Gypsy Wedding Dreams: Ten dresses. Ten Dreams. All the secrets revealed.

by Thelma Madine

Thelma Madine, star of Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and fairy godmother of extravagant wedding dresses, reveals the drama, secrets and surprises involved in ten incredible traveller weddings. Through the tales of ten elaborate gypsy wedding dresses, Thelma Madine, trusted confidante and dressmaker extraordinaire, offers a window onto the world of traveller brides and their unbelievable celebrations. For Thelma's young brides, a wedding dress is more than just a pretty white gown. For some it is a symbol of their fairytale-like hopes and dreams for the future, for others a mark of a long-standing friendship with a non-traveller they have welcomed into their community, and, for one small group, it is a sad reminder of day they know will never come. With each chapter based around the secrets and incredible truths hidden behind each different dress, Thelma's second book is packed full of fascinating new stories. More drama, more dresses, more gypsies. By turns laugh-out-loud funny and achingly sad, and brimming with hilarious anecdotes and larger-than-life characters, Thelma's book will amaze, amuse and entertain. Beautifully designed and fully-illustrated throughout, it is crammed with glossy new photos, revealing never-before-seen dresses adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals and hundreds of LED lights - an ideal gift for fans of Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and Thelma's Gypsy Girls.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Thelma Madine is a wedding dressmaker born in Liverpool. She rose to fame after appearing as the gypsy wedding dressmaker in My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, a Channel 4 documentary on Irish Travellers as they prepare for marriage. She is best known for her outlandish creations, including a palm tree wedding gown with Swarovski crystals

Reviews

[Susan Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a quick read, but underwhelming.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Beautifully laid out, with amazing photos and totally a perfect guilty pleasure read. I find the traveller culture fascinating and love looking at a beautiful dress or 10! Thomas's voice comes across really well.

[Joanne Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good, easy read. An interesting look into not only the creative process but the emotional process behind making wedding dresses.