Katy Collins was just like any bride to be. Excited, nervous and anxious for her big day. Her partner seemed pretty confident about the whole process and they had already planned out the big day, picked out their clothes and apparently even paid the bills. Then, like so many things in life, out of the blue, her fiance simply dropped the whole thing, told her he had been seeing another woman and left her – practically overnight!

As you can imagine, Katy was pretty beaten up bout the whole thing, but being a strong, confident and independent woman – she decided to move on with her life in the most positive way. Traveling!

So the young PR consultant decided to literally sell everything that she owned (her house, car and everything else that couldn’t fit in a backpack) and hit the road. After being jilted by her fiance’, she wanted to experience all the things she never would have had she got married and traveling worked perfectly for her.

She spent most of her time trekking through the Himalayas, climbing up volcanoes in Chile and spending a few nights in a Thai jungle! Talk about an adventure! After a short while, her story went viral and the internet loved her for it.

Since ending her journey, Katy has gone on to publish a book called The Lonely Hearts Travel Club which sold quite a number of copies. She was even lucky enough to meet a new man in her life – a reporter named John Skiddle. Since meeting, the two have gone on to get married.

They had a quiet and intimate ceremony and have fallen deeply in love since then. Katy has confirmed that she is currently expecting her first child soon. So how’s that for revenge? She reclaimed her life, had a blast of time traveling, authored a book, and even managed to marry someone she loves! Well done!

The frontman of British rock band Coldplay, Chris Martin met Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2002 when the band was touring to promote their studio album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. At that time, Paltrow was 30 while Martin was 25 years old.

The singer asked her to come backstage after his shows in Los Angeles. In April 2013, during her Iron Man 3 press tour, Paltrow revealed to reporters that dating rumors were flying around when, in reality, the pair didn’t even know each other yet.

Interestingly enough, this all started because Chris Martin was being petty. During his concert in Los Angeles, he was expecting the presence of another actress who didn’t show up. Annoyed, he dedicated the show to his “girlfriend,” Paltrow.

She had no clue what was going on as they hadn’t met each other. People started writing about it and this forced Paltrow to attend one of his concerts. Martin’s assistant approached her to go backstage and say “hi” to him — and that’s where it all began…

Martin and Paltrow’s courtship was anything but easy. Bruce, Paltrow’s father, passed away in October 2002, and it had only been a few weeks since she had started dating the rocker. For the following few months, the actress suffered from depression, although she found a supportive figure in Martin.

Many of Coldplay’s songs from the X&Y album were written for his beloved after her father’s passing, including the soulful ballad, “Fix You.” Paltrow subsequently took a break from Hollywood and followed her boyfriend’s band on a six-month world tour.

When asked about what attracted her to Martin, Gwyneth was quick to say that it’s their similar sense of humor. They laughed at the same things, which only brought them closer together.

Although not a fan of PDA, Martin spoke about his relationship with Paltrow on the CBS Sunday Morning, calling it the only serious relationship he had ever been in. He joked about how he was a loser prior to going out with the Oscar winner and compared it to “winning the lottery.”

Paltrow and Martin preferred to keep their relationship under wraps, so the press was always interested in whatever crumbs they could get about the busy couple. Luckily for them, good news arrived in December of 2003, when the couple announced that they were expecting their first child.

This wasn’t even the whole story. Something even bigger would follow about two days later, leaving the shippers of this adorable duo stunned.

According to People, Martin and Paltrow then tied the knot on December 5th of 2003 in Southern California — immediately after running to the Santa Barbara County courthouse to get their marriage license. This is a rather common stunt between Hollywood celebs, so it was expected that they would keep it intimate.

However, the wedding was so small that even the newlyweds’ family members weren’t seen attending it. The couple looked so giddy and happy being together, ready to welcome their first child to the world.

At the age of 31, Paltrow gave birth to her first child with hubby Chris Martin on May 14th, 2004. They named their daughter Apple Blythe Alison Martin, as proposed by the father.

An official statement was revealed through Martin’s spokesman in which they wrote that they were ecstatic and over the moon to have been blessed with a baby girl. The couple was showered with blessings and well wishes from fans and media all over the world.

Being the firstborn means having a special place in the family’s heart. Apple is a big daddy’s girl and Martin loves her to bits. Much like any singer would, father Martin knew he had to write something magical for his little darling.

Coldplay made a song titled “The Nappies,” which was inspired by Apple’s birth. In fact, her father penned another song — “Speed of Sound” — right after she was born to express his joy and awe at becoming a dad.

The Paltrow-Martin family expanded faster than people had expected when the actress gave birth to their son on April 9th, 2006. They named their second child Moses Bruce Martin. While the family was rejoicing the arrival of the second, Paltrow was secretly suffering.

Although nothing was revealed after the first few months of the birth, the Academy Award-winning actress later opened up about fighting postpartum depression after Moses was born. Thankfully, she recovered with time, but that was enough to cause some issues.

