A couple have reportedly had the ‘most expensive’ gypsy wedding in history, hosted at an iconic five-star London venue – and it was all paid for by the bride’s family, with no expense spared
A traveller bride and groom have left people in awe with their lavish wedding.
With three wedding dresses, 12 bridesmaids, a horse-drawn carriage, a fanfare in the church and the luxurious ceremony taking place at the swanky Dorchester Hotel in front of 350 wedding guests – it’s said to be one of the “most expensive traveller weddings ever”.
Louise Durant, 21, tied the knot with her partner Billy Maguire, 22, at the iconic London five-star venue alongside her 12 bridesmaids in matching dresses. The huge bill, reportedly £250,000, was footed by the bride’s parents, and the bride said the extraordinary day was “more than a dream come true”.
The young couple, who work for the family’s holiday and lettings business, said their ‘I do’s’ in the luxurious Mayfair hotel which was kitted out with a winter wonderland theme in December – where room hire can start at £10,000.
The bride also had three different dresses for the day and said it was beyond her “wildest imagination,” according to Mail Online, which her family had been saving up to do, taking them two years. Making sure there was no expense spared, her parents haven’t confirmed how much they truly spent, but said it was “well over £100,000” and didn’t hesitate when asked if it was over £250,000.
The setting was kitted out with glittering decor, white flowers, candles, icy blue lights and a stunning Christmas tree. The dancefloor contained a large disco ball, which gave the illusion of an ice rink, and each table was decorated with snow globes and Christmas cracker party favours with Bible readings in. Guests at the wedding compared Louise to a princess who looked extremely glamorous in an ivory-structured dress, and many people online said it looked like a royal wedding.
Louise and Billy live in Yorkshire and have been together for four years, before they tied the knot on December 14. The ceremony took place at St John’s Church in Hyde park, where guests were picked up in four double-decker buses. The bride and her 12 bridesmaids were then taken there in a horse-drawn carriage from The Dorchester.
As she entered the church, music was played from the London Fanfare Trumpets, who had dressed for the ceremony to look like Coldstream Guards and after the hour-long service, guests were then taken to The Dorchester. Guests were treated to a three-course meal of mushroom soup, a Christmas turkey dinner and sticky toffee pudding with the couple’s initials and the date of the wedding written in chocolate sauce.
“We had family from all corners of the UK, it was brilliant to see everyone. I had the best bridesmaids. The staff at the Dorchester were incredible, they helped make our big day all the more memorable. These are memories that will last a lifetime,” the bride gushed. While her mother Vicky, who lives in Leicestershire, said the whole family had “chipped in” to make the couple’s dream wedding happen.
Vicky further told Mail Online: “To be honest I couldn’t begin to total up the cost, definitely over £100,000. As much as a quarter of a million pounds? It’s possible, but it was all worth it for such a magical day with memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Louise is our only daughter, you can’t put a price tag on that and so no expense was spared.”
She said they are all members of the traveller community and “proud to be” and said everyone came by train, car, or plane and had an “unbelievable time”.
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