A romantic canoe ride for the superstar and his bride

By Shelley Waugh

Dances With Wolves star Kevin Costner, 49, and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner, 30, were married on September 25 at Costner’s 165-acre ranch estate in a ceremony set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains in Aspen, Colorado.  Baumgartner wore a gown designed by Monique Lhuillier of LosAngeles, and a beaded veil; Costner wore Ralph Lauren. He rode in on a horse-drawn carriage while she travelled in a pick-up truck. The pair tied the knot by a stream. After the ceremony the actor took his bride for a romantic canoe ride. The bride didn't change out of her wedding gown. They canoe all the time, and Kevin felt it was their thing to do.
  The Western-themed nuptials hosted 300 friends and family under a tent nearby. The multi-day celebration began on Friday, with a rehearsal dinner held at the ranch. In attendance were Oprah Winfrey, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, and Jack Nicholson. Celebrity guests also included Tim Allen, Don Johnson and Costner's Dances With Wolves co-star Mary McDonnell Unconventional activities included cattle-roping, fishing contests and a tractor pull.
  They announced their plans to wed in June 2003. They met about 10 years ago on a golf course where they had a rather extensive conversation and then they didn't see each other for six years until they met at a restaurant opening and reconnected ... they've been together ever since.
  Costner proposed to Baumgartner last summer in a really romantic and Costner-esque way. He decorated their bedroom with rose petals from roses he had picked from their garden, and got down on his knee and presented her with an understated but beautiful ring from the 19th century.
  The Hollywood actor and his bride honeymooned in Scotland, where the star, who played an ageing golf professional in the 1996 film Tin Cup, and his new spouse, travelled to the Dunhill Links Championship at the historic St Andrews course. Other famous faces in the tournament included Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant and Michael Douglas.
  It was the groom's second trip down the aisle, the bride's first. Costner’s marriage to Cindy Silva, his wife of 16 years, ended in 1994. The exes share Costner’s three children, Annie, Lily and Joe.
  In addition to Dances With Wolves, (1990) which won seven Oscars, Costner's movie credits include JFK (1991); Bull Durham (1988); The Untouchables (1987); and Field of Dreams (1989).