33:40]I'm over here.

[00:33:41]>> Paddy is manager of the caravan site and Rosanne has been trying to convince him to play Santa for some of the site children.

[00:33:49]>> Thank you.

[00:33:50]My baby, thank you very much.

[00:33:54]>> [laughter] >> NOW YOU GOT TO GO AND DO YOUR DUTIES.

[00:34:00]>> WHAT'S DUTIES?

[00:34:01]>> Go on, give the children all of your sweets.

[00:34:04]Ah, please. Go on.

[00:34:05]>> Please, Rosanne.

[00:34:05]>> So, I just go to them two trailers, you don't have to go anywhere else. Please.

[00:34:10]Go on. Go on. Go on.

[00:34:11]>> No. No. No.

[00:34:13]Come on. Get something. It's Christmas.

[00:34:15]You have to get something off me. Come here.

[00:34:17]Come over here, I says. You've got to get all the sweets, sweets, sweets, sweets. TAKE ONE. TAKE ONE for the sake of taking one.

[00:34:24]Take one for the sake of taking one.

[00:34:27]Do something for children, isn't it? You know what I mean? Make them feel happy and give them something, you know what I mean now?

[00:34:31]>> Big Joe.

[00:34:33]>> Give the children some sweets out.

[00:34:35]Come on, young oaks.

[00:34:36]Take more.

[00:34:38]Big Joe, merry Christmas to you.

[00:34:41]Christmas party our local is off and the children some sweets, sweets, sweets, sweets.

[00:34:47]>> Paddy has spent his whole life living on site and considers his neighbors to be extended family.

[00:34:56]>> [music and bell] >> I'm one lucky one.

[00:35:00]You know, you got all travelers all around you.

[00:35:02]I'm a counselor each other.

[00:35:04]I understand I'm a truly, truly counselor each other.

[00:35:13]>> Overnight in Ireland, the traveler haven of Rathkeale has been turned into a winter wonderland.

[00:35:25]>> [music] >> Dressmakers Thelma and Pauline have been asked to help out with the perfect Christmasy white wedding.

[00:35:33]>> [music] >> 18-year-old bride-to-be Charlene is the proud wearer of Thelma's largest creation of the year.

[00:35:53]>> She makes a beautiful bride.

[00:35:55]She really does. Stunning.

[00:35:57]>> First one in the snow for you?

[00:35:59]>> Yeah, finished. Yes, it's the first one, but it's just reflects on the dress.

[00:36:02]Doesn't look really white, but she looks amazing. She's dead calm, really calm.

[00:36:07]Wouldn't think she's getting married this morning and everyone else is sweltering and she's calm.

[00:36:12]>> Watch your crown, [music] Charlene.

[00:36:14]>> [crying] >> You're okay.

[00:36:17]>> Watch your crown.

[00:36:18]>> Now.

[00:36:19]>> Watch your Watch your crown. That's it now. That's it. You're in. You're in.

[00:36:23]>> Girls, what do you think of the dresses?

[00:36:25]>> I know they're handsome.

[00:36:26]>> Handsome.

[00:36:26]>> Yeah.

[00:36:27]>> She's [laughter] sitting on the floor, but she's all right now.

[00:36:30]>> I'm not going to go to the house.

[00:36:31]>> You will. We'll get you in the house.

[00:36:32]>> I can't even get in.

[00:36:35]>> Charlene is quickly learning about the practicalities of choosing such an enormous dress.

[00:36:41]>> It hurts.

[00:36:43]And getting it in our cars, our house, it's very, very difficult.

[00:36:57]>> [music] >> The size of Charlene's dress is the result of a continuing battle amongst many traveler girls to be the best dressed bride.

[00:37:10]>> Everyone tries [music] to outbid the other person.

[00:37:13]That's how you get the hugest, nicest dress.

[00:37:15]What looks nicest.

[00:37:17]>> What was your inspiration for your dress?

[00:37:19]>> It's a new cartoon that's uh it's called Barbie ones. And my sister got the cartoon that she watches.

[00:37:25]She's watching the cartoon with the character in the sun dress on this.

[00:37:28]And I said to myself, I have to get that dress.

[00:37:35]>> [music] >> Charlene arrives at the church eager to stretch her legs.

[00:37:41]Unfortunately, the groom has not yet arrived.

[00:37:44]>> We've no groom here yet.

[00:37:45]>> No groom yet. Okay.

[00:37:47]>> Mom.

[00:37:48]>> Some in Rathkeale have a tradition of keeping the groom drinking in the pub for as long as possible before [music] getting married.

[00:37:57]>> I can't go in unless he's there before me. And he's still in the pub.

[00:38:03]>> Thankfully for the groom, Charlene is very forgiving.

