Sisters Celebrate Mom and Dad's Second Wedding in Real-Life 'Parent Trap'

After almost two decades of marriage, this couple decided it was best to go their separate ways, but that certainly wasn't the end of their story, as 26 years later they walked down the aisle one more time. It was devastating for Rachel Gaede, 24, to witness the separation of her parents, Scott Gaede and Julie Shore, who first married in 1997. Many years, two daughters and countless memories later, the parents decided to split up in 2014, which blindsided Rachel and her younger sister, Caroline Gaede, 20. Looking back, Rachel, from New York City, told Newsweek that the "separation was definitely more difficult and it came as more of a shock." By the time their divorce was finalized in 2019, the sisters were more relieved that the family could finally move on with their lives. "They had both entirely moved on and had other relationships, and the sense of closure was real. I think it was truly an extraordinary set of circumstances that brought them back together," Rachel said.

Following the divorce, the family's attempts to move on were curtailed by the unexpected events of 2020—supporting one another through such a difficult time and quarantining together were suddenly all they could do. There really is nothing like a global pandemic to bring a family back together. Rachel suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic "forced [her] parents to communicate and get along," which had been out of the question for several years. But after making it through 2020, the tide began to turn for the better. "In June of 2021, my sister graduated from high school, I graduated from college, and my grandpa passed away. It was a lot of highs and lows in a short period of time and is ultimately when we realized my parents were getting along better than they ever had. By late fall, they were moving in together," Rachel told Newsweek. Many people will know first-hand just how difficult it is to deal with a divorce—whether that's their own marriage, or that of a friend or relative. Seeing anyone go through that isn't easy, but according to a 2022 YouGov poll, more people think it's better to get divorced rather than stay in an unhappy marriage. Results show that while 25 percent of people think married couples with children should stay together, 42 percent think a divorce is the best answer. When children aren't in the picture, the results are somewhat similar, with 17 percent of respondents saying couples should stay married, and 58 percent insisting they get divorced.

Getting Married, A Second Time Around

Over the months, Rachel and Caroline were overjoyed to see their parents grow closer and rekindle their romance, and in December 2022, Scott decided to pop the question (again). It may not be the most traditional of routes, but the family has learned a great deal since the separation and Rachel says her parents are "happier and stronger" now than ever before. After being engaged for a year, Scott and Julie remarried each other in an intimate ceremony in December 2023, with Rachel and Caroline the only guests present. Footage of the special day was shared on Rachel's TikTok account (@gachelraede) and it instantly went viral, gaining more than 7.2 million views and 1.4 million likes. She jested that it was a "successful parent trap," referencing the 1998 film starring Lindsay Lohan. Rachel continued: "It was a day that came together so quickly and seamlessly. Everything fell into place. My sister and I were the only guests, the ceremony was officiated by my cousin (who was the ring bearer at their original wedding), it was photographed by a close family friend, and the rings were made by one of my dad's high school friends. "The ceremony was beautiful and made more meaningful by the lessons we learned as a family in the years we spent apart." Since Rachel shared her parents' unusual love story on TikTok, she received many reactions online, although not everyone thinks it could work for them. One comment reads: "I'm so happy for you. If my parents re-married I would move out of state." Another person joked: "love this but I've cried enough [about] the divorce that I would simply evaporate if they remarried." But one person responded: "Waiting for my parents to do the same..." Do you have any fun or unusual stories pet you want to share? We want to hear the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.

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