It seemed like the Paltrow-Martin family couldn’t catch a break. On multiple occasions, Paltrow mentioned that she always wanted a third child. Even her children would urge her to bring them a younger sibling. In one particular interview from 2003 with The Mail, Paltrow revealed that, sadly, she had miscarried with her third.

No dates or times were confirmed. In this very interview, the blonde bombshell hinted at marriage trouble but was also all praises about her husband, Martin, as a “co-parent.”

These little issues and troubles accumulated into something much larger within a few short months, and in March 2014, the pair announced that after 10 years together, they would be separating. It was announced on Paltrow’s website, Goop, where the split was referred to “conscious uncoupling.”

The post also walked the readers through how the pair had tried making it work for an entire year before deciding that it was over. They ended with the comment that although they still loved each other, they would go their own ways.

Fans were heartbroken once the news of the separation hit the air. They were curious as to what fueled the split and multiple sources had one answer in common — Paltrow’s severe case of postpartum depression after the birth of Moses.

Though the actress couldn’t recognize it at first, her then-husband Chris Martin was the one who convinced her to go to the doctor where she was officially diagnosed with the condition. Years later, the ex-couple admitted that it was her post-partum that sent the actress spiraling, eventually causing the split.

Even though the once lovebirds chose to end this, they were still unified on one topic — they loved their family more than life itself and would continue to be one until the end of time. Apparently, the split brought them closer in more ways than one.

Paltrow and Martin acknowledged that, before partners, they were parents to two wonderful kids who they wanted to give the best. The couple also hoped the media would let them have their matters dissolved privately, just like it had been the entire time.

Two years after they had separated, Paltrow and Martin finally made the split official. The pair had spent more than a decade together, keeping their relationship as private as possible, and managed to build a healthy family together.

Co-parenting is hard enough as is when you’re an average duo trying to make time for your lives apart as well as the kids, but how would it be as celebrities, trying to hold together a family after going through a separation?

In contrast to how a breakup usually is — messy, filled with spite and anger — the last moments of Paltrow and Martin split rather peacefully. The actress recalled this as she went over their essay that was released on her Goop blog.

It was her 38th birthday and she was all cuddled up with her then-husband in the Tuscan countryside. Despite the beauty of fall wrapping them in a cozy embrace, she knew that with all the hand-holding and long walks, they had fallen out of love.

After desperate attempts to make the marriage work, the couple officially split in 2016. Fans were stunned, the media were puzzled — they were such a picture-perfect couple. Although none of them carried the guilt associated with their separation, Paltrow claims that she felt like a huge “failure” after going through with it.

Such events are extremely tough and delicate, and to consider oneself the party at fault can only exacerbate the pain and regret. However, things weren’t all that great on the other end, as Martin wasn’t okay either.

In addition to one side of the relationship feeling like a “failure,” the other had to go through severe mental problems. Martin found it rather challenging to cope with the separation. ABC said that the Coldplay singer fought depression for a year before the two called it quits.

Despite getting professional help, Martin claimed he would wake up many days feeling “down.” In cases like this, if one party feels like their mental state isn’t the best, they should definitely opt for seeking help — that’s the healthiest thing to do.

Time and tide wait for none, and neither did Paltrow. Even before their official separation paperwork came through, the actress began dating Brad Falchuk — an American TV writer, producer, and director. The now-wedded couple met on the set of the beloved series, Glee, which Falchuk co-created. Although things started off professionally, it soon became a budding romance.

The couple went public with their relationship at a birthday party in April 2015. In January of 2018, they announced their engagement, and in July, they exchanged their vows.

Martin was romantically linked with famed actress Jennifer Lawrence after his split from Paltrow, but that fizzled. Many speculated that to him, she was simply a rebound. However, no official statement came from either side.

Chris Martin got lucky when he fell head over heels for the star of Fifty Shades of Grey, Dakota Johnson. The 12-year age gap was nothing to them and they have been living together in the singer’s $12.5 million beachside home.

Paltrow and Martin raised many eyebrows when they came forward with their term “conscious uncoupling” — which Paltrow later revealed was coined by her. She explains it as an amicable breakup from an ex. Separated couples always find it difficult to be around each other comfortably; there’s always a barrier that fills the room with tension.

However, here, the two split on good terms and agreed to maintain a relationship of respect. In fact, Paltrow and Martin often call the other over for “double date nights” with their present significant others.

The most important thing after separating, specifically when kids are involved, is keeping the family bond alive. Now that the family wasn’t living under the same roof as one, it was obvious that their lives were about to drastically change.

These alterations can often negatively impact a child, inflicting wounds they carry with them to adulthood. However, it gets infinitely easier when the separated parents love them and want to make the process easier for them. Here’s a picture of the Paltrow-Martin family posing for a picture in March of 2018.

Many argue that friendship and trust are the basis of a stable marriage, and although their marriage didn’t find a happily ever after, Paltrow and Martin found happiness on their own paths. Exes don’t usually have a cordial relationship, let alone a friendship in which they meet or talk to each other.

However, these two are mature adults who wouldn’t cut the other out of their lives. Paltrow makes sure to express her respect for him. She might not love him as a partner but surely, she loves him as a friend.

