World Weddings

An incredible insight into six tales of love around the world comes to BBC Two, all influenced by dramatic events and life-changing choices.

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 4 OCTOBER, 2005 Twin towns linked for love

The Bridegrooms

The men of the Greek village of Sugar Town have a serious problem: all the young women left and got married to city boys.

Their cunning mayor - in the hope of getting re-elected - contacts the mayor of a Russian village, who gathers some young women looking for foreign husbands.

Against the odds and local traditions which frown upon mixed marriages, the men from Sugar Town set out on a great journey to meet these potential suitors.

Director: Kimon Tsakiris
Producer: Rea Apostolides

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST, 2005 Marriage and the Mob

Marriage and the Mob

Guiseppe, just 18 years old, is a boxer and former drugs dealer for "the mob".

In order to marry his sweetheart he is turning his back on the secret and dangerous world of the modern Camorra, the Neapolitan version of the Mafia.

The brutal Camorra war has been tearing Naples apart, but will it do the same to Guiseppe and his fiancée?

Producer/director: Benito Montorio

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2005 The hidden wives of Turkey What you said on the issues raised in The Second Wife

The Second Wife

Resat lives in a small Kurdish village in south east Turkey with his beautiful wife and three children, one just a week old.

But now he is determined to take a second wife.

To do so he must build her a new home and pay a good price for her.

Polygamy is common in this region of Turkey, but as the country negotiates entry to the European Union, it is a way of life the authorities are not keen to promote.

Director: Nick Read
Producer: Mahmut Kaya

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER, 2005 Costly love in modern Estonia What you said on the issues raised in Baltic Brides

Baltic Brides

Siiri and Andrus are in love, but like many young couples in Estonia they do not have enough money to get married.

So when a local radio station launches a competition promising the winner the wedding of their dreams, they jump at the chance.

But competition is fierce as dozens of young, beautiful couples battle for the prize, worth twice the average Estonian salary.

Can Siiri and Andrus convince the panel of judges their relationship is the most worthy?

Producer/director: Barbara Arvanitidis

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER, 2005 Unorthodox weddings dividing Israelis What you said on the issues raised in Unorthodox Vows

Unorthodox Vows

Acupuncturist, Irit, and professional clown, Eli, are having a Jewish Reform wedding.

Although recognised in Britain and the US, Reform weddings are controversial in Israel.

In fact in Israel, the only wedding that is legally recognized for Jews in Israel is the Orthodox ceremony. Irit must declare she is a virgin, she must not talk during the ceremony and she cannot sign her own wedding contract.

To make matters worse for the couple, Eli's strict Orthodox parents are threatening not to attend their own son's wedding.

Producer/director and editor: Suzie Brand

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BBC TWO: 2200 BST (UK) TUESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 2005 Love bridges Dutch racial divide

Game of Two Halves

Mohammed Allach is the most famous Muslim footballer in The Netherlands.

But this traditionally tolerant country has been gripped by simmering racial tension since the murder of controversial filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim fundamentalist.

The tough-tackling defender has been transformed into a spokesman for tolerant Islam.

And his marriage to his white Dutch fiancée, Sanne, has become an example of Dutch racial tolerance.

Producer/director: Ivan O'Mahoney

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Series producer: Sam Bagnall
Executive producer: Karen O'Connor