The Real-Life Partners Of Hallmark Channel Stars

Hallmark Channel stars Shantel VanSanten and Victor Webster have proven that fairy tales truly do exist. After meeting on the set of the 2017 Hallmark film "Love Blossoms," in which they played love interests, the pair dated for four years before getting engaged in February 2021 (via People). Yes, we know what you are thinking — they are real-life Hallmark couple goals!

The pair celebrated their love with not one, but three dreamy weddings. The first wedding was a small, spontaneous civil ceremony at Pasadena City Hall in California on VanSanten's grandparents' wedding anniversary, August 9, after her grandfather unexpectedly died. In an interview with Brides, the actress described her decision to marry that day, noting that her grandfather was originally set to walk her down the aisle. "The idea of my grandparents being reunited and watching over our ceremony from above gave me some peace," she stated. "They were married for 63 years [and] had such a special, deep love. They were the example to me of how love is a choice and takes work. It wasn't perfect, but their love was always pure." 

Their second wedding ceremony was held two months later in Napa, and the third took place in her hometown, Luverne, Minnesota, so older family members were able to see her wed.

The theater couple of our dreams! Patti Murin and Colin Donnell met through a mutual friend and knew each other for eight years before they started dating. The two were then co-stars in the musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost," according to Playbill, and before too long, they were an item. Murin and Donnell have been in a number of shows and other projects together, including Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film "To Catch a Spy," but have never actually played love interests on camera. "You know surprisingly, it actually doesn't really happen all that often in theater or TV," Donnell exclusively told People in 2021. "It just hasn't worked out that way."

The couple married in 2015, and on July 14, 2020, they welcomed their first daughter, Cecily Philips Ruth Donnell, into the world (via People). Murin captioned her Instagram post of the big announcement, "Meet Cecily Philips Donnell, born on July 14th. She's strong as heck and ready to change the world, and we have never loved anything more in our lives."

Eric Winter and Roselyn Sánchez were actually married way before they starred in a Hallmark film together! According to InStyle, Winter popped the question in December 2007 in Puerto Rico while they were kayaking together at midnight — which sounds very romantic, but also terrifying at the same time. "I was petrified she would drop the ring," he said. "It never left the box. She accepted; I shut the box and told her she could see it again on land." 

One year later, the pair exchanged vows with a four-day wedding celebration in November 2008 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. A few years later, the couple welcomed their first baby girl into the world, Sebella, and eventually, a baby boy named Dylan in 2017 (via Us Weekly). After having a daughter, the family of three was excited to add a boy into their home. "I was shocked my first baby was a girl. But the most important thing was I wanted to have a healthy baby. I was over the moon when I found out it was a boy," Sánchez said. 

It wasn't until 2019 that the couple brought their romance to the small screen, starring in the Hallmark film "A Taste of Summer," which was part of the channel's annual "Summer Nights" slate of movies (via Hallmark Channel). This marked Sánchez's first Hallmark film (via IMDb) and Winter's fourth (via IMDb). 

Like many 2020 brides, the coronavirus pandemic put a wrench in Taylor Cole and producer Cameron Larson's wedding plans. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a celebration of their love with over 100 guests ended up being a small, intimate ceremony with just the bride, groom, a few family members, and the officiant, as it was unsafe and risky to travel during this time, according to People. Rather than rescheduling their wedding day, the couple, who met on the set of a Hallmark Channel movie, decided they couldn't put off getting married any longer. "We couldn't wait — we were too excited to profess our love and commit to each other. It sounds a little cheesy, but when you know you know, and we wanted our forever to start as soon as possible," Cole told People. 

Although their wedding day wasn't exactly how they imagined it would be, the couple still found different ways to make it special. Not only did they have the entire ceremony livestreamed online so their friends and family could celebrate, but Cole even got walked down the aisle by her father virtually. How, you may ask? Well, she attached a phone to her arm and had her dad on a FaceTime call! "Luckily, it worked well and several of our virtual guests commented how sweet that moment was for them — as it was for all of us," Cole said.

