No room at the inn for too-young Bakersfield honeymooners

It was to be the perfect end to a perfect day. Hillary and Jason Martin had just gotten married. They arrived at Bakersfield's swank Padre Hotel -- the bride in her wedding dress, the groom in Marine Corps dress blues.

They were 18 and in love.

They were 18 and out of luck.

The high school sweethearts and parents of twin 9-month-old boys were old enough to marry. Jason Martin, on leave after completing boot camp, was old enough to join the Marines. The Padre Hotel's age policy, however, required them to be at least 21 to rent a room.

"I was so upset," Hillary Martin said. "I planned the wedding, so I felt this was my fault. It was all just falling apart. In the car, I just broke down. I thought, 'Here I am looking for a place to stay on my honeymoon.'"

The Nov. 12 case of cubiculum interruptus found its way to the local media thanks to an angry cousin of Hillary's. The hotel's manager explained to a television reporter that employees were simply following a longstanding policy for which no exceptions are made.

And just like that, the hotel -- a newly renovated Bakersfield landmark where the "Oil Baron Suite" will set you back $649 tonight -- found itself with a sticky public relations problem.

"This is an outrage!" a reader posted on the Bakersfield Californian's website. "If a person can sign up to fight and possibly die for his country then he should be able to stay at any hotel he wants to."

On Thursday, Brett Miller, a co-owner of the Padre Hotel, apologized to Hillary Martin.

"He was very sincere," she said.

Miller explained the hotel's policy is intended to prevent underage drinking and partying. He offered the Martins a room and dinner -- on him.

"An exception should have been made. If you show up in a military uniform and a wedding gown -- sure, we'll give you a room," Miller said in an interview. "When I found out all the facts, I was sick to my stomach. This should have never happened."

While the Martins will never get their perfect wedding night back, they will at least have a story to tell their grandchildren.

After leaving the Padre Hotel, they drove around Bakersfield for a bit, looking for a room before settling in at a Doubletree hotel.

"They had a military discount," Hillary said. "They were very sweet. We even got a free breakfast."

-- Mike Anton

Photo: Hillary Martin holds her twin 9-month-old boys, Kaine, left, and Beau in front of the Padre Hotel in donwtown Bakersfield. Martin and her newlywed husband, Jason, who was wearing his U.S. Marine Corps dress blues, were unable to rent a room on their wedding night because the 18-year-olds are younger than the Padre's age policy. Credit: Michael Fagans / The Californian / Family handout

Comments

[Kathy]

I know I'm supposed to be commenting on the content of the story but really, those are the cutest little chubby babies that I have ever seen. Adorable! Good luck to Mr. and Mrs. Martin.

[cavscout]

lets start doing a better job of RESPECTING our soldiers...ESPECIALLY when they are in uniform. SAD SAD SAD

[Steven]

While it sucks shouldn't they have checked to see if they could stay there? Yes you are a Marine (thank you) but just because you're 18 doesn't mean you can do a lot of stuff someone over 21 can do. Try renting a car? Chances are they will not allow it.

[kpxfiles]

Hotel made a huge mistake. Exceptions can always be made. If a group of laughing and drunk 18 years olds walked into the hotel, yeah point to the policy, but seriously refusing a couple that's in wedding attire.

[Bankman]

When adult people don't want to exercise common sense or simple logic, they hide behind all sorts of lame reasons/excuses/cop-out stories like: "I am sorry, it's company policy" or "our policy is in line with industry practices" or my personal favorite "we have broken no laws"
But then again, this is bakersfield we are talking about...

[Tony B]

These are two people of legal age. They were discriminated against. Now, the co-owner gives them a free room and dinner after the fact? Unacceptable in my book. The Padre Hotel's management staff ruined their marriage night and should compensate them accordingly.

[Logic and Reason]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the statement "Bakersfield's swank Padre Hotel.

[Arlo]

Which two babies? The 9 month old, or the 18 year old babies?

