A Gypsy Wedding?

Bridal Carriage - A bridal carriage for a gypsy wedding, decorated with flowers and drawn by Shire horses.
@Darkwing (21583)
May 19, 2007 8:40am CST
I'm going back a few years, three, or four anyway, to a sunny, hot and sultry Summers day... Saturday, 2.00 p.m. Now, we're used to horses, two and maybe three at a time, coming through the village, and I often look out to see if it's anybody I know, or if it's the light horse and trap which comes through bearing its driver and two children. We also have quite a large gypsy contingent spread around the outskirts of the village. Well, there's a guy, whom I'll just call James, for the want of protecting his name. He came from gypsy stock, but like most of his fellow gypsies, he wanted to make good. So, he worked his way up, using his gift of the gab and his wily ways to make something of himself, and ended up a very successful used car and horsebox dealer. He made a fortune with this, and now lives in a large, olde worlde, detached country house on the outskirts of the village. He's made for life... employs a guy who is well-known and respected in the village, even if as wily as his boss, houses him and takes rent, and this guy, Charlie, does a lot of business for him. Anyway to cut a long story short, James met and was to be married to this young girl... perhaps nineteen or twenty years old. It wasn't his first wedding but it was hers, and all the stops were pulled out for her to have the best day ever!!!Boy!!! Were all the stops pulled out? You'd better believe it! Anyway, back to two o'clock on a Summer's afternoon, and I heard several horses clip-clopping down the Street. I thought it was perhaps a riding school, so got up and looked out on, WOW... the finest wedding entourage I had ever seen in my life!!!First came the horse and cart bearing the Groom and his Best Man. They were standing in the cart and really enjoying the grandeur of the whole thing! lol. This was followed by five... yes, five... horse drawn carts carrying guests, whom I would have imagined were immediate family. Then, the bridesmaids... pretty, with flowers in their hair and having the time of their lives, and finally, the Bridge and her Father. She was dressed in a white, elaborate dress, off-the-shoulder style, naturally, and had flowers in her hair also. The cart, or coach, was decked with flowers and drawn by two Shire horses. What a beautiful sight! Two buses were left standing in the street outside my place and coming out of a neighbour's with mugs of tea for two hours. They couldn't get past the carts parked at the bottom of the church steps... people came out and lined the street to watch this spectacular parade, and cheered, whooped and applauded as the Bride went past. Well, the carriages had all gone past and I had to go to the pub, to see the landlady about my work schedule... sheeeeeeesh... one of the pub bars was full of guests, drinking and having a whale of a time, the street was blocked by guests... they were up the steps to the church, all through the cemetery and the church was jam-packed. Now, that's what I call a celebration!!! Two days later, Charlie came into the pub and wove me his story about the reception. Apparently, there was this huge marquee in James's rambling garden, and in the centre of this marquee was a fountain... a gold fountain, pumping champagne, which you could just take your glass to and fill. This fountain was pumping champagne for FOUR days, whilst the celebration went on, and on, and on, and on.... WOW, what a dream wedding that was. Almost like something out of a fairytale. Have you ever witnessed or attended a Gypsy Wedding and if so, what did you think of it?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@mummymo (23706)
19 May 07
I am afraid I have not - but it sounds like it was certainly a day to remember and a sight to behold! And shire horses - I love these big animals! My grandad originally came from a farming community - his dad was a blacksmith and My Granda fell in love with Clydesdale horses - a love that was to last his whole life and I think that is where I get the feelings I have for these beautiful beasts - how wonderful to have them as part of your wedding! It sounds like a celebration the villag will remember for a long, long time! xxx
@Darkwing (21583)
19 May 07
Yes, I don't think the village will forget it in many years. It will probably be passed down through their families, and grandchildren, and kept alive for a long, long time. It truly was a spectacle... a good job the sun was out though because they were open carriages, and the horses... well, some of them we a very dark browny black, and their coats shone in the sunlight. They indeed looked beautiful in their white socks and beige coloured shoes. :-) Certainly smart enough to attend the wedding ceremony.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
19 May 07
No I haven't but I have to say it sounds wonderful like you say a Dream Wedding and it was so nice of James to ensure that his new Bride got the best she must have a Princess that Day I know I would have
@Darkwing (21583)
19 May 07
Yes, it was nice of James, but then, he can afford it. He hired 10 Shire Horses from a place in london, all those carriages which came down the Street in succession, and sooooo many guests, drinking champagne for four days? Wow... mind you, I'm not so sure that he paid full price for the champagne. ha ha ha ha ha