Paltrow speaks of healthy relationships and healthy splits, where the toxicity won’t blow through the roof. She urges pairs to let go of the spite and recall the moments of love that originally started the courtship.

It’s okay to love someone for their great qualities — things that brought one person closer to the other. Her thoughts on how it’s okay to stay in love with your ex-partner’s traits completely radicalized how people looked at splits after that.

Instead of showing regret for staying with Martin for 12 years, she added that, despite their split, she knows that he was meant to be a part of her life — as the father of her children. She also knows that her current husband is the person she’s meant to grow old with.

The concept of conscious uncoupling opens us up to a world in which two unique loves can coexist and form a bond of mutual respect and harmony. That’s the key takeaway from their separation.

No matter how green the grass on their side might seem, the Paltrow-Martin family has its own share of problems. The marriage ended, but they were still a family, and families naturally have good as well as bad days.

Just because one relationship ended didn’t mean it would be replaced with toxicity. Parents struggle in every family whether they’re a celebrity or not. At the end of the day, there’s always that constant driving force pushing them towards solving problems and finding happiness.

For Paltrow and Martin, their driving force is the love and affection they have for their kids. In another interview, the talented actress revealed how close of friends she is with her ex-husband. However, she also said that they probably never exited the friendzone completely and became a full-fledged couple.

There was also some unease and unrest between them. She thinks they never completely got used to the concept of being “married” or a “couple,” but there was one thing they knew for sure — that they loved their kids equally.

Things weren’t totally smooth sailing for Paltrow after she got involved with Brad Falchuk. He himself has two kids he shares with his ex-spouse, Suzanne Bukinik. It can’t be said for sure how close she is to her step-children, but knowing Paltrow, we’re sure they’re a close-knit bunch.

It’s refreshing to see how well both Martin and Paltrow handled the situation and adjusted to their separation, never for a moment taking their family for granted or making them an afterthought.

Chris and Gwyneth once consulted a doctor who provided them a “rubric” to judge successful co-parenting. The key here is accountability as well as acknowledging that everything is 50/50 — no one can blame the other without pointing a finger at themselves.

As humans, we are all existing in the gray zone, trying our best. The now-separated couple didn’t want to traumatize their kids, which could be harder on certain occasions as it’s normal to not want to be in the company of the person you’re splitting from.

You may think we’re exaggerating when we say that Paltrow and Martin have continued to be good friends — not just friends. If you took a tour of Paltrow’s or Martin’s social media handles, you would realize that the two maintain the bond they built 19 years ago.

Here’s the time when Paltrow wished Martin a “Happy Birthday” in 2020, praising him for being an incredible musician and an even more amazing father to her children. Co-parenting goals, are we right?

Martin has established himself as a caring and nurturing father, so we can totally understand why his ex-wife would feel the need to post something so sweet for him on Father’s Day.

This adorable snap of him sitting holding his daughter’s hand is the epitome of how relationships should be handled if the parents decide to call it quits. Paltrow’s Instagram account is filled with supportive posts for her kids, former husband, and current spouse, Falchuk.

Some fans still wish that the unlikely pair would have just stayed married, but they kind of are. In fact, they’re so close that Paltrow and Falchuk invited the foreman on their honeymoon.

Given that it was a second attempt at wedlock for both of them, they figured it would be best if both of them invited their kids and former spouses and made it a family vacation. This way, everyone could get an opportunity to interact with the whole clan.

In January 2018, it was reported by Radar Online that Gwyneth Paltrow wasn’t overly happy being around Dakota Johnson, primarily because of the large age gap between her former husband and the Suspiria star. It was also reported that Johnson and Martin truly wanted Paltrow’s nod of approval.

According to a source, the relationship between them had been termed “frosty at best,” with Johnson trying her best to gel with the Paltrow-Martin family. She attended family dinners at Paltrow’s residence, getting to know the children better.

Amidst breakups, it’s quite normal when one person can’t stand their ex-significant other’s new partner. However, that isn’t the case with Paltrow and Johnson. Upon being asked about the younger actress, Paltrow had only good things to say.

She loves Johnson’s attitude, claiming that she brings in something new to their family’s dynamic, and that’s a feeling she wants to welcome instead of feeling threatened by it. The Shakespeare in Love starlet added that there was so much juice accepting something like that.

If you were wondering what the key takeaway is from this interesting co-parenting story, it’s that they both were able to find happiness apart but not push each other or their children away in the process. There was never any sort of competition to establish who the more “superior” co-parent is, which is a problem many former spouses face during these times.

In the end, two individuals who were once in love found solace in other people but still look back at their past relationship with respect and love.

For the two megastars, the ultimate goal was reducing trauma for their two kids. Some days, it was harder than it seemed. Paltrow acknowledged that sometimes, you don’t wish to be in the presence of someone you’re separating from.

If you’re committed to making it work, though, things will fall into place. Just take a deep breath, look the other in the eye, reiterate the formed pact, smile, and hug it out — recommitting to a new relationship you’re trying to nurture. The marriage ends, but the family doesn’t.