[00:38:07]>> He's really shy, so if he wasn't drunk, he wouldn't go up the aisle there. I wouldn't do anything cuz he's too shy.

[00:38:13]>> [music] [bell] >> Having been relieved of his Santa duties, Paddy has just enough time before Christmas lunch to pay his respects at his family's plot in the local graveyard.

[00:38:29]>> Don't forget you got a dead day. You don't forget them.

[00:38:32]They're dead but they're not forgotten.

[00:38:34]You know what I mean?

[00:38:38]>> [music] >> My sister.

[00:38:46]She died of cancer God bless her.

[00:38:50]>> Paddy has [music] several relatives buried at the family cemetery including his son Patrick who was killed in a car accident aged 18.

[00:39:01]Neighboring Patrick's grave is Paddy's aunt who died earlier in the year.

[00:39:08]>> I loved that woman.

[00:39:09]Heart as good as gold. Very good natured.

[00:39:13]Yeah.

[00:39:14]She always gave me money whether or not no one knowing. You know what I mean?

[00:39:18]>> Yeah Paddy.

[00:39:22]>> [snorts] >> It's not easy when you go and stand at someone's grave you know for your love.

[00:39:33]>> [snorts] >> Uh-huh.

[00:39:37]It's not easy.

[00:39:43]Is it the difficult part of Christmas for you?

[00:39:45]>> You know honestly God it is.

[00:39:46]>> [snorts] >> Yeah.

[00:39:49]I know.

[00:40:02]>> [music] >> Back in Rathkeale, Charlene is driving around the block again giving her husband-to-be another chance to arrive at the church before her.

[00:40:13]>> Chaos.

[00:40:14]The main street in Rathkeale.

[00:40:19]Hello.

[00:40:20]>> are you feeling okay?

[00:40:22]>> Nearly, and I can't breathe with the dress.

[00:40:28]So much pain and so much hassle for just one day.

[00:40:32]>> But you have one of the nicest dress I have seen.

[00:40:35]You're looking beautiful.

[00:40:40]>> By the time Charlene arrives at the church [music] for the second time, the boys are back from the pub.

[00:40:49]>> [music] >> With everything in place for her entrance, Charlene first needs to make a big exit.

[00:41:00]>> Is he there?

[00:41:01]Have a drink [music] first.

[00:41:03]>> Daddy's there.

[00:41:05]He's there waiting for you.

[00:41:07]>> Where's Michael?

[00:41:07]>> Try and sit yourself on the seat, babe.

[00:41:09]Swing your legs.

[00:41:13]>> You all right?

[00:41:21]>> Lift, you have to lift the dress.

[00:41:26]>> [music] >> To create Charlene's mammoth bell-shaped dress, over 1 mile of fabric was used.

[00:41:47]>> A little bit of a struggle, wasn't it?

[00:41:50]They're all thrilled with the dress.

[00:41:52]They all say they've never seen nothing like it in their life.

[00:41:55]She looks amazing, doesn't she? She's lovely.

[00:42:01]>> [music] [music] >> It's Christmas lunchtime at Salford Caravan Park.

[00:42:21]Fitting everyone around the table at Christmas is a struggle for most households, let alone being crammed into a caravan.

[00:42:37]>> [music] >> Without [music] any of their children or grandchildren visiting today, Paddy and Rosanne's lunch is a more [music] intimate affair.

[00:42:53]>> Merry Christmas, everyone.

[00:42:59]>> That's quiet here, isn't it? Love the children.

[00:43:02]I think it's lonely because of the ones that's not here. You know, like the ones that you know not coming to see or you won't see them.

[00:43:10]It's lonely. That's That's how it's lonely.

[00:43:13]>> Woman.

[00:43:15]Merry Christmas. Many, many more to you.

[00:43:18]>> And Merry Christmas to you.

[00:43:19]>> what I mean, eh?

[00:43:20]Sausage. You know what I mean, eh?

[00:43:21]>> Yeah, you know what I mean, eh? I'm trying to say answer you back.

[00:43:24]And Merry Christmas to you.

[00:43:26]>> That's my son.

[00:43:26]>> And many, many more to help of God.

[00:43:28]>> I love you.

[00:43:30]God bless you.

[00:43:34]>> Whilst some enjoy a quiet Christmas together, elsewhere in the traveling community, the party continues.

[00:43:43]>> [music] [bell] >> Happy Christmas.

[00:43:51]Yeah.

[00:43:55]Happy Christmas.

[00:44:00]Yeah.

[00:44:02]Happy Christmas. How are you doing?

[00:44:04]>> [music] [music] >> Happy Christmas, everybody.

[00:44:48]>> [music]