Hollywood star Kristen Stewart crashes Winnipeg wedding

By Teghan Beaudette, From CBC News

Kirsten and Kayleigh Jennings welcomed big stars to their reception at Pizzeria Gusto

Two Winnipeg brides got a bit of a surprise this weekend when Hollywood star Kristen Stewart crashed their wedding.

Kirsten and Kayleigh Jennings tied the knot Saturday in a backyard in River Heights

“It was kind of touch-and-go because on Saturday we had those torrential downpours. The backyard had all those beautiful white chairs set up, and we had 90 people in the backyard and we didn’t know if we were going to do the ceremony,” she said. “We ended up just going for it.”

A Dixie-land style band then led guests to Pizzeria Gusto, which the couple had rented out for their reception. At about 10 p.m., Kirsten Jennings said restaurant management called the couple over to chat.

“The owner came up to me, and he said, ‘Hey, is it OK if Kristen Stewart and her girlfriend Stella [Maxwell] come and have a few drinks with you guys?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, totally! Yeah, no problem. Um, who is that?'” she said.

Stewart has been in Winnipeg recently shooting a movie, and Kirsten said Pizzeria Gusto’s owner had helped out at an event for the star recently.

“I told Kir, ‘Hey, let’s just treat them as random guests. Let’s just treat them with kindness — southern hospitality. Winnipeg hospitality,'” said Kayleigh, who is from Oklahoma.

About 30 minutes later, Stewart and her Victoria’s Secret model girlfriend Stella Maxwell showed up.

“We got to be formally introduced before they came in and partied with us. We got a chance to shake her hand and shake Stella’s hand,” said Kayleigh. “I actually wasn’t as star-struck as I thought I would be.”

Kirsten and Kayleigh said it was a little weird having strangers at their wedding, but they definitely didn’t steal the show and were fun guests.

“They looked just like two normal girls. They look a little Hollywood, but if we didn’t know who they were, I don’t know if I would have known,” said Kirsten. “We said ‘Hey, you know. Come on and meet your guests and, you know, don’t segregate yourselves. Come and party.”

Stewart and Maxwell drank, danced and even requested songs.

“She was probably there [from] 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.,” said Kirsten. “There were only a few people who were star-struck. My Aunt Linda was extremely excited.”

Kirsten and Kayleigh have been together since 2010, when they met while bartending in the Cayman Islands.

Kirsten was from Winnipeg and Kayleigh from Oklahoma, and when they decided to leave the Cayman Islands they had limited options.

“We had a really hard time getting into the States because same-sex marriage wasn’t approved federally until 2013, and this was in 2012. Our lawyer told us to come up to Canada and get degrees,” she said.

The pair did just that — both graduated in April, and they planned their wedding in just a few months.

Next, though, the couple plan to move to Austin, Texas, because Winnipeg is “way too cold.”

IMAGES:
Kirsten and Kayleigh Jennings met in 2010 and got married on Saturday. (Courtesy Kayleigh Jennings)
NY Special Screening of “Personal Shopper” – Actress Kristen Stewart is in Winnipeg shooting a movie. (Evan Agostini/The Associated Press)
Kirsten (centre) and Kayleigh (left) Jennings were surprised by Hollywood star Kristen Stewart (right) at their wedding on Saturday in Winnipeg. (Instagram )

For more on this story go to: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/hollywood-star-kristen-stewart-crashes-winnipeg-wedding-1.4219670