Jon Gosselin Officially Marries Stephanie Lebo – Inside Their Wedding

Estranged children, AI-written vows, and the haunting absence of six siblings didn't stop the former reality star from starting again — this time, with the woman he calls "his calm and his smile."

After years of fractured family ties, public battles, and a love life under constant scrutiny, Jon Gosselin is finally a married man again — and this time, it's on his own terms.

The former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star, 48, tied the knot with fiancée Stephanie Lebo on Sunday, November 23, 2025, 18 years after his explosive divorce from ex-wife Kate Gosselin.

The ceremony took place in a rustic-luxe barn setting at The Barn at Silverstone in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with 180 guests in attendance, Entertainment Tonight confirmed.

Among those present were Jon's children, Hannah and Collin, both 21, as well as Stephanie's 14-year-old daughter, Juliana. But six of Jon's other children — Madelyn, Cara, Aaden, Leah, Alexis, and Joel — were not there, a painful reminder of the still-ongoing estrangement.

A Father's Tears and a Blended Family's Beginning

The wedding featured a deeply personal ceremony, with Collin and Jon's brothers serving as groomsmen, while Stephanie's bridal party was made up of seven of her closest friends. In a moment of levity amid the tears, a "beer bearer" handed out drinks to guests, adding lightness to a deeply moving day.

Jon's vows began with raw honesty and heartfelt gratitude, "From the moment I saw you at that barbecue, my life changed for the better. Today, I'm definitely marrying my best friend in life… I promise to love your daughter with honor. That's my daughter and faith."

He concluded with, "I vow to choose you every day to see you, hear you, and cherish you... You are my home, and I will love you through all our days."

Stephanie's vows were equally powerful. "When I say I can't do life without you, I truly mean it. You are my calm and my smile, and the love you give is irreplaceable."

She continued, "I vow to hold your hand through the darkest days, through the messy and all the magical. We'll face it together. I also vow to put my laundry away after you fold it and never again to use more than a teaspoon of bubble bath in the hot tub."

She ended her promises with a resounding declaration, "I believed in us then. I believe in us now. And I believe in us always. In every harmony, I will always find my way back to you."

'Everything': Becoming a Gosselin – And the AI Twist Behind the Vows

The bride wore a Tasha gown by designer Eddy K., while the couple shared their first dance to Clinton Kane's "I Guess I'm in Love" — the very song Jon had sent Stephanie in the early stages of their romance. Their honeymoon is planned for next year on a Caribbean cruise.

Stephanie called becoming a Gosselin "Without crying, everything." Jon, meanwhile, shared that watching her walk down the aisle broke something open inside him. "She has shown me how to be patient. She has shown me how to be sympathetic... She's just made a better me."

She revealed he is the first person outside her family she's felt safe enough to be fully vulnerable with. "He lets me be who I was supposed to be my whole life."

In a revelation that stunned fans, Jon confessed to using ChatGPT to help write his vows. He gave the AI a list of what he loved about Stephanie and then edited the results to sound like himself.

Stephanie was especially touched that Jon included her daughter Juliana in his vows, calling the gesture unexpected and deeply meaningful.

Fan Reactions Flood In: 'He Is the Prince Who Finally Found His Princess'

Social media lit up with messages of love and overwhelming support for the newlyweds — and for Jon's long, rocky road to happiness. One commenter wrote, "I'm so happy for you both. And also for Hannah and Colin [sic]. They get to see their dad FINALLY happy."

Another netizen shared, "After all he's been through, I hope he finds happiness with her." One comment struck an emotional chord with many. "He is the Prince who finally found his Princess after leaving Cruella DeVille. Couldn't possibly be happier for these two lovely people."

Another commenter added, "Everything Jon has gone through, especially with his children. He deserves so much happiness with Stephanie. Praying all his children come together and make amends. You're not promised tomorrow nor turn back the hands of time. Wishing Jon & Stephanie so much happiness [sic]."

Collin's Voice Breaks: 'Usually I Don't Cry... But I Just Lost It'

Jon's son Collin, who has weathered estrangement, institutionalization, and public scrutiny, shared his experience of the wedding with raw honesty. "My first thought was that he deserves this, as does everybody who finds their person."

On the morning of the ceremony, Collin woke up with a deep sense of happiness and freedom for his father. "I was crying. When I saw them up there getting married, I was in tears. It was very emotional. Usually, I don't cry, but I just couldn't hold it back, especially when he read his vows. I just lost it," he expressed.

He added that seeing his sister Hannah there was a symbol of shared love. "I think, despite any differences or ways we see things, today kind of signified the fact that we both love our father and we understand how much he deserves this."

Still, there was a bittersweet tone to his message for the six missing siblings. "It would have been really nice to see my other siblings here. I love them, and I hope they know that we would have loved to see them here."

From Reality Show Collapse to Backyard Barbecue Romance

Jon's fame began with "Jon & Kate Plus 8" in 2007, where America watched him and Kate raise twins and sextuplets. The marriage ended in a headline-making 2009 divorce, and the show was rebranded "Kate Plus 8."

Stephanie came into his life in August 2021, at a casual gathering. "We met at a backyard barbecue at a mutual friend Dean's house," Jon told The U.S. Sun in 2023."It was a hillbilly thing — we let fireworks off, it was fun. I had been single for a few months after Colleen and I broke up."

A year later, in November 2024, Jon proposed during a surprise dinner at Stephanie's favorite restaurant — Willoughby's on Park in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania — with both sets of parents in attendance. Stephanie shared the happy moment online, captioning a ring photo with, "Of course I said yes."

Just a month later, in December 2024, she posted a kiss photo with Jon, writing, "Cant wait to marry you… ♥️[sic]."

'Real Sleep' and No Babies – Just Dogs and a New Chapter

Asked what their first act as husband and wife was, Stephanie laughed, "Go to sleep!" Jon added, "Real sleep!" The couple made it clear they won't be expanding the family. "No babies," Stephanie stated. Jon agreed, "Maybe fur babies." Stephanie responded with gleeful enthusiasm about getting dogs.

Jon says he realized Stephanie was his person about three years ago. "She became a really close best friend and companion," he said, referencing their travels and natural connection.

Stephanie echoed his sentiments with a heartfelt reflection, "It was the feeling of I can actually be who I am and feel free, safe, and laugh... Our laughter... is the best thing that we share."

In a world where reality TV once broadcast his family's unraveling, Jon Gosselin's quiet, emotional wedding to Stephanie Lebo marks a powerful return to love, healing, and hope.

Surrounded by a select few who stood by him, and haunted by those who didn't, Jon's second chance feels not just redemptive — but earned.