D.J. Tanner is all grown up! The "Full House" alum celebrated 25 years of marriage to her husband Valeri Bure in June 2021. And their first meeting was apparently all thanks to co-star Dave Coulier!

Candace Cameron Bure opened up in an Instagram post about the night she first met her husband at a hockey game in 1994. "In light of our 25th wedding anniversary, I did some internet digging. The first photo is the night I was introduced and met my future husband, Valeri Bure. This photo was taken in 1994 at the Luc Robitaille charity hockey game [Coulier] invited [Bob Saget], Lori Loughlin and me to," she wrote alongside a few photos of the night in question. 

According to Us Weekly, the pair got married in 1996, and they have been together ever since. Two years later, they welcomed their first daughter Natasha in 1998, son Lev in 2000, and son Maksim in 2002. Corny pun incoming: Sounds like they've got a pretty full house!

In another Instagram post celebrating the milestone in their relationship, Bure opened up about the "secret" to a successful marriage. "Grace. Grace. Grace. Communication (which is so important but difficult when one partner isn't willing.) Sex. Laughter. Patience. Lots of patience. Love (a verb. which must be put into action, it's not just a feeling)," she said.

Hallmark actress Jill Wagner officially welcomed her second baby with husband David Lemanowicz in August 2021 (via Us Weekly). The "Christmas in Evergreen" star shared the big news in an Instagram post dedicated to Lemanowicz for his support while she was in labor. "On August 19, 2021, you held my hand as we welcomed our sweet little Daisy Roberta Lemanowicz into this world. Neither one of us knowing the madness the hours following would hold," she wrote. "One of the reasons I fell in love with you is because you always made me feel safe. I guess I never truly knew how very important that was until now." 

Wagner and Lemanowicz previously welcomed their first child, Army Gray, in April 2020, after tying the knot years earlier in 2017 (via People). Lemanowicz also has a daughter named Lija from his first marriage.

Wagner continued her Instagram post by sharing that she experienced serious complications and found herself in a scary situation as she was in the hospital. "When I had complications after labor I know it was scary for you. How did you hold it all in? You never broke. You were a rock. My rock. You made me feel safe, although my situation was not. I watched you care for our newest daughter during that time (while I could not) and I know she also felt safe in daddy's arms."

Everybody's favorite star from "The Wonder Years," Danica McKellar, aka Winnie Cooper, finally found love again! Prior to her marriage with lawyer Scott Sveslosky, the actress was married to composer Mike Verta from 2009 to 2012, with whom she shares joint custody of son Draco (via E! News). After the divorce was finalized in 2013 (via TMZ), McKeller met Sveslosky and immediately knew there was something special about him. "I knew. I was like, 'Oh my God, this is the person I've been dreaming about my whole life,'" she said in 2014, as reported by Us Weekly. She continued, saying how he felt that connection early on too. "I knew I loved him almost instantly, and we were saying 'I love you' on the fourth date. Sometimes when you know, you know." The couple officially tied the knot in 2014, Fox News reported. 

In an exclusive interview with Country Living, McKellar opened up about what it takes to have a happy, healthy, and successful marriage. "It's not always easy, it's not totally perfect, and my secret to a happy marriage is: Keep working on it," she said.

Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace are more than just costars in Hallmark's "When Calls the Heart." According to Entertainment Tonight, rumors of the two dating began circulating in 2020 when McGarry shared a photo showing two coffee mugs and Polaroid snaps of the pair along with the caption "Photo evidence." Still, a source reportedly told ET that the gossip about McGarry and Wallace was more than speculation — it was true. 

After it was revealed that the actors were indeed an item, McGarry and Wallace became more open about their relationship (via Heavy). For example, the pair frequently share pics of themselves on social media, like Wallace's Instagram Story photos of McGarry on his birthday, which show the actor making a funny face as he stares at his birthday treat. Wallace also shared an ultra sweet holiday photo of the couple for Christmas with a picture of the duo inside a heart-shaped ornament. "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear," she captioned the image. One sweet short clip — in which McGarry appears at the end to shower the "Heatwave" actor in kisses — even calls McGarry one of the five things she loves most.

