Barbara Bush gets married in an 'intimate' ceremony in Maine

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #1

[h=2]Surprise! Barbara Bush gets married in an 'intimate' ceremony in Maine, where she was walked down the aisle by a proud George W. - after keeping her FIVE-WEEK engagement under wraps[/h]

• Barbara, 36, married Craig Louis Coyne, 37, at the family compound in Walker Point, Kennebunkport, in a small wedding with just a few family and friends
• The bride wore a custom Vera Wang gown and was walked down the aisle by a beaming George W. Bush, 72
• Her 94-year-old grandfather, George H.W., was also a part of the celebration
• Babara's wedding comes just six months after her grandmother, former first lady Barbara Bush, passed away
• The family had not previously announced Barbara's engagement to Craig, a writer who is originally from Georgia, and graduated from Vanderbilt
• Craig has been living in Los Angeles for much of their relationship, however the pair are planning to live in New York, where Barbara is currently based
• The groom's parents, Darlene, 63, and Edward James Jr., 65., were both in attendance at the wedding, as was his brother Edward James III, 38, who served as the best man, and his sister Kathleen, 32
• Barbara and her groom were set up on a blind date in November last year by friends and officially became an item by New Year's Eve; Craig proposed during a family gathering in Maine

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #2

Barbara Bush is married.
The 36-year-old daughter of former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura tied the knot in an 'intimate' ceremony at the family's estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, after keeping her five-week engagement to writer and Vanderbilt graduate Craig Louis Coyne, 37, a closely-guarded secret.
A beaming George W. proudly walked his daughter down the aisle at the event, where the bride wowed in a stunning custom Vera Wang gown, while family members including her twin sister Jenna and her grandfather George H. W., watched on.

+15

Celebration! Barbara Bush and fiance Craig Louis Coyne tied the knot at her family's Maine estate over the weekend (pictured), after keeping their engagement under wraps

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #3

+15

Family: Barbara's twin sister Jenna Bush Hager (second from left), 36, was Barbara's matron of honor. Her daughters Mila (front, left), five, and Poppy (front, right), three, were both flower girls. Pictured left is Jenna's husband Henry Chase Hager, 40, center are Laura Bush, 71, and George W. Bush, 72

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #4

+15

Proud father: A beaming George Bush walked Barbara down the aisle during the intimate ceremony that took place at the family's compound in Maine

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #5

+15

Together: Barbara posed for a sweet photo with her grandfather George H. W. Bush, 94

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #6

The wedding, which was officiated by Barbara's aunt, Dorothy Bush Koch, comes just six months after Barbara's grandmother, and namesake, former first lady Barbara Bush, passed away.
Barbara paid tribute to her late grandmother by wearing a piece of her jewelry - a bracelet that had been given to her by George H. W. on their 70th wedding anniversary - as her 'something borrowed'.
Both of Barbara's nieces, five-year-old Mila and three-year-old Poppy, the daughters of Barbara's twin sister Jenna, participated in the ceremony as flower girls, with Poppy also acting as the ring bearer - and stealing the show in the process.
'Poppy realized that the box was empty so she ran to the front and she kept holding it open, like 'This is fake, this is fake,'' Jenna told her Today colleagues on Monday morning over the phone. 'And at one point we were all praying and Poppy ran and almost tackled Barbara and gave her a huge hug.'
Barbara and her groom wanted to tie the knot in Maine because that is where Barbara's grandfather resides, Jenna told Today.
The bride's twin sister served as matron of honor during Barbara's nuptials - a natural gesture, given that Barbara was her maid of honor when Jenna tied the knot with Henry Chase Hager, now 40, in 2008.
'I'm crying 24 hours later,' Jenna said on Today on Monday. 'There were so many happy tears.'
The matron of honor said the 'elusive' bride and her groom kept the ceremony on the down-low and focused on making it a family occasion.
'It was a very secret wedding, a little bit like my elusive sister,' Jenna added between tears. 'But also, just family in a place that means family love, and it was just beautiful.'
Romantically, Craig proposed in the same spot where Barbara's grandparents got engaged. The groom, too, had his sibling by his side during the ceremony: his brother Edward Coyne III served as his best man, while his parents, Darlene, 63, and Edward James Jr., 65, were also in attendance - as was his sister Kathleen, 32, who is known as Katie.

