Reality television star Jon Gosselin has exchanged vows with his partner, Stephanie Lebo, in a deeply emotional ceremony in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The wedding, which took place on Sunday, was marked by a particularly touching promise from Gosselin to his new wife's daughter.
A Promise That Meant the World
During the ceremony, which was attended by 180 guests at The Barn at Silverstone, Jon Gosselin made a vow that left both him and his bride visibly moved. He promised to love Stephanie's daughter, Juliana, as his own. "I promise to love your daughter as my own daughter," Gosselin vowed, a commitment that Stephanie later revealed was a complete and wonderful surprise.
She told Entertainment Tonight, which shared video from the nuptials, that his gesture was profoundly significant. "John surprised me with the way he incorporated my child, which was very important. I didn't see that coming," she said. "And that meant the world." Gosselin himself admitted the moment was so powerful it nearly brought him to tears, adding, "I'm trying to be a good father to her — just like one of my own."
Blending Families and Absent Siblings
The wedding also highlighted the complex dynamics of Jon Gosselin's large family. He shares eight children with his ex-wife Kate Gosselin: 25-year-old twins Mady and Cara, and 21-year-old sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel. Of his children, only Hannah and Collin were present to celebrate with their father.
Collin, who served as a groomsman, expressed his feelings about his absent siblings to Entertainment Tonight. "It would have been really nice to see them," he said, referring to Madelyn, Cara, Leah, Alexis, Joel, and Aaden. "I love them, and I hope they know that we would have loved to see them here." Despite this, Collin was overwhelmingly happy for his father, stating that after everything he has been through, Jon is "really deserving of this." He also gave his full approval of his new stepmother, praising her unconditional love for his dad.
A Four-Year Journey to the Altar
The romantic wedding comes exactly one year after the couple got engaged, capping off a relationship that began four years ago. They first met in August 2021 at a mutual friend's summer barbecue, just months after Jon's split from his previous girlfriend, Colleen Conrad.
Stephanie, a 38-year-old former beautician and research analyst, recalled the meeting as a fun, informal event. Their connection began with a comment on a social media post about a unique birthday candle and blossomed from there. "We started DMing each other and after that we just never stopped talking," she recounted.
The bride looked stunning in a Tasha wedding gown by Eddy K for the ceremony. Following the celebrations, the newlyweds plan to honeymoon next year with a Caribbean cruise, looking forward to their future as a blended family.