Hallmark stars Pascale Hutton and Danny Dorosh are a happily married couple, according to Us Weekly. For those not in the know about these two fabulous actors, Hutton is a Canadian actress and producer who's best known for her work in "Sanctuary," "Fantastic Four," and "Chaos." She was nominated for the Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama Leo Award for her role in the film "A Simple Curve" (via Rotten Tomatoes). Hutton also plays Rosemary LeVeaux in the Hallmark series "When Calls the Heart." Like his wife, Dorosh is also a Canadian actor. He's known for his work in "Food for the Gods," "The 4400," and "It Must Be Love."

According to Us Weekly, the pair tied the knot in 2002. They have two children together, though detailed info on the kids has been kept out of the media. Still, in an interview with Media From the Heart, Hutton revealed that their children are very close to their father. "They think he is the best person who has ever walked the earth," she stated. Likewise, the Hallmark actor is also grateful that her husband always has her back. During the chat with MFH, Hutton explained, "I have an incredible support network who helps maintain balance of our household when things are crazy and I am working a lot." She added, "My husband is the most incredible man in the world."

The love story of Hallmark star Alison Sweeney and former California Highway Patrol officer David Sanov first began in the late '90s (via Washington Independent). However, the pair's connection goes back even further. These lovebirds have known each other since they were children. In an interview with Access, Sweeney revealed that she and Sanov's parents were friends. "His dad and my mom play the violin for feature film soundtracks, so we've actually known each other our whole lives, " the actor said. Likewise, the sparks for the pair's future romance were there right from the start. "I totally had a crush on him when we were kids," Sweeney said.

Later on, the duo decided to pursue a relationship and dated for more than three years before finally tying the knot on July 8, 2000. On February 25, 2005, they had their first child, Benjamin, and on January 12, 2009, they welcomed their second child, a daughter named Megan.

The couple isn't shy about sharing their love for one another. In an interview with Health magazine, Sweeney described how she and Sanov celebrate their relationship milestones (via E! News). "Every year on our anniversary, we have a dinner date and talk about how our relationship is going," she revealed.

Alvina August and Marco Grazzini have both starred in several Hallmark films, but they didn't fall in love on set or at a studio. Instead, they crossed paths in a more modern fashion: on a dating app. On Hallmark's "Bubbly Sesh" podcast, August revealed that Grazzini had popped up in her Tinder feed. She had initially created an account to promote her career as a musician, but when she started chatting with Grazzini, she was hooked. "We had an eight-hour first date playing table tennis. And then we had three more that same week — the next day, and the next day. And they just got longer and longer." Soon enough, August and Grazzini were spending all their time together.

In January 2019, Grazzini proposed to August. She commemorated the occasion with an Instagram post a year later. She captioned the engagement photo of the couple with a heartfelt message: "You liked it, you put a ring on it & made me your Bey-ancé, confirming everything I had already believed about you & where we were headed. There is nowhere else I would rather be. God blessed me with my best friend, my lover, creator of the most exquisite food, chef Marco, my business and life partner all in one package. I love you. Ok, let's find some time to plan a wedding soon."

In 2023, August and Grazzini welcomed their first child into the world — a sweet baby girl.

After three divorces, Jodie Sweetin, a Hallmark staple who first found stardom as Stephanie Tanner on "Full House," has found lasting love in social worker Mescal Wasilewski. The two tied the knot in 2022 with a small ceremony in Malibu. "I know I have the right partner for the rest of whatever life brings me," Sweetin told People in an interview. 

