Image 16 of 31
Romania, roma (gypsy) wedding.
20060924_gypsies_1186.jpg
On day two of the wedding celebrations Garoafa Mihai, aged 14, is given her dowry of over 100 gold Franz Josef coins by her family, worth approximately 30,000 USD, prior to her marriage to Florin 'Ciprian' Lulu, aged 13, in Sintesti, Romania, on Sunday, Sept. 24th 2006. Both are Roma (gypsies) from the village of Sintesti,15 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania. Their partnership was decided by their parents and not through love, and under Romanian law is illegal. The children will neither complete legal paperwork for the wedding, nor visit the local Romanian Orthodox church for a blessing. On her wedding day Garoafa wore approximately 30-40,000 USD of gold Franz Josef coins on her dress, part of the large dowry that she takes with her as she begins her married life. For the guests and for the people of the village another 30,000 USD of pigs, approximately 100, were killed to be eaten and given away as presents of food. Another 30,000 USD was spent on famous Roma musicians to come and sing 'manele' type music at the wedding extolling the wealth and status of their patrons for the weekend in their songs.

