An Irish traveller, who got married at 17, explained that she knew at the ceremony that she regretted her decision.
Rosanne’s parents didn’t want their daughter to marry so young so she caused a scandal by running away with her boyfriend, in order to force her family into giving their blessing.
To save he reputation after she spent the night with her boyfriend, the 17-year-old planned her wedding immediately.
She said: “I got engaged so quickly because I ran off didn’t I? If he went and asked properly the wedding wouldn’t have been till next year and I wanted to get married quicker than that and he did.”
The teen took a huge risk by running away.
She said: “I took a big huge massive risk doing it because a lot of girls would get dragged back home and then that’s it. No boy will go near them again.
“Because they’ll think there’s something wrong with the girl. They’ll be innocent and everything and they’ll think there’s something wrong with them.”
Rosanne explained that her mother has forgiven her but she suspected that she wouldn’t live down the stress of the situation.
She wore a traditional oversized wedding gown for the big day and travelled to the service in a white stretch limo.
Following the service she expressed regret at pushing her parents to allow her to marry so quickly.
She said: “It’s a shame that I went through all the hassle that I put my family through. I wouldn’t do it again.”
And her mum added: “I’ve cried out all my tears. I just hope the two of them will be very happy, I love them both very much.”
