The quintessential reality TV show is The Bachelor/Bachelorette. A group of guys or girls live together in one villa and compete to win the same person’s heart, what could be better?

While it is highly entertaining, the show is essentially all about love and making lasting connections. The finale typically ends with an engagement but as we’ve seen, those engagements never really last that long.

The Bachelor is on its 23rd season, and The Bachelorette is currently filming its 16th season. Spin-off show Bachelor in Paradise has aired six seasons. While most of the romances have wilted much like the roses that always feature on the show, there are a handful of Bachelor Nation couples who have beaten the odds and ended up walking down the aisle.

Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter

This couple is the show’s first ever real success story. Trista Rehn, the very first Bachelorette to head a season got engaged to firefighter Ryan Sutter in the finale. Their wedding was televised in 2003 and 17 years later, they are still together. They live in Colorado and share two children.

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Ashley Hebert and J.P Rosenbaum

Season 7’s Bachelorette Ashley Hebert chose J.P to be her final love. The pair married in 2012, and their televised wedding was officiated by Bachelor host Chris Harrison. They have been married for eight years and have two children.

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Hannah Godwin and Dyan Barbour

The Bachelor Nation rejects met on spin-off show Bachelor in Paradise, where former contestants spend a summer of love together in a romantic destination with the goal of getting engaged at the end. They immediately hit it off and became engaged in the show’s 2019 finale. A year later they are still together and seem to be going strong throughout the lockdown.

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Rachel Lindsey and Bryan Abasalo

The first black Bachelorette Rachel Lindsey stunned in her season, and ended up with contestant Bryan Abasalo. After a two year engagement, the pair tied the knot in August 2019 and recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

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Jojo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers

Season 11’s Bachelorette Jojo knew from a very early stage that Jordan was the one. He won the first impression rose in the first week of the show, and made it all the way to the finale where he went down on one knee. The pair have been engaged since 2016 and were meant to marry in 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cancel their wedding day.

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Chris Siegfried and Desiree Hartsock

Hartsock and Siegfried fell in love in The Bachelorette‘s ninth season. Their engagement came with some questioning as the original frontrunner Brooks Forester famously quit the show after telling Harsock he wasn’t invested in the relationship. Luckily for Siegfried, the Bachelorette accepted his proposal and the married in January 2015. Since then, they have had two children.

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Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon

Ashley and Jared had not one, but two shots at love. They starred in two seasons of Bachelor in Paradise together, and finally managed to make things work. They got engaged in June 2018 and married in July 2019.

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Sean Lowe and Catherine Guidici

Born-again virgin Sean Lowe shocked fans when he chose Catherine Giudici in The Bachelor‘s 17th season. Since then, the pair have tied the knot in 2014 and welcomed three children.

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Jade roper and Tanner Tolbert

Another Bachelor in Paradise couple made it to the finish line. Jade and Tanner met on the spin-off show’s second season, and got engaged in the finale. Their televised wedding aired in 2016. They have two kids and are expecting their third very soon.

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Carly Waddell and Evan Bass

Carly and Evan didn’t immediately hit it off on the third season of Bachelor in Paradise, but eventually they fell in love. They married in 2017 and have two children together, while Evan has three other children from a previous relationship.

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Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk

This couple met on season 4 of Bachelor in Paradise back in 2017, and the connection was instant. While they didn’t get engaged in the finale, Adam did eventually go down on one knee in 2019.

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Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney

The controversial 13th season of The Bachelor saw Mesnick choose finalist Melissa Rycroft as his partner, only to end up breaking up with her and picking things back up with runner-up Molly Malaney. Luckily for them, their relationship has lasted. They tied the knot in a televised ceremony back in 2010 and have a daughter together.

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Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham

In another controversial moment, Season 22’s Arie Luyendyk Jr. asked not one, but two women to marry him. In the two part finale, he first popped the question to finalist Becca Kufrin before ending things and choosing runner-up Lauren Burnham the very next night. He proposed to Burnham in the ‘After the Final Rose’ reunion episode. Luckily, things worked out and the couple tied the knot in 2019 before welcoming their first child later that year.

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Any Selling Sunset fan knows a large part of the drama on the show came from real estate agent Mary Fitzgerald and her boyfriend Romain Bonnet as they dealt with conflict in their relationship before ultimately getting engaged and later married.

Fans were introduced to the couple as boyfriend and girlfriend, and followed their journey to the altar over the first two seasons of the show.

Turns out, however, that was all fake. Mary and Romain were actually secretly married months before the show even began filming.

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According to documents obtained by TMZ, Mary and Romain secretly tied the knot at a courthouse back in March 2018, a few months before the first season was shot and 19 months before their televised wedding was held in October 2019.

