December 31, 2008, Basildon, UK: Young Traveller couples at Dale Farm are hurrying to get married, before a court decision that could scatter families now living at the settlement in Southeast England.

A recent Guardian article reported on a rash of Traveller weddings, as residents of the Dale Farm site await a decision from the British Court of Appeals as to whether they can remain on their land.

According to the article, Nora Quilligan and Danny Sheridan married at Our Lady’s Catholic church in Essex earlier this month, and then travelled 25 miles into east London for their reception. As tensions have mounted over the pending eviction, Traveller weddings have been attacked and many local venues will not accept their bookings.

The Basildon District Council voted twice, in 2005 and 2007, to evict more than 90 Traveller families from Dale Farm, claiming they are living illegally and without planning permission. Those eviction orders were halted in May by Judge Andrew Collins of the British High Court. The Council has appealed his ruling, and a hearing was held Dec. 4.

A decision on the eviction appeal is expected sometime early next year.