Candace Cameron Bure Reveals Her Son Helped Save Her Marriage

Candace Cameron Bure and her husband, former NHL player Valeri Bure, have been married for nearly 30 years. While their love story sounds like a fairy tale, Candace recently revealed their relationship faced a major crisis just five years ago.

A Love That Began on the Ice

Candace first met Valeri in 1994 when she was just 18. She and her Full House co-stars attended a charity hockey game where NHL star Pavel Bure was playing. But it was Pavel’s brother, Valeri, who caught Candace’s eye.

“I wanna meet that one—the blonde one,” she recalled saying to Lori Loughlin, according to Us Weekly. Dave Coulier introduced them, and sparks flew immediately. Valeri, already a fan of Full House, had watched it to learn English.

From Young Love to Parenthood

Their first date happened the very next day. Less than a year later, they got engaged and tied the knot on June 22, 1996. The couple moved to Canada and welcomed their first child, Natasha. Sons Lev and Maksim followed shortly after.

Candace, a self-described overprotective mom, kept a close eye on her children—especially when it came to technology. “There are so many dangers associated with it,” she told People in 2020.

Nearly Divorced in 2020

Despite decades of love and dedication, the couple faced a serious challenge in 2020. On her podcast, The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, Candace opened up about how their marriage nearly ended right before the pandemic began.

“It was going south quickly,” she said. “We didn’t think we were going to make it.”

An Unexpected Savior: Their Son Lev

Just when things seemed darkest, help came from their son, Lev. Candace recalled that he, along with his siblings Maks and Natasha, asked to speak with their parents. Lev led the conversation—and delivered what Candace described as a “45-minute sermon on marriage.”

With a Bible in hand, Lev looked them both in the eyes and asked, “Have you done everything you can? Is there just one more act of kindness, one step of grace you can give to reconcile?”

Candace and Valeri were stunned. “We walked away thinking, ‘Wow, we raised some pretty incredible kids,’” she said.

A Pivotal Moment in Their Relationship

Candace called that conversation a turning point. She and Valeri began to heal their relationship and change the dynamic in their marriage.

Lev later joined her podcast to explain why he stepped in. “It came from love,” he said. “We wanted our parents together, but we knew it could only happen through Jesus. That’s who we pointed them to.”

What’s Your Secret to a Strong Marriage?

Thanks to their son’s wisdom and courage, Candace and Valeri found their way back to each other. Their story is a reminder that even strong relationships require work—and sometimes, a fresh perspective.

Do you have a tip for a healthy marriage? Share it in the comments on Facebook!