The Truth About Candace Cameron's Husband, Valeri Bure

It's fitting that Candace Cameron Bure, who stars in Hallmark Christmas movie A Shoe Addict's Christmas, has a real-life love story worthy of a rom-com itself. 

She's been married to Russian-born husband Valeri Bure for over 20 years, per Country Living, but the Full House star didn't have nearly as much trouble finding her man as her onscreen counterpart.

In fact, the path to true love ran relatively smoothly, with an important figure in Cameron's life playing a key role in starting the couple on their journey. 

They knew from the very first day they met

As noted by Bustle, actor Dave Coulier, who played Joey Gladstone in the hit ABC sitcom, introduced his co-star to Bure after inviting the entire Full House cast to watch a charity hockey game in which he was taking part.

Cameron Bure saw Bure out on the ice and was immediately attracted to him, as she told Huffington Post. Bure, who was a fan of the show at the time, took her out on a date the following day. Clearly, they hit it off, as he subsequently gifted Coulier a signed hockey stick with a note attached that read, "Thanks for Candace."

According to Country Living, the couple married just a year later, on June 22, 1996. Three kids followed soon after; Natasha, in 1998, Lev, in 2000, and Maksim, in 2002. 

There are two major components to making their marriage work

Speaking to Us Weekly, Cameron Bure credited her folks with setting a good example. "My parents have been such a role model for me in my own marriage," she gushed. "I've seen [their marriage] through the tough times and when you see people that are committed to each other to stick through those tough times and be willing to grow and learn and not walk away because that could be the easier choice, I mean, it's incredibly inspirational."

The couple's faith plays a significant part too, as the Fuller House star told People, "The reality is the glue for us is Jesus," she said. "It's the Bible. You know, when there are arguments or we're compromising and in ways, it's always like, 'Well, let's just go back to the Bible.' It's the foundation for us. So it's not about winning or losing. But doing this journey together."

Candace Cameron Bure loves her husband for exactly who he is

When questioned by Us about what she loves about her husband, the Fuller House star noted, "He makes me laugh a lot, which is a very good quality. He's just such a bold person. We always have interesting conversations. I love his passion and his strength so very much. He's so supportive of me and our children."

On June 22, 2019, the actress and CookCraft by Candace founder posted a sweet tribute to Bure for their anniversary. "There really is something special about growing old together. I love you even more today than I did on our wedding day simply because I KNOW you, 24 years in the making," she wrote.