Kevin Costner’s ex, Christine Baumgartner, marries family friend in intimate wedding

Christine Baumgartner is officially off the market again. The 51-year-old handbag designer and ex-wife of Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner has tied the knot with financier Josh Connor — a man who, once upon a time, was a close friend of Costner himself.

The newlyweds said “I do” in a sunset ceremony on Saturday at the stunning Santa Ynez Ranch, a private vineyard in Santa Barbara, California. According to People, around 100 guests, including a mix of family, lifelong friends, and the couple’s children, gathered to celebrate their love story, which has quietly bloomed over the past year.

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A Sunset Ceremony Straight Out of a Movie

Guests described the atmosphere as “magical” and “intimate,” with golden light spilling over the rolling vineyard hills just as Baumgartner walked down the aisle. She wore a dreamy Mira Zwillinger gown featuring hand-embroidered flowers and a romantic sweetheart neckline. Later, she slipped into a chic, strapless white satin Lihi Hod dress for the evening reception.

Connor looked every bit the dashing groom in a tailored black tuxedo, keeping things classic yet modern. “It was magical — truly,” one guest told People. “The setting was gorgeous, but what made it special was the intimacy of it all. This wasn’t a big production. It was authentic, heartfelt, and so very them.”

Another guest added, “Christine and Josh were glowing. The joy and laughter were infectious, from the welcome celebration on Friday night to the last dance Saturday evening.”

From Neighbors to Newlyweds

Connor used to be neighbors with Baumgartner and Costner during the couple’s nearly two-decade marriage. When Baumgartner filed for divorce in May 2023 after 18 years together, Connor was unexpectedly pulled into the headlines.

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The two were first photographed together that July during a Hawaii getaway with Baumgartner’s three children — Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15 — whom she shares with Costner. At the time, her lawyer maintained that the two were “nothing more than friends.” 

But love clearly had other plans. By January 2024, Baumgartner and Connor were engaged after a romantic beach proposal in Santa Barbara. A source told People that the couple was “over the moon and excited for their future together.”

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Insiders previously claimed that Costner “had strong suspicions” about Christine and Josh’s closeness before their relationship became public. But sources close to Baumgartner say she feels she has nothing to apologize for. “Josh has been Christine’s rock throughout the divorce ordeal,” one insider shared. “If Kevin has a problem with that, that’s on him.”

After a year of public scrutiny, legal battles, and speculation, the designer has turned the page. Her intimate, laughter-filled wedding was about finding joy again.