Hollywood is a graveyard for relationships. We’ve all seen the headlines. A power couple announces their "conscious uncoupling" after three years, and nobody is actually surprised. But then you have Candace Cameron Bure. She’s been married to Valeri Bure since June 22, 1996. Do the math. As of 2026, they are hitting that massive 30-year milestone.
That’s basically a lifetime in "fame years."
People love to pick apart the Candace Cameron Bure marriage because she’s so open about the "traditional" aspects of it. Some folks find it inspiring; others find it totally polarizing. But if you look past the Instagram filters and the Great American Family headlines, there’s a much grittier story about how they actually survived three decades without calling it quits. It wasn't always just smiles and Napa Valley wine.
The Escalator Meeting and a Blank Check
Forget Tinder. These two met the old-fashioned way: Dave Coulier.
Back in 1994, Candace’s Full House co-star (Uncle Joey himself) invited her to a charity hockey game in Los Angeles. Valeri was one of the pros on the ice. He was 20, she was 18. According to Candace, they literally met on an escalator. She was so nervous she didn’t even have paper, so she grabbed a blank check from her purse and scribbled her number on the back.
He called the next morning at 10:00 AM.
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They were engaged in Paris a year later and married the following summer. It sounds like a Hallmark movie script, but the reality of merging a Russian professional athlete’s life with a child star’s career was a huge adjustment. Valeri didn't even grow up watching Full House. He didn't really care about the fame, which is probably why it worked.
"Deep Brokenness" and the Seasons Nobody Sees
You’ve probably seen the posts where she calls him her "best friend." It’s sweet. But in late 2025, Candace got surprisingly real about the "valleys of real struggle" they’ve navigated. She hasn't shied away from using terms like "deep brokenness" to describe certain periods of their marriage.
There was a specific "rough season" she recently discussed on her podcast. She honestly didn't think they were going to make it through.
What’s wild is who stepped in: their kids.
Her son Lev, who got married himself in early 2024 to Elliott Dunham, apparently gave his parents a "Gospel-centered confrontation." Imagine your own kid sitting you down and asking, "Are you being as mature as you can be? Is there one more step of grace you can give?" That’s heavy. Most parents would tell their kid to mind their business, but Candace credits that moment as a turning point that saved the relationship.
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The Traditional Values Controversy
You can't talk about the Candace Cameron Bure marriage without mentioning the "traditional marriage" firestorm. A few years back, she moved from Hallmark to Great American Family and mentioned that the network would keep "traditional marriage at the core."
The internet basically exploded.
- The Backlash: Stars like JoJo Siwa and Hilarie Burton Morgan called her out, labeled her "bigoted," and accused her of being exclusionary.
- The Defense: Candace stood her ground, stating that as a Christian, her goal is to reflect God’s love but that her personal convictions about marriage are rooted in the Bible.
- The Impact: It created a massive divide in her fan base. Some people stopped watching her movies entirely, while others flocked to her even more fiercely because she "stood up for her values."
Whether you agree with her or not, her marriage is the lens through which she views the world. To her, "traditional" isn't just a buzzword; it’s the blueprint she uses to keep her house from falling down when things get messy.
Raising Three Kids in the Public Eye
The Bures have three adult children now:
- Natasha (27): She’s followed her mom into acting and even had a stint on The Voice. She recently married actor Bradley Steven Perry in September 2025.
- Lev (25): The "peacemaker" who helps run the family's wine business.
- Maksim (24): The youngest, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to his siblings.
Raising kids in a household where Dad is an NHL star and Mom is a household name isn't easy. They had strict rules. No TV or video games during the school week. Church was non-negotiable. Now that they are all adults, Candace says the transition to being a "friend" to her kids is the hardest part of parenting she’s faced yet.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Candace Cameron Bure marriage is successful because they are "perfect" or because they have money. Honestly? It’s probably the opposite. They’ve survived because they treat marriage like a job you can't quit.
Valeri retired from the NHL in 2005 after back and hip injuries. That’s a huge identity shift for an athlete. At the same time, Candace was stepping back into the industry. They had to learn how to swap roles and support each other's changing ambitions.
They also run Bure Family Wines in St. Helena, California. Working together while being married is a recipe for disaster for most people. They make it work by having very clear boundaries and "staying in their lanes." He handles the wine; she handles the brand and the "big picture" stuff.
Practical Insights from Three Decades Together
If you’re looking at your own relationship and wondering how they made it 30 years, here are the actionable takeaways from their journey:
- Grace isn't a feeling. Candace often says they stay together "whether we really feel like it or not at the moment." It’s a decision, not an emotion.
- Let the kids speak. Their willingness to listen to their adult children's perspective during a crisis shows that humility is more important than being the "boss" of the house.
- Find a shared project. For them, it was the vineyard. Having a common goal outside of just "raising kids" gave them a reason to connect once the nest was empty.
- The "30-Year Rule." Treat the first decade as learning, the second as building, and the third as enjoying.
The Candace Cameron Bure marriage isn't a fairy tale. It’s a long, sometimes painful, highly public experiment in commitment. In an era of disposable everything, there is something objectively fascinating about two people who simply refuse to leave the room.
To keep your own long-term relationship healthy, prioritize clear communication about your values early on. If those aren't aligned, the "valleys" will be much harder to climb out of. Establish a "no-quit" boundary during the good times so it's already in place when the bad times inevitably show up.
Lastly, look for mentors—or even your own kids—who can offer an outside perspective when you’re too close to the problem to see the solution. Commitment isn't just about staying; it's about being willing to change so that staying is actually worth it.