Real estate agent Taylor Lehman, 27, admitted she did feel guilty at first about dating Kern, 54, due to her friendship with his daughter Amanda, 30.
But five years on, the couple from Phoenix, Arizona, USA, are still going strong – and Taylor says people compare them to Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas.
Taylor told how she and Kern never expected their “rebound fling” to turn into marriage.
After discovering a shared love for music, travelling and having fun, the pair quickly moved in together.
The couple, who have been mistaken for father and daughter once, now have the support of their families despite initial concern and shock.
Taylor recalled: “When we first met, I worked with Kern’s daughter, she was my best friend and he was married at the time. I was also in a relationship.
“At first I thought he was very handsome. I have always been attracted to older guys. He thought I was cute, and we started flirting at the bar.”
“Amanda and I had been friends for a year before I got with her dad, so I did have a lot of guilt and felt bad at first.
“But over time I have gotten over that. She knows I will always be there for her in her life and problems.
“At the beginning my parents were kind of concerned, my mum was upset that this was my friend’s dad, but they know I’ve always dated older men.
“But time heals everything though and my mum, dad and step -um have visited us and are all fine with it.
“Kern is very handsome, and I adore how he carries himself, he’s so educated, smart and successful.”
For Taylor it took a while to get used to the stares of strangers most age gap couples are met with.
But over time she adapted and now doesn’t care what others think.
Taylor said: “When we first got together I was very insecure, I felt everyone was staring or questioning us, but that was only because it was new.
“People stare at us, but I think it’s because when we are both dressed up we are a good-looking couple.”
Taylor admits that she was surprised they got engaged and then tied the knot last year, in an intimate 25-person ceremony in Cancun, Mexico.
She said: “We found out we had a lot in common, but I don’t think either of us expected we would get married. We thought it would be a rebound thing for us both.
“But, we hit it off, we like the same music and are both old souls. I fell in love with him for his personality, it made him so attractive to me.
“He is fun, outgoing, we both like to party, and he was charming. I appreciate his age, wisdom and also, the security we have as a couple.”
Taylor said their similarities to Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas are more apt for her than Kern.
“They have a similar age gap to us,” she said. “She is brunette and he has silver hair, like us, but Kern is way better looking than Michael Douglas.
“People have told us we look like them while vacationing and that we are a very striking couple.
“We’ve only had one experience of people confusing our relationship, it was when we closed on our California home, the notary said: ‘Your daughter can fill this out or sign here.’
“We started laughing and Kern told her, ‘She’s my wife’ and the notary felt stupid.”
Instead of considering children in their future, Taylor says they’re happy with the freedom their lifestyle allows them.
She added: “Why would I want to change at that part of his life, honestly I love my life, we enjoy the freedom of traveling and having fun together.
“Every year we spend a week in Mexico; it’s fun but it’s a party. We have a lot of alcohol and fun.
“I am very domesticated too. I love being home, cooking and house work. We both take pride in our home and hosting.”
With an age gap of 27-years between them, the couple have had to speak about the possibility that Kern could pass away before her and lay out future plans.
Taylor said: “We met with a trust and will attorney, it’s something not a lot of mid-20s women have to deal with and it’s pretty hard.
“But who knows what will happen. Tomorrow is never promised. I could go first tomorrow by a freak accident or anything.”
Feeling content with the lives ahead of them, the pair are due to celebrate their second wedding anniversary in May.
Kern, a retiree, said: “Taylor has a great sense of humour, is vivacious and an old soul. She also has a huge heart and is fiercely loyal. Also she is my best friend and is very easy to talk to about anything.
“I didn’t really have any reservations, and whether Amanda realizes it or not she was largely responsible for our meeting.
“Neither Taylor or I really expected it to develop into what it did at the time.
“When it did, my attitude was that I’ve done a lot for my children, but choosing my mate is not within their purview.”
Kern advises others in age gap relationships to ignore people who look down or judge their love.
He said: “If it makes you happy and you click, it’s nobody’s business but yours and if people want to be judgmental the hell with them. Leave them in their glass house.”
We previously told how a mum, 27, revealed the 26-year age gap between her and her fiancé – who is older than her parents – means he’s often mistaken for her dad.
Source: Read Full Article