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #7

+15

Reunited: The bride and groom (center) posed for a group photo with their loved ones, including Laura, George H.W., George W., Jenna, Henry, Barbara's cousin Georgia Kotch (back row, second from right), as well as some of Craig's family members. Pictured back row, right is Craig's brother Edward Coyne III, who served as the groom's best man, while his mother Darlene, 63, is pictured in the blue dress sitting next to George W., and his sister Katie, 32, is pictured back row, third from left

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #8

+15

Touching moment: Jenna and Barbara are known to be especially close, and Jenna served as her twin's Matron of Honor, after Barbara served as hers at her 2008 wedding to Henry Hager, now 40

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #9

+15

Family affair: The ceremony was incredibly intimate, with only a few family and friends present

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #10

+15

+15

Location: Barbara and her groom wanted to tie the knot in Maine because that is where Barbara's grandfather resides; the pair also got engaged at the same place that Barbara and George H.W. (pictured right) got engaged

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #11

Both Katie and Kathleen did readings during the ceremony.
Barbara and Craig are now planning to live in New York, which is where Barbara is based. For much of their relationship, the couple was doing long-distance because Craig was living in Los Angeles.
Jenna and Barbara's grandmother, who died in April this year, was honored during the reception when Jenna read a letter that George H. W. wrote her years ago.
'I ended with a letter that my grandfather wrote to my grandmother because I searched all the romantics and Shakespeare just wasn't doing it. He was sitting right next to me as I read it,' Jenna told Today.
Jenna paid tribute to her sister in an emotional Instagram post on Monday morning. She shared a photo of herself embracing her sister and wrote next to the shot: 'Happy tears, heart exploding as I watched this beautiful girl get married in the place that means love and family. I'm so proud to be this beauty's sister.'
Barbara's father also took to social media to mark the happy occasion.
He shared a photo of himself walking Barbara down the aisle and wrote: 'Barbara is named for a unique and strong woman - and rightly so, because she is unique and strong. @laurawbush and I are so proud of our compassionate, daring, fierce, kind, intelligent, loving daughter. And we're thrilled to welcome Craig Coyne to our family.'
George W. previously opened up about his daughter's discreet personality in a segment for Today that aired again on Monday to mark Barbara's nuptials. He recounted how Barbara and Jenna once joined their grandfather for a political rally in Texas around the age of three, and how the sisters' respective personalities were clearly showing even at such a young age.
'Barbara was an observer, Jenna was a participant. Barbara is more reserved and Jenna is pretty outgoing. It was a reflection of their little personalities,' he said.
Jenna previously paid tribute to her sister on the show as well, praising Barbara's 'huge heart' and caring personality. 'She's gentle, she's creative, she's a great artist, and she's brilliant,' Jenna said in the archive segment.
The bride wore a pair of earrings from Jenna as her 'something blue' during the ceremony.

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #12

+15

+15

Aftermath: On Monday morning, Jenna took to Instagram to share photos of Mila (left) with George H.W.'s service dog Sully, and Poppy (right) at the family's Maine compound

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #13

+15

+15

Memories: Jenna posted photos of the residence the day after the ceremony, along with the words: 'Remnants of a beautiful night'

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #14

+15

Sisters: Jenna (pictured left with Barbara, right, in an Instagram shot) was clearly moved when she discussed the wedding with her Today colleagues on the phone on Monday morning

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #15

+15

Looking back: George W. previously told Today how Barbara and Jenna joined their grandfather on the campaign trail around the age of three, and how Barbara already displayed a more reserved personality than her sister

