Jump directly to the content
REAL LIFE GYPSY WEDDING

Mum dons 10 STONE dress surrounded by Mickey Mouse, a dwarf, and bridesmaids in bright pink for her big day

The bride's dress featured Swarovski crystals and took 20 minutes to get on

Over the top?...Rebekah Markham tied the knot to Kevin Smith wearing a 10 stone dress she designed in her very own real life Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

A MUM-of-three walked down the aisle in a dress weighing a staggering 10 STONE in her very own 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'.

Five ft 3 bride Rebekah Markham tied the knot with partner Kevin Smith yesterday in a £6,000 dress that took 20 minutes just to put on.

 The wedding of Rebekah Markham and landlord Kevin Smith took place yesterday
7
The wedding of Rebekah Markham and landlord Kevin Smith took place yesterday
 Rebekah's dress, which she designed herself, cost £6k
7
Rebekah's dress, which she designed herself, cost £6k
 The dress, which weighed in at 10 stone, also featured Swarvoski crystals
7
The dress, which weighed in at 10 stone, also featured Swarvoski crystals

The Coventry couple, who have only been dating for a year, married in front of family members and friends at Four Oaks Methodist Church in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

Bride Rebekah was over an hour late to the ceremony after arriving in a gigantic bright pink Hummer limo.

The 39-year-old wore the giant white gown with a skirt constructed of eight large hoops - while the snowy fabric was studded with Swarovski crystals.

A huge crystal flower embellished one side of the bodice with another above the hip.

Rebekah wore a sparkling tiara with matching necklace and drop earrings while her four bridesmaids wore huge pink dresses with sparkling tiaras and tulle skirts.

 The happy couple are going to live in Coventry for a year before moving on
7
The happy couple are going to live in Coventry for a year before moving on
 They hired actors dressed up as Mickey and Minnie Mouse to dance with the kids at the reception
7
They hired actors dressed up as Mickey and Minnie Mouse to dance with the kids at the reception

The celebration then moved on to the Moseley Social Club in Birmingham, where the hall was decorated pink and silver with real goldfish centrepieces and pink feathers.

The newlyweds also hired a dwarf who ran around the tables to the Benny Hill theme music and Mickey and Minnie Mouse were there to dance with guests.

And the couple did not stop there with the pair settling on two wedding cakes including a gigantic 3ft by 3ft princess castle which lights up as well as a Barbie doll cake.

Speaking after her big day, nine-and-a-half stone Rebekah said: "We had only been dating a year when we got engaged but us Gypsies are all about commitment. I told him if you want to be with me I need a ring, it's the Gypsy way.

"I was so excited for my big day. My entire life was leading up to that moment and I wanted to feel like a princess.

"I made sure everything about our big fat Gypsy wedding wedding was big and my dress weighs 10 stone.

"I designed it myself with the help of a Gypsy wedding dress maker and it is covered in Swarovski diamonds with eight big hoops including one which is made out of metal.

"It cuts into my waist and took 20 minutes to put on but it was definitely worth it."

Rebekah, who lives in Coventry, West Mids, met 42-year-old pub landlord Kevin, who is from Market Drayton, Shropshire, in September 2014 through friends and got engaged when he proposed a year later.

 And even paid for a dwarf to run around the venue to the Benny Hill theme music
7
 And even paid for a dwarf to run around the venue to the Benny Hill theme music
 And the icing on the cake...was two enormous cakes. One a princess castle and the other a Barbie doll cake
7
And the icing on the cake...was two enormous cakes. One a princess castle and the other a Barbie doll cake

Now they're married, the pair, who have never lived together or been intimate, plan to live in Coventry for a year before moving on.

Rebekah said she was in full "bride mode" planning her day after getting engaged and even fired two bridesmaids just weeks before her big day.

She added: "One of them was my cousin and she wasn't up to it and didn't have the time so I got rid of her and we aren't talking now.

"The other was a friend and she was too much of a drama queen and wanted it all to be about her.

"Two of my other cousins said if she turns up we will punch her and no-one wanted to sit by her so I had to get rid of her too."

Rebekah has an 18-year-old son and two daughters aged 15 and 10 - who were her bridesmaids - from a previous relationship, while Kevin - who is not a traveller - has two girls aged 14 and 12.

Topics