“Mary and Romain had a civil union a couple of months before the show began filming in June of 2018, but they chose not to tell any of their friends or family, as they were still trying to see if their relationship would work out in the long term,” A rep for the couple told Entertainment Tonight. “In their minds, they weren’t properly married until the wedding that was filmed during the show.”

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It’s been months since Netflix original Love is Blind blew viewers away as it posed the question, ‘Can people really fall in love without seeing each other?’

This science experiment saw couples connect while separated by a wall, never getting to see each other face to face. Six couples seemingly fell in love and got engaged. After their engagement, they met in person and began their relationship.

Here’s who is still together in 2020 and who has found new love after the reality TV show.

Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed:

As Cameron and Lauren fell in love, so did we. This couple’s story touched many as they grappled with being an interracial couple and how their families and the public would react to their love.

Their love is legit, as the pair are still together today. They appear as loved up as ever, and even adopted a puppy together. Fans can follow their journey on their Youtube channel, Hanging With The Hamiltons.

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Amber Pike and Matt Barnett:

Many fans doubted this couple would actually tie the knot, as Amber’s confession of financial troubles and her lack of stability seemed to trouble Matt during the show. However, the pair ended up saying ‘I do’ and are still married.

Since their wedding, Amber has admitted that they butted heads a lot but have now found a good flow.

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Kenny Barnes and Kelly Chase:

Soon after meeting in person, this couple’s engagement began to disintegrate on the show. Kelly was quite straightforward about not having a sexual attraction to Kenny. In the show’s finale, she said “I don’t” and left Barnes at the altar. The pair have since admitted that they had both agreed that they were not going to get married.

Since then, Kenny Barnes has found love again. The Love is Blind star recently popped the question to girlfriend Alexandra Garrison. Barnes and Garrison have been dating a little over a year, and they met after he appeared on the Netflix dating series. His younger sister Anna introduced the pair.

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Kelly is currently single, although she did date a close friend soon after the show’s filming wrapped. Both Kelly and Kenny have grown a lot from their experience of being on the show, and they appear to be on good terms.

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Jessica Batten and Mark Cuevas:

From the get-go, this couple was destined to fail. Jessica accepted Mark’s proposal after her main interest Matt Barnett displayed stronger feelings for future wife Amber. With Mark as her second choice, she struggled with leftover feelings for Barnett throughout her engagement, as well as a lack of sexual chemistry with Mark. This, coupled with their ten year age gap brought an end to their relationship. Mark said ‘I do’ but Jessica could not follow through.

Jessica has since found a new man. She is dating a doctor who, interestingly enough, looks a lot like Mark. She has also apologised to both Amber and Matt for interfering in their relationship during filming.

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Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers

Damian Powers and Giannina Gibelli were another fan favourite, although their explosive relationship was often on rocky ground. The pair argued a lot during filming, and it appeared that Giannina would be the one to end things. However, fans were shocked when she said ‘I do’ and Damian said ‘I don’t’.

With their dramatic ending, it was even more surprising to find out that the pair are back together. During the reunion episode, they revealed that they got back together hours after their wedding, and they are still together today.

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Carlton Morton and Diamond Jack

This couple didn’t make it very far after their engagement. Soon after meeting in person and spending real time together, Carlton admitted to Diamond that he is bisexual. This lead to a massive fight because Diamond felt Carlton was keeping secrets while he felt that she didn’t accept him for who he is. Their fight ended with them breaking things off and Diamond tossing her engagement ring in the pool.

Since then, they patched things over and are on good terms. Carlton is spending time on himself, and Diamond is working towards her PhD.

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The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsey and Bryan Abasalo have been married for one year. The couple is one of the franchise’s biggest success stories since finding love in the show’s 13th season. The pair became husband and wife at Mexico’s Royalton Suites Cancun on August 24, 2019.

“One year + FOREVER…I love you and I am beyond thankful for you,” Lindsey wrote on her Instagram in honour of the occasion.

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Abasalo was a bit more expressive with his post, writing: “I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we both said “I Do”! I consider myself beyond lucky to be able to call you my wife and truly blessed to be your husband. I wake up every single day a better man because you are always there to support, encourage, and love me no matter what. You are my rock and my best friend. Thank you for the memories we have shared together this year and I look forward to many many more. I love you @therachlindsay Happy Anniversary! ❤️?⁣”

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The world first fell in love with Lindsey when she was a contestant of Bachelor Nick Viall’s season. The attorney quickly impressed viewers with her intelligence and poise. She then became the first black woman to hold the title of Bachelorette, a massive feat for a show that has been heavily critisised for its lack of representation.

