Though Bachelor Nation has become known for its abysmal track record, there have still been some great relationships that have emerged from the franchise. On The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise, individuals (mostly Instagram influencers) search for love. However, reality TV isn’t the best way to build a lasting relationship, which makes it all the more surprising when there are Bachelor Nation success stories.
There have been some recent couples in the franchise that are still together. However, they’re not exactly what you’d consider success stories—at least not yet. Zach Shallcross got engaged to Kaity Biggar got engaged on the most recent season of The Bachelor. However, they’ve only been together for a few months, so the jury’s still out on whether their relationship will last.
Other couples, like Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell or Hannah Godwin and Dylan Barbour are still together, but haven’t tied the knot yet, and there’s still a chance they could break up. Still, there are a handful of couples who have proven they’ve got what it takes. Not only have they gotten married, but many are already growing their families. It’s proof that The Bachelor process (sometimes) works.
Sean Lowe & Catherine Giudici Lowe
Sean Lowe has become the golden boy of The Bachelor franchise, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s currently the only Bachelor lead who is married to his final rose recipient. All the other Bachelors broke up with their final rose recipient or, in the case of Brad Womack, didn’t pick anyone at all.
On his season, Sean and Catherine Giudici Lowe’s romance was textbook Bachelor, and it makes sense that producers would point to them as an example of the franchise working. Sean and Catherine have been married since 2014, when they wed in a televised event. The couple have since welcomed three children and are a bona fide Bachelor Nation success story.
JoJo Fletcher & Jordan Rodgers
The Bachelorette has enjoyed a marginally higher success rate than The Bachelor, and JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers are a prime example. At the end of her journey, in 2016, JoJo accepted Jordan’s proposal and have been together ever since. However, it took the couple a long time to make it down the aisle.
Initially, the two revealed they were taking time to get to know each other more before getting married. Then JoJo and Jordan had to postpone their wedding multiple times due to the pandemic. They eventually married in 2022, and are another instance of a lead actually sticking with the person they gave their final rose to.
Rachel Lindsay & Bryan Abasolo
It seems that Bachelorettes have a better idea of what they want than their male counterparts. Rachel Lindsay is another lead who is still with the man she ended her season with. Despite the elements not cooperating as Bryan Abasolo got down on one knee, their relationship since then has been picture perfect.
The two got married in 2019, and seem to be very happy together. However, ABC may be hesitant to hold the couple up as a Bachelor Nation success story. Rachel has been very critical of the network. She is extremely outspoken about Bachelor Nation’s major diversity problems, and hasn’t been associated with the franchise as much lately.
Jade Roper