Woman with traveller husband says does everything for him and can't go out without him

A Salford woman who met a traveller on Instagram and married him admits she's had to make sacrifices and 'what he says goes' as she does everything for him.

Holly Joyce met traveller husband Dougie online after the pair liked each others pictures on social media in 2019 and slid into each others DMs.

The couple didn't meet in person until March 2020 at the swanky San Carlo restaurant in Manchester.

After just a few hours, Dougie admitted he knew he would 'marry this woman', confessing that it was 'love at first sight'.

34-year-old Dougie believes in a traditional husband-wife dynamic, which can be considered outdated and patriarchal by many outside the community.

27-year-old Hollie was faced with the decision to give up her old life as she married into one of the most notorious traveller families in the UK when they wed in July last year at a lavish £60k ceremony at Gorton Monastery, Manchester.

While Dougie, a bare-knuckle fighter and owner of 3D Fight Club, had previous relationships with women outside of his the traveller community, Holly had never dated a traveller before.

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While he supports her decision to work, Holly is expected to put her family and household first - and make sure he's well looked after.

"Dougie expects the house to be perfect, and to be looked after when he comes home from work," Holly explained.

"He doesn't even make his own drinks. It's quite different to my past relationships and it took some getting used to at first, but he looks after me and provides for our family so I'm happy to do it.

"If he's happy, I'm happy."

Holly's family may have been hesitant at first at their daughter - with her dad Hugo, 72, who has sadly since passed away, particularly hesitant as as he was once a bare-knuckle fighter himself and knew the risks

But they were soon won over by Dougie's charm.

Holly has since immersed herself into the traveller community and embraced her new way of life.

"It's been a whirlwind that's turned into a fairy tale. The biggest difference being a traveller's wife is you must respect your husband - what he says goes," she said at the time they married.

The now mum-of-two continued: "He wouldn't want me out at parties without him, we'd always go together. He's the man, so he can go out if he wants, but I'm the woman so I can only go out with him.

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"I can go to the salon or out to the shops on my own, but he's very protective and worries about my safety if I'm out alone.

"I don't feel like I'm missing out because if I want to do something I just ask Dougie and we can do it together.

"I'd rather be with him anyway."

Dougie's high profile means he is often challenged to fights, but Holly worries too much to watch - opting to wait for him at home to celebrate with his favourite meal of spuds and cabbage waiting.

But despite his violent profession, Holly said that Dougie is really a family man and treats her 'like a princess'.

Want to know more about the traveller community? The Joyce Family Documentary is now available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Topics: News, UK News, TV And Film, Amazon

Amelia Jones