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Looking Back at Melissa Gilbert's Stunning Red Dress Worn at Her Third Wedding Ceremony

Cheryl Kahla
By Cheryl Kahla
Dec 30, 2018
05:31 P.M.

Melissa Gilbert, who became famous at age 10 for playing Laura Ingalls in the series "The Little House on the Prairie," tied the knot with actor Timothy Busfield back in 2013. It was her third marriage.

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The ceremony was held at the San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara. Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh exchanged vows there, and it was where John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy enjoyed their honeymoon.

Gilbert, who was 48 at the time, and Busfield, then 55, met more than two decades ago but only started dating one year before they tied the knot. She surprised guests by wearing a long strapless red dress that complimented her beautiful red hair, while Busfield looked dapper in a dark blue suit and a white shirt without a tie.

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This was the third time that both Gilbert and Busfield had decided to marry. Gilbert previously tied the knot with Bo Brinkman in 1988 and gave birth to their son, Dakota Brinkman, the next year.

Her second marriage was with Bruce Boxleitner. They got married in 1995 and welcomed their son the next year. The marriage lasted 16 years, and the couple parted ways in 2011.

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Busfield was married to the actress and director Radha Delamarter before parting ways in the mid-80s. The couple had a son, Willy.

In 1988, he exchanged vows with fashion designer Jennifer Merwin, with whom he had children Daisy and Samuel. They filed for divorce 19 years later.

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According to Gilbert, her relationship with Busfield has helped her to regain her self-confidence. Just two years after getting married, the actress got rid of all the anti-aging treatments she had been using, such as Botox and Restylane fillers.

She even removed the breast implants she had with the idea of being reconciled with her true self and feeling comfortable in her body.

Busfield gave her the courage to accept the passage of time along with the changes that it would bring to her appearance.

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Gilbert shares a happy relationship with "The Field of Dreams" actor. Busfield is more than just a husband for her. She once expressed her love for Busfield on social media:

"I have never been more content, more cherished or happier. Every day, even the difficult ones, is filled with a joy I never could have imagined. I love you, my sweet husband."

The couple met each other for the first time back in the early 2010s. It was when Busfield stepped out of his house one night to grab a slice of pizza with beer. He stepped inside the bar and came back outside when he found someone else sitting on his spot. After talking to himself for some time, Busfield went back inside.

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He found out that the person sitting in his chair was Melissa Gilbert. Her beautiful smile made him fall for her, and he immediately asked her out for brunch the next morning. She said yes, and the couple has been "inseparable since then."

In 2013, the "Little House on The Prairie" actress and the "Revenge of the Nerds" actor told the world about their love when they tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Santa Barbara.

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The couple celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary this year, and Gilbert posted a photo from their wedding day with a lovely caption for her better half:

"Eight years ago today and it just keeps getting better. @timbusfield I love you "

Busfield thinks he is the "luckiest man on earth" because he got married to Melissa Gilbert. According to him, he had been circling Gilbert for many years until he got the chance to marry her.

"I couldn't compete with [Gilbert's former partner] Rob Lowe or Bruce Boxleitner, for God’s sake. Those guys have chins!" he said.

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