Rob Lowe’s Son Matthew Marries Emily Markus in Star-Studded Santa Barbara Wedding

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026

Rob Lowe has a daughter-in-law. The actor’s eldest son, Matthew Lowe, 33, married Emily Markus on Saturday in an outdoor ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, Page Six reported, in a wedding that gathered Hollywood royalty and the Lowe family’s closest friends. Gwyneth Paltrow served as the officiant, and exclusive photos obtained by Page Six show a guest list that reads like an awards-show seating chart: Cameron Diaz, Adam Levine, Katy Perry, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña and Maria Shriver were all in attendance.

The couple said “I do” in front of family, friends and several famous faces, with Rob Lowe and his wife of 35 years, Sheryl Berkoff, seated in the front row alongside their younger son, John Owen Lowe, 30, according to Page Six.

02 The ceremony

The vows were exchanged on an expansive grass lawn, with Paltrow standing between the couple beneath a wedding arch draped in white fabric and covered in lush greenery. InStyle, which covered the officiant’s look in detail, described Paltrow’s gown as a long-sleeved white silk column blooming with vivid florals, cinched with a matching wide floral belt — a notably bridal-adjacent choice for a wedding guest turned officiant — finished with metallic gold strappy heels and her long platinum hair in middle-parted waves.

Parade reported the bride looked striking in a strapless gown covered in lace, a long veil trailing behind her, her blond hair worn loose around her shoulders, while the groom kept it classic in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie. The nuptials were said to be taking place at a private residence, Page Six reported.

The celebration appears to have started the night before. Markus took to her Instagram Stories ahead of the wedding with a sunset photo of tables set at the local eatery Bluewater Grill, festive flags strung overhead, writing atop the picture: “It’s wedding weekend eve!” according to Page Six.

03 A guest list like an awards show

The seating arrangements captured in Page Six’s exclusive photos tell the story of how deep the Lowe family’s Hollywood friendships run. Cameron Diaz sat beside Zoe Saldaña and her husband, Marco Perego-Saldaña. Katy Perry was spotted in the audience in front of Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo.

One row featured Maria Shriver in a burgundy dress alongside several of her children — Christina Schwarzenegger, Christopher Schwarzenegger and Patrick Schwarzenegger, who attended with his wife, Abby Champion — with Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt seated in the row behind them, Page Six reported. Chris Pratt was seated nearby, while Paltrow attended with her husband, Brad Falchuk, and was photographed alongside Rob and Berkoff.

The Lowe family turned out in force as well. Page Six reported that Rob’s brother, actor Chad Lowe, attended with his wife, producer Kim Painter, and their daughters Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10. Parade noted that Chris Pratt was seated next to Chad, a couple of rows behind Rob, Berkoff and John Owen.

04 The officiant

Having Paltrow guide the couple through their vows was, by every account, deeply personal. InStyle noted the Goop founder has been friends with Lowe since she was a teenager — more than 35 years — and previously spoke at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2015. People added that Paltrow, 52, met Berkoff as a teenager herself, when Berkoff did makeup for Paltrow’s mother, Blythe Danner.

For a ceremony held at a private residence, per Page Six, the choice of officiant underscored the day’s intimacy: not a hired celebrant, but one of the family’s oldest friends standing under the arch with them.

05 A bittersweet celebration

The joyful milestone arrived during a heartbreaking chapter for the Lowe family. Less than two weeks earlier, Fiona Lowe — the 13-year-old daughter of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter — died on September 29, Page Six reported. The family said in a statement to the outlet that they were “deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona,” describing her as “a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance,” and asking for prayers and privacy.

A source who spoke to People after Fiona’s death said of the brothers: “Rob and Chad are very close.” “Their family and friends have rallied around Chad and Kim. Everyone’s heartbroken,” the insider added.

Chad, Kim, Mabel and Nixie were photographed at Matthew’s wedding in what Parade described as their first public outing since Fiona’s death. Ahead of the ceremony, John Owen Lowe shared an Emily Dickinson poem on Instagram — “Hope is the thing with feathers” — following the loss, Page Six reported.

06 The couple’s story

Matthew and Emily’s road to Santa Barbara has been public in the way modern engagements are. The couple got engaged in the summer of 2025, with Emily sharing photos from the proposal on Instagram captioned, “I thought he was just tying his shoe,” Parade reported. Matthew shared his own set of romantic proposal photos, joking in his caption, “Lord of the rings,” according to People and TMZ.

Matthew, 33, is an investor and the elder of the two sons Rob Lowe shares with Berkoff, People reported. The couple’s own love story started on the set of 1990’s Bad Influence, and they wed in 1991; younger brother John Owen, 30, works as a writer and producer and was in attendance for his brother’s wedding, per Page Six.

As for grandchildren, Rob addressed the subject himself during a June appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show — yes, that Kelly Clarkson — saying he wants grandkids but admitting he’s not ready to embrace being called “grandpa,” People reported. Read our story on Clarkson’s own headline-making weekend for more on the host’s eventful Saturday.

It has been a busy season for star ceremonies: Simu Liu and Allison Hsu married in France earlier in the year, and T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s wedding plans made headlines of their own. But few guest lists this year have matched the one the Lowes assembled in Santa Barbara — a reminder, as Hollywood keeps proving, that some friendships really do last decades. Follow the latest entertainment news for more.