When Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow tied the knot, they did so in secrecy – but also in style. The couple plighted their troth in front of a judge at the exclusive San Ysidro ranch, near Santa Barbara in California.
A favourite with love-struck Hollywood stars – J Lo and Ben Affleck apparently considered it for their nuptials – the ranch once played host to John F Kennedy, who honeymooned in one of its cottages. Thespian duo Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh also celebrated their wedding there, presumably enchanted by its log fires and sumptuous four poster beds.
Expectant mum Gwyneth and her new husband spent just a few hours at San Ysidro, however, before jetting off to Mexico's Baja Peninsula for their honeymoon. There, they booked into the Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a luxurious resort situated between the azure waters of the Sea of Cortez and rugged mountains at the southernmost foot of the peninsula.
The stunning, 61-suite complex, which the celebrity pair reportedly rented out in its entirety for the week, is built in the white adobe-style architecture of the region and furnished with brightly coloured local handicrafts and artworks. Its luxuriously appointed suites, which feature marble showers and traditional tile floors, have authentic adobe fireplaces as well a private patio on which to share a candlit supper while enjoying the sunset. Some terraces also have a rooftop Jacuzzi, allowing bathers to enjoy a romantic soak together in the moonlight.
And when hunger pangs finally overcome passion, the resort’s two restaurants serve a delicious interpretation of local cuisine.
Should Chris and his new bride tire of lounging in the sun on the white sand beaches, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy, such as a round of golf on the resort’s world-class course, deep sea fishing and a host of water sports. Gwyneth, meanwhile, may prefer to leave the active stuff to her man and instead avail herself of the facilities offered by the resort’s health and beauty spa.
