Dennis Quaid & Kimberly Buffington: July 4, 2004
"The wedding kiss lasted until sunset," says Quaid pal James. "Dennis is the happiest I've ever seen him." Photo by: courtesy dennis quaid / AP |
A month ago, the love Dennis Quaid felt for Austin real estate agent Kimberly Buffington was just a twinkle in his eye. Make that a truckload of twinkles – reflected in the three-carat trilliant-cut canary diamond he picked up while filming
The Flight of the Phoenix in Africa early this year. In June Quaid, 50, and Buffington, 32, met up with her longtime friends jewelry designers Anthony Camargo and David Nakard Armstrong and made plans to turn the rock into an engagement ring. "It is very unique and special," says Camargo, "so we said, 'Let's glorify it.' "
And so they did – creating Buffington's engagement ring as well as the platinum-and-diamond bands that she and Quaid exchanged in a July 4 ceremony that was equally, if more quietly, glorious. Under the midday sun, Buffington, Quaid, Quaid's son with ex-wife Meg Ryan, Jack, 12, nine guests and the couple's five dogs hiked to the top of a hill on Quaid's 500-acre Montana ranch. There Buffington, who met Quaid in March of 2003 when his band, the Sharks, played in Austin, faced her groom in a white lace dress, holding flowers he had picked. During the ceremony "in God's cathedral," says Quaid's friend and bandmate Jamie James, best man Jack spoke, and both Quaid and Buffington recited their own vows. Everyone cried, says James, "including the dogs."
Afterward the group drove back to Quaid's house for dinner, toasts and fireworks. "I was so happy for Dennis. Kimberly is so sweet," says James. "It was beyond amazing and perfect. It was just pure love."
Michelle Branch & Teddy Landau: June 2004
Photo by: jennifer graylock / JPI |
Maybe it was something in the amps. Or maybe it was just that after laying claim to a platinum-selling CD, a Grammy, an MTV Video Music award and a gig touring with pal Sheryl Crow by age 19, there wasn't much else exciting left to do. In any case, shortly before turning 21 on July 2, Michelle Branch – who a year ago told PEOPLE she didn't have any interest in dating because "I don't have time" – joined such stars as Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes and Brandy and married young. The lucky guy? Her bass player, Teddy Landau, 39, who has toured with her for more than a year. The couple are keeping wedding details secret "for privacy," says a source close to Branch, who adds simply, "They seem very happy together."
• By MICHELLE TAUBER, KAREN S. SCHNEIDER and JASON LYNCH. ULRICA WIHLBORG and JULIE JORDAN in Los Angeles, ALICIA DENNIS in Austin, LAUREN COMANDER in Chicago, PRAXILLA TRABATTONI in Capri