Sweetin and Wasilewski met in 2017 through mutual friends. Although they were located on opposite sides of the country at that point — Sweetin in Los Angeles, Wasilewski in New York — their connection was so strong that they vowed to make it work. Ultimately, their love stood the tests of time and distance, and they decided to put a ring on it. Sweetin absolutely gushed over Wasilewski in her People interivew: "Mescal makes me feel absolutely comfortable and secure to shine as bright as I need to," she said. She noted that he has built a strong relationship with her daughters: "He steps up and shows up for my girls. ... He's really the best teammate I could ask for."

In July 2023, Wasilewski shared a heartfelt anniversary tribute to Sweetin on Instagram. "One year ago I solidified a commitment to sharing a life with someone who makes me understand what life can be when you let someone in," he wrote. "I honestly never thought I could feel this comfortable with another human being. To say I'm grateful feels insufficient."

Holly Robinson Peete's husband Rodney Peete is a true all-star — he's an veteran NFL quarterback, having played for various teams over the course of 16 seasons. Both Robinson Peete and Peete are real MVPs when it comes to sustaining a happy relationship — they've been married for 28 years.

"For us, the glue, the secret sauce has been trying to stay on the same page. Continuing to communicate with each other and then Rodney Peete's willingness to talk to a therapist or marriage counselor has been key, key, key," Robinson Peete told Essence when the couple sat down for an interview with the magazine in March 2023. Peete chimed in: "We both had similar ideas of what we wanted for our lives, separately and collectively, and we talked about it. ... We talked about the journey and what it was going to be and how it was going to be and how to handle certain things that would come up in our lives along the way. We found ourselves getting on the same page before we got married."

Robinson Peete and Peete both have big hearts: together, they run the HollyRod Foundation, a California-based nonprofit that aims to support families caring for individuals with autism or Parkison's disease. The foundation works to raise awareness of and secure ethical treatment for those with autism and those with Parkinson's. It also provides resources to families dealing with an autism or Parkinson's diagnosis.

Another "Full House" star who's enjoyed working with the Hallmark Channel in recent years is Lori Loughlin. Love is no foreign subject to Loughlin; she's been with husband Mossimo Giannulli for over 20 years. She shared the story of their elopement with Entertainment Tonight in a 2018 interview. "Moss and I had both been married before, so we thought, 'Well, it didn't really work out well for us the first time around, so maybe we'll elope and see how it goes and tell people.' We had talked about doing a wedding and we just thought, let's get up and let's go do it.'" Obviously, it turned out well. "He's my guy, he's my person," she said.

Loughlin and Giannulli landed in hot water in 2020, when they were involved in the college admissions scandal known as "Operation Varsity Blues." In order to secure their daughters' spots at the University of South California, they falsified information to make it appear as if they were crew recruits. They also paid large bribes disguised as charitable donations to sham foundations. They both received prison sentences — Loughlin got two months behind bars, while Giannulli got five.

The couple managed to stay strong even after their prison stints. In December 2022, they seemed in good spirits on a vacation to a ski resort in Aspen, Colorado. They were spotted shopping at Louis Vuitton, bundled up in winter gear amid the snow.

Jonathan Bennett, a heartthrob in "Mean Girls" and on the Hallmark Channel, experienced a one-of-a-kind proposal from TV host husband Jaymes Vaughan in November 2020. Not only did Vaughan write Bennett his own song — he also teamed up with Kay Jewelry to design a custom engagement ring for him, noting the lack of options for LGBTQ+ couples on the market. "When you think about proposing ... you go through planning a million different ways in your head and looking for a ring for months and months until you find the right one," Bennett told Brides magazine in an interview. "Well, I was looking for rings, and I couldn't find anything that spoke to a tradition of what do you do when two men are in love?"

Bennett took to Instagram to post a video of the magical moment. It begins with Vaughan holding a homemade poster that reads, "We never did find our song." When he flips it over, revealing the message, "So I wrote it for you," Bennett bursts into tears of joy as Vaughan's romantic ode starts to play. "To say it was the best day of my life would be an understatement," Bennett gushed in his caption. "I thought we were shooting family Christmas photos only to walk [out] and see the man I love holding a sign, and at that moment (you can see on my face) I realize that forever begins right now."