COVER STORY

WHY CHRIS WASN’T AT GWYNETH’S WEDDING

10 hot stories, including why Chris wasn’t at Gwyneth’s wedding, we speak to Eugenie’s fiancé, your one-stop autumn updates and why we shouldn’t feel sorry for Strictly’s Katie Piper

AFTER GWYNETH PALTROW

announced in January that she was engaged to her producer boyfriend Brad Falchuk (complete with an Instagram snap of Brad and her ex-husband Chris Martin hanging out at brunch), we’ve all been wondering what their wedding would look like. Would Chris be there? Would he bring his girlfriend Dakota Johnson as his plus one? Would he actually walk his ex-wife down the aisle?

True to form, Gwyneth kept the details under wraps. Until last weekend, when Brad Falchuk was seen driving himself to her Hamptons home to join Steven Spielberg, Cameron Diaz, Rob Lowe and Robert Downey Jr for what Gwyneth described as her ‘first wedding’ (she eloped with Chris when they married in 2003).

Aerial shots above the actor’s home revealed two marquees, while insiders say a 17-piece live band played after the ceremony and guests were given personalised Goop gifts by the couple, who referred to themselves on the day as ‘the Faltrows’.

‘ The theme replicated a rustic Italian vineyard and the entire marquee was decorated with candles and white and burgundy flowers on long wooden tables,’ said an insider. ‘ The ceremony was conducted under a chuppah to represent their Jewish roots, and they carried out various traditions such as the smashing of the glass and the drinking of the wine.

‘ The band played all their favourite songs until the early hours, with Steven Spielberg kickstarting the dancing and Robert Downey Jr doing some breakdancing – Gwyn and Brad were clapping and cheering him on.’

One person was notably absent, however. Despite reports that Chris would be present on the day, he skipped the event and instead appeared at a festival nearby in New York, with Dakota. But Grazia can exclusively reveal that he was present at a rehearsal dinner the evening before the nuptuals, and that Gwyneth paid tribute to him in a ‘very touching’ speech at her reception.

So what was really behind the no-show? ‘It was Brad’s time, and Chris didn’t want to distract from that,’ said a second source. ‘Gwyneth made a speech in which she thanked Chris despite him not being there and said she felt lucky to have such a wonderful extended family. She said how much she and Brad appreciated his love and support. It was very emotional and Gwyneth was in tears at one point.

‘She also referred to her late father, Bruce, who she said she missed every day and revealed how part of the reason she fell in love with Brad was because he reminded her so much of her dad.’

For many, Chris’s absence was a sign that the couple’s very friendly post-divorce relationship may finally be coming to an end. ‘ There was a bittersweet air to the wedding without Chris there,’ confirmed our source. ‘Gwyneth considered asking him to do a speech and, of course, there was even talk of him walking her down the aisle. She’d always wanted Chris to be a part of the occasion – at one point, it was unthinkable that Chris wouldn’t attend her big day. But in the end it was a mutual decision that he wouldn’t be present. Chris had no intention of overshadowing their day, especially if Dakota came with him.

‘It’s finally become clear to Gwyneth that her modern family set-up with Chris was just getting a little too crowded for everyone involved. Brad, for one, is excited that they can finally move forward without him.’

THERE WAS A BITTERSWEET AIR TO THE DAY WITHOUT CHRIS THERE