Miami-based chiropractor Abasalo won the season and Lindsey’s heart. While seasons of the show often end in engagements, the ratio of those engagements following through with an actual wedding is very low. Lindsey and Abasalo are one of a few couples in the show’s history to actually go through with tying the knot.

Feature image: Instagram / The Rachel Lindsey

Elton Jantjies has been named one of South Africa’s best rugby players and is known for his speed on the field, but not much is known about his life off the field. The fly-half from Gauteng has played for a host of teams from the Lions to the Stormers and of course, the Springboks when they won the Rugby World Cup.

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Jantjies met his fiance, model Iva Ristic online in 2011 and felt an immediate connection, but due to their careers involving a lot of travel, they only met in person in 2014.

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According to Ristic, it was love at first sight. The two soon began dating, and welcomed three children into the world before Jantjies finally decided to pop the big question in 2019.

According to Huisgenoot, he took her to a fancy restaurant and sneakily put the ring in her Cosmopolitan cocktail. “I was so busy taking pictures of the beautiful drink that I didn’t even see the ring!” Ristic said. Only when Jantjies actually went on his knee did she realise what was happening. Of course, she said yes!

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The two tied the knot shortly before the World Cup kicked off in 2019. On Ristic’s Instagram it seems the two had an engagement party with friends and family, but not a large wedding. According to Magzter, they had a small, intimate ceremony with close family, but are considering having a large celebration later on.

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Congratulations are in order for Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich. The Oscar winning actress and her writer-director husband recently celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary.

Taking to Instagram, Moore wrote a sweet, tongue-in-cheek message to honour the occasion.

“I said he should take a shower. He said my hair smelled bad, like mildew, or an old box. Happy 17th Wedding anniversary @freundlich96 – there is no one I’d rather be with everyday. I love you.”

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The pair met back in 1996 on the set of The Myth of Fingerprints, which Freundlich directed. They married on August 23, 2003. Instead of white, Moore donned a lilac Prada dress featuring a deep v-neckline to marry Freundlich, who matched with a purple tie and striped shirt.

They have two children together: Caleb, 22 and daughter Liv, 18.

Speaking to People, Moore said that a marriage takes work and isn’t always how it appears in the movies.

Feature image: Instagram / Julianne Moore

Wedding bells are ringing for Mafikizolo singer Theo Kgosinkwe and Vourné Williams, who recently said ‘I do’! The coronavirus pandemic put a halt to their original wedding plans, but could not stop them from tying the knot.

The pair were meant to marry earlier this year but postponed their big day to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they decided to have a small ceremony so they could still become husband and wife this year. They married on August 22, but their bigger wedding to include their family and friends will only be in 2021.

“Due to covid-19 Vourne and I had to postpone our wedding celebrations for next year 2021
But we couldn’t wait to be husband and wife ?. Yesterday I married my bestie ?,Proverbs 18:22
We can’t wait to celebrate with family and friends next year ,we just have to wait a little longer,” Theo explains on Instagram.

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Theo and Vourné began dating in 2017, and got engaged in 2019 on Vourné’s 26th birthday in front of all their family and friends. Before his proposal, Theo serenaded Vourné with a song.

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Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Feature image: Instagram / Theo Kgosinkwe

What do you get when you cross a Miss Universe stunner and a former pro-footballer? A match made in heaven.

South African stunner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (now Tebow) and husband Tim Tebow have had a whilwind romance. Here is where it all began.

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The pair met through an event Tebow was hosting for his non-profit, the Tim Tebow Foundation.

“Her sister has special needs, so we invited them to Night to Shine in South Africa,” Tebow said during an interview with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. “We kind of met and started talking through that and haven’t stopped.”

Their relationship moved pretty quickly, and they confirmed their relationship in July 2018.

“She is a really special girl and I am very lucky and blessed for her coming into my life,” Tebow said in an ESPN interview. “I am usually very private with these things but I am very thankful.”

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In January 2019 after less than a year of dating, Tim popped the question with an elaborate and sentimental proposal. Tebow had flown family members from across America and South Africa to Jacksonville, Florida to be a part of the proposal. Demi-Leigh was told they were attending a late Tebow family Christmas dinner at their family farm and was surprised when it ended in a proposal.

“Ever since I first saw you, you gave me so much hope. When I first heard your voice, you gave me so much belief. When I first met you, I knew you were the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I will spend the rest of my life fighting for you and fighting for us,” said Tebow before going down on one knee to propose.

Tebow also flew Demi-Leigh’s favourite South African performer Matthew Mole to Florida to serenade them post-proposal. Watch their proposal here:

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They came to Demi-Leigh’s home country, South Africa, to tie the knot. Their pre-wedding festivities kicked off with a ‘Welcome to Africa’ cocktail dinner in the Cape winelands to introduce Tebow to South African culture. The bride wore a stunning white dress by Gert Johan-Coetzee featuring a criss-cross neckline and cut-out detail, while Tebow wore a blush-toned suit.

