Christine Baumgartner, the former spouse of Hollywood star Kevin Costner, has tied the knot with Josh Connor, once a friend of Costner. Their wedding, which took place less than two years after Baumgartner’s split from Costner, marked a significant new chapter in her life.
The intimate ceremony unfolded on Saturday at the picturesque Santa Ynez Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Surrounded by 100 of their closest friends and family, the couple exchanged vows in a setting that guests described as both spectacular and heartfelt.
“It was magical—truly,” one guest shared with People. “The location was stunning, but what truly stood out was the intimate atmosphere. This wasn’t a grand spectacle; it was genuine and deeply personal. Everyone there felt they were witnessing something truly precious.”
The sense of joy was infectious throughout the weekend, as described by another attendee. “From the welcome celebration on Friday night to the last dance on Saturday evening, there was a palpable joy and laughter. Christine and Josh were radiant, and during the ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight,” the attendee recounted.
Friends of the newlyweds expressed their excitement about the couple’s future. “They are most looking forward to building an authentic, joy-filled life together,” a friend noted, emphasizing the couple’s focus on the peacefulness of this new beginning and the everyday moments that matter most.
‘They are embracing the peace of this new beginning – focusing on the everyday moments that matter most,’ the friend shared.
Kevin Costner’s ex-wife Christine Baumgartner has married his former friend Josh Connor, less than two years after splitting from the Hollywood icon
While exchanging vows, she wore a custom gown by Mira Zwillinger, before later slipping into a white satin strapless Lihi Hod dress.
News of Baumgartner’s engagement emerged in January.
Costner and Baumgartner split in May 2023 following a 19-year marriage and three children – with Baumgartner sparking up a romance with the financier, 49, that year.
The couple got engaged on January 26 during an intimate dinner in Santa Barbara, per People.
A source said: ‘It was about to rain, so almost no one else was on the beach when Josh got down on one knee.’
The couple’s loved ones were ‘not surprised’ by the proposal, with the source adding: ‘They spent Christmas together last month, where it all began. They are both over the moon and excited for their future together.’
The proposal comes 11 months after Costner and Baumgartner settled their acrimonious divorce battle following much legal wrangling over child and spousal support.
Costner and Baumgartner both sought joint custody of their three children and Baumgartner is receiving $63,209 a month in child support from her ex, a much lower amount than the $165,000 she had requested.
On Saturday, the couple walked down the aisle at the Santa Ynez Ranch in Santa Barbara, California , in front of 100 of their closest loved ones
‘It was magical – truly,’ a guest told People. ‘The setting was gorgeous, but what made it special was the intimacy of it all. This wasn’t a big production’
In an emotional court hearing in August 2024, Christine had argued that their children had grown accustomed to a life of luxury, claiming that their ‘affluent lifestyle’ was ‘in their DNA’.
Baumgartner previously wanted to overturn her prenuptial agreement so she could receive alimony.
Under the prenup she is entitled to a lump sum of $1.5million and a year’s worth of mortgage payments on a new home worth up to $1million.
However the judge rejected these protests and enforced the prenup.
Baumgartner filed for divorce from Costner in May 2023 citing irreconcilable differences.
A friend of the lovebirds added that they are most excited about ‘building an authentic, joy-filled life together’
The pair wed at Santa Ynez Ranch, a stunning event space in California
She was ordered to vacate Costner’s $145 million Carpinteria compound two months later.
The former couple welcomed three children during the course of their marriage: Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15.
Baumgartner was first spotted with her and Costner’s former neighbor Connor in July 2023 in Hawaii. He is also divorced and a father of three children.
Their romance was confirmed in January 2024.
However, it has since been reported that Costner had suspected that ‘something was going on between Christine and Josh,’ a source informed Us Weekly.
The insider also added that the new couple’s ‘close [bond] was a real elephant in the room.’
In December 2024 a source said Baumgartner and Connor are ‘so in love after she stayed in a tough marriage’ for ‘far too long’ for her children’s sake, per Page Six.
Baumgartner and Connor got engaged on January 26 during an intimate dinner in Santa Barbara, per People; seen in 2024
Baumgartner is said to be ‘beyond happy to be in a committed and loving relationship with someone that shares her same values’.
In December 2023, Costner was also linked to singer Jewel – three months after reaching a divorce settlement.
However, both Costner and Jewel have firmly denied any romantic involvement.
‘Jewel and I are friends – we’ve never gone out. Ever,’ Kevin clarified during a June 2024 appearance on The Howard Stern Show.
‘She’s special, and I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have.’
The source also told Us Weekly that since the Oscar-winner has also moved on, ‘Christine doesn’t think Kevin has anything to complain about.’
‘Josh has been Christine’s rock throughout the divorce ordeal. If Kevin has a problem with that, that’s on him,’ and also noted that the couple’s close friendship had turned romantic ‘relatively recently’.
Costner and Baumgartner split in May 2023 following a 19-year marriage; seen in 2019
The former couple welcomed three children during the course of their marriage: Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 15 – pictured in 2019
The duo pictured at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2022
Amid their divorce proceedings in August 2023, Costner claimed that he ‘does not know for a fact’ if Baumgartner had ‘extramarital’ affairs but stated that he had been faithful during their marriage.
In June 2024 Costner admitted his shock split was ‘powerful and hurt’ but said his seven children – the three youngest whom he had with Baumgartner – have kept him going.
Appearing on CBS Mornings with Gayle King to promote film Horizon, he said of the divorce: ‘That’s a crushing moment. It’s powerful, it hurt.
‘But I go forward, I have no choice. My children are looking at me so I can’t wilt like a daisy. I have to go forward, I have to continue to be who I am and to keep a special eye on who they are.’
When recently asked about how he has been navigating life after his ex filed for divorce in May 2023 after nearly 20 years of marriage, he replied: ‘You just do it.’
‘You just keep talking, you keep coaching [the kids], you keep interested in what they’re interested in,’ he continued. ‘I had to.’