 

superbeets

New member

Joined

Nov 10, 2010

Messages

78,682

Tokens

• Oct 8, 2018

• #16

Barbara and Craig were set up on a blind date by friends in November last year and officially became an item by New Year's Eve. Craig proposed to Barbara just five weeks before they tied the knot, during a family gathering in Maine.
'It's just been a very sweet romance,' Barbara told People. 'And we've been long-distance for most of it - he's been in LA and I've been in New York - but we've gotten to spend a lot of time together.'
Sweetly, George H. W.'s service dog Sully, a yellow Labrador who has been at the former president's side since June, attended the ceremony as well. A photo of Sully during the ceremony was posted on his Instagram account, with a caption reading: 'Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. I've never seen my best friend so happy.'
[h=3]Who is Craig Coyne, the man who stole Barbara Bush's heart?[/h]The world was stunned when former first daughter Barbara announced that she had wed in an intimate ceremony over the weekend - but just who exactly is the man lucky enough to win her hand in marriage
According to a statement from the Bush family, Craig Louis Coyne, 37, is a writer who originally hails from Georgia, and a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He is the son of Edward James Jr. and his wife Darlene, and has two siblings - older brother Edward James III, and a younger sister, Kathleen.
As well as boasting credentials as a writer however, Craig has also worked as an actor, appearing in a handful of movies, including Jarhead (2005) and Unlovable (2018), as well as the web series Lonelygirl15 (2006) according to his IMDB page.
Craig was cast by director Sam Mendes for Jarhead, which is based on the memoir of US Marine Anthony Swofford and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the lead.
The website for Craig's agent - Independent Talent - also reveals that he once worked as a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Pages in this position typically serve in their junior year of high school, meaning Craig likely worked as a page between 1997 and 1998, when Bill Clinton was in the White House.
Since turning his hand to writing, Craig has worked on a live-action show for Comedy Central, and an original series with Parks and Rec star Jim O’Heir, which is said to be in post-production.
The groom, who creates web content and series with producers located in Los Angeles and in the UK, has also written a play, Delusions of Grammar, which has him a spot in the selection of the 2016 William Inge Theatre Festival in Kansas.
Craig first met Barbara after the pair were set up on a blind date in November last year, and they then got engaged over the summer - in the same place that Barbara's grandfather popped the question.

​

Barbara has long been more reserved than her twin sister. While Jenna has 611,000 followers on her Instagram account and regularly shares snapshots of her family life with Today viewers, Barbara does not have an official account on the platform and has worked as the co-founder of Global Health Corps, a nonprofit focused on public health.
Meanwhile, Coyne is a writer and former actor who appeared in a handful of movies, including Jarhead (2005), and Unlovable (2018), as well as the web series Lonelygirl15 (2006).
Craig was cast by director Sam Mendes for Jarhead, which is based on the memoir of US Marine Anthony Swofford and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the lead.
Unlovable is an upcoming dramedy about a woman struggling with sex addiction.
The Vanderbilt University alumni considers himself the 'world's biggest Chick-Fil-A fan' according to a website for one of his films.
After graduating from Vanderbilt, the groom worked as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives before moving to Los Angeles.
Pages in this position typically serve in their junior year of high school, meaning Craig likely worked as a page between 1997 and 1998.
The president at the time was Bill Clinton, and Craig's new father-in-law George W. didn't enter the White House until January 2001.
As a writer, Craig has worked on a live-action show for Comedy Central, as well as an original series with Parks and Rec star Jim O'Heir called Ask Play, which he also directed and which is said to be in post-production.
The groom, who creates web content and series with producers located in Los Angeles and in the UK, has also written a play, Delusions of Grammar, which has him a spot in the selection of the 2016 William Inge Theatre Festival in Kansas.
Reports that Barbara might be getting ready to tie the knot first surfaced last week however - despite the family's best efforts to keep the ceremony a secret.
On Wednesday, Page Six reported that close friends and family of the bride and groom had been sent an invitation via Paperless Post to 'toast Barbara and Craig' at a Tribeca loft this coming Friday, just five days after the wedding took pace.
The gathering is reportedly being hosted by Jenna and her husband Henry, and guests were told of the dress code: 'Sequins highly encouraged to get your groove on.'
A friend of the couple said another party for 'only about 20 people' will then be held for just the close family and friends of Bush and Coyne on Saturday, however it is not known whether the source was in fact referring to Barbara's intimate wedding celebration.
Barbara turns 37 years old November 25 and less than two years ago the Greenwich Village resident was believed to be dating filmmaker Andrew Jenks.
The pair had been at a Rangers Game and Chris Gethard comedy show at the Lynn Redgrave Theater in December 2016.
She was reportedly seeing Ping-Pong club SPiN business partner, Franck Raharinosy prior to that and the venue was often the location of events she hosted.