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The following day, the couple held a stunning rehearsal dinner. They went for a sophisticated colour scheme, opting for rich purples, reds and black. Demi-Leigh stunned in a strapless wine-coloured dress with beading by Anel Botha. The couple’s weekend events are all planned by celebrity planner Zavion Khotze.

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The pair got married at the La Paris Estate in Franschhoek on January 20, 2020. South African celebrity wedding planner Zavion Khotze organised the day. The former Miss Universe wore an off-the-shoulder cowl-neck dress by Davids Bridal and Tim wore a tuxedo by Antar Levar.

According to PEOPLE, their ceremony lasted 30 minutes and was attended by 260 guests. The couple wrote their own vows.

The wedding blended South African and American wedding traditions, because their cultures are very important to the couple.

“We’re both very traditional,” Nel-Peters told PEOPLE. “We wanted to look back at the wedding and see that it was intimate, elegant, and traditional. We definitely wanted it to be something that we could look back on and know that nothing was dated. We want to remember this day for the rest of our lives.”

Demi-Leigh’s favourite performer, Matthew Mole, performed his original song ‘Pennsylvania’ for their first dance.

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Feature image: Instagram / Demi Tebow

Rapper 2 Chainz and wife Kesha Ward are celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary.

In a sweet Instagram post, the hip-hop veteran shared throwback images of the pair on their wedding day.

“2 years ago I married the most beautiful, pure, caring, spiritual, loving person on earth … Kesha you my rock , you my best friend , YOU DA 1 baby HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KEE,” he captioned the slideshow.

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2 Chains, real name Tauheed Epps, proposed to Ward on the red carpet at the 2018 Met Gala. This was not his first proposal, however. The rapper first went down on one knee back in 2013 while at the Bet Awards.

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The pair tied the knot on August 19, 2018 in a star-studded Miami wedding. Their wedding venue was the Villa Casa Casuarina, also known as the Versace mansion as it is the former home of late designer Gianna Versace.

Some notable names attending the wedding include Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

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They have three children together: daughters Heaven and Harmony, and son Halo, all of whom were present for their parents big day.

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Feature image: Instagram / 2 Chainz

Iconic performer Elton John has had hit after hit over the decades. The Rocketman performer has had a tumultous life, one made much sweeter when he met future husband David Furnish.

After almost 30 years together, Elton John and David Furnish has become one of the most famous same-sex celebrity couplings. They continue to work together to break stigmas and support worthy charities. Here’s how they found love.

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The legendary musician met the Canadian filmmaker and former advertising executive back in 1993, and the love connection was instant. At the time, John was newly sober after a decade of substance abuse. He had left his home in Atlanta to return to his estate in Windsor, England and decided to host a dinner party.

“I wanted to meet new people so I rang up a friend in London and said, ‘Could you please rattle some new people together for dinner here Saturday?’” he told Parade in 2010. Furnish had accompanied a friend on the evening, thinking it was going to be a dull affair. It was anything but, as the pair had an immediate attraction.

“I was attracted to David immediately,” John told Parade. “He had a real job, his own apartment, a car. He was independent. I didn’t need to take care of him. I thought, ‘God, this is new territory for me — someone wants to be with me just because he likes me.’ I knew he was the one because he is not afraid of me. He always tells me exactly what he thinks.”

The very next evening, they met up again for a one-on-one dinner at John’s home. One dinner led to more, and they quickly fell in love.

The pair eventually began working together. In 1997, Furnish made his directorial debut with Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras, a documentary about the musician that earned a BAFTA award.

In 2005, Elton John popped the question while hosting a dinner party at their Windsor home. At the time, however, marriage was not legal for same-sex couples. They then made history by becoming one of the first couples in the UK to form a civil partnership on December 21, 2005.

On December 21,  2014, nine years exactly to the date, the pair officially tied the knot when gay marriage was made legal in the UK.

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This was not the first marriage for Elton John. He was engaged to Linda Hannon in 1970 before cancelling the wedding days before the ceremony. He later married sound technician Renate Blauel from 1983 to 1987. John had already come out as bisexual in 1976. Soon after their divorce, he told Rolling Stone Magazine that he was gay.

Throughout the course of their 27-year relationship, philanthropy has been close to their hearts. John is head of the Elton John AIDS Charity, and David serves on its board. Together, they work to break the stigma and raise awareness and funding for the AIDS crisis and programs around the world. Every year, their black tie charity event raises millions of dollars for the foundation.

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