[jerry mcgeehan]

I can sympathize with the couple - but completely understand the hotel owner's position. Why is the LA Times making this a cause celebre? If there is any "fault" perhaps it is with the individual who took a reservation and (understandably) failed to ask any and all possible questions. Oh, right, that would be seen as a complete invasion of privacy.....never mind!

[cheryl woods]

Oh, what beautiful babies....they ought to be in pictures...they are cute (and seemed very happy). Congrats on the wedding!

[stewart]

Vey glad to know the company has stepped up to the plate and made good on this. Semper Fideles, a way of life.

[Mike]

Bakersfield / Swank ? lol

[JANET]

I understand them being upset but as the hotel manager initially stated, it's just policy. What an interesting news story (yawn)

The wife should have called the hotel to check the policy and to get an exception ahead of time. The GM shouldn't have to apologize for the staff just following the rules.

[uncle_vito]

Swank Hotel. In Bakersfield?

Yahoo.

[Patriot]

They are adorable! God bless this family!

[jose]

That's terrible. God bless you too and thank you for your service to this country. My solutes to you and may God bless your family.

[Stephen J. Smith]

Best wishes for You and Your family, Marine.

[Brian]

I hope some young service member gets a news story written about him trying to buy alcohol, and being rejected because he's under 21, and I hope that story has a quote from some outraged bystander that says, "If he can fight and possibly die for our country, he should be able to drink whatever he wants!"

Should an exception have been made for him? Maybe. Is it an outrage that one wasn't made? Not really. Turns out life isn't fair, even on your wedding day, and you should probably read the rules and restrictions before you put any significant amount of money down on anything.

[Landon Bales]

Hotel desk clerks are some of the most bitter, power-tripping people on the planet. Hopefully whoever helped this couple was disciplined for his idiotic actions. I'm happy the owner of the hotel offered them a free room, but it was too little too late.

[javier]

Another pair of lives down the drain. You would think that with all the information available nowadays, people would stop procreating at 18 and getting married, missing out on great opportunities and personal growth. Married at 18? that's just sad...

[mark]

I dunno. Sounds like a little planning ahead could have helped avoid the shock and disappointment with the accommodations. Hotels and car rental places approach age restrictions differently. That said, they could have called ahead and maybe gotten an exemption. To paraphrase from Juno, "We're already married with kids, what other shenanigans can we get into?"

Good luck to the couple. But time to move on. You are young and you will have many, many more inconveniences that are much more serious than this in your life.

[danny]

Completely agree on the babies. The one on the right has the cutest smile.

Mom is pretty cute as well.

[G]

I am a highly decorated, recently Retired Marine.

This young Devil Dog knows.. Rules are Rules..

Just because he is in uniform does not make the rule go away. So if another couple or person came in and was 18 they would not get the same treatment ? I think what happened was correct. Also, did the young couple call ahead amd make a reservation ? Did they let the hotel know they were 18 ? I don't think so, and the post states the bride said she planned the wedding ? I think she left some of the planning out. This is a good lesson.

Rules are Rules... He has a long career ahead of him learning more rules. And as I Marine wife, she will learn some too.

Congrats and good luck to them.

[Art]

File this under the caption: Diminishing Commons Sense. It seems to be everywhere today.

[Yuck!]

On the surface, yes, the hotel acted in poor judgement.

But -- hello! Why isn't anyone bringing up the fact that these two, while legally old enough be married, are far too young to be married in the first place, let alone have two 9 month old children! I'm going to bet the mother will never go to college and will end up a single mother, either through divorce or the death of her husband. Doesn't she have hopes and dreams for herself outside of the home? What did our mothers and grandmothers fight for 40-50 years ago --- surely not this.

It sickens me that 18 year olds are still allowed to be married. If I would have been married to the guy I dated at 18, my life would be miserable! It's not like these two are stupid and have no idea what birth control is.

What a shame. They're going to miss out on being childless and single their 20s, which is, I think, the most exciting time in a young person's life.