MovieChat Forums > Big Fat Gypsy Weddings (2011) Discussion > Random question about the dresses

Random question about the dresses

posted 13 years ago by eva-jackeline88
6 replies | jump to latest

The brides on the show all seem to be fond of the extravagant, over-the-top, full ballgown, princess style of gown. However, in most of the episodes the gowns look flashy, loud, not particularly well-made and some might say, a bit gaudy.

On the site for the original show on Channel 4 (in the UK) someone mention that the gowns cost around 50,000 pounds (around $80,000). On the show, they also say that the dresses are "very expensive" (although they don't say the cost).I was curious as to why, with that kind of money, the traveler brides don't just buy a designer gown with that same princess/Cinderella feel to it but a bit more elegant and well-made and less gaudy? There are a couple of wedding gown designers that work with that aesthetic (Pnina Tornai comes to mind).

[–] Chihuahua-tership_Down 13 years ago

I suspect the over-the-top'ness of the brides' apparel on this show represents only a small minority of the travellers. Much has been made of the show's exploitative and sensational nature.

I highly doubt any of those dresses cost that much money, most of them were made of reams and reams of tulle netting and plastic-looking beads. Of course any dress made to specifically fit one person is going to be expensive to make, but if they're paying that kind of money, they are seriously being taken for a mug. Perhpas they wanted to brag about spending that kind of money to counteract the stereotype that they're poor white trash, but the gaudiness of the dresses actually enforces preconceived notions.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Angel_Of_My_Heart 9 years ago

I don't know how much these dresses cost as its never mentioned on the show but I think they are so expensive because of the amount of time it takes to create them and the amount of materials that go into them like the meters and meters of material and swarovski crystals (I have never since I started watching this show seen Thelma the dressmaker use plastic beads).

[–] Jaye_57 12 years ago

I've also heard that after the girls have left school, their parents can be very protective and the daughters are not always allowed to watch ''grown-up'' television, and spend a lot of time watching Disney cartoons. In the Christmas episode, one of the lasses said her wedding dress was inspired by a new (well it was new back then) Disney cartoon called The Frog Prince. I think it's like a competition to see who can look most like a fairytale princess, because that's what they've been brought up on.

Every Jack has his Jill.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Angel_Of_My_Heart 9 years ago

From watching this show, it seems the bigger and more flashy the dress the better, they all try to out do each other and the dresses are not poorly made, it takes the dress maker weeks sometimes more to make them which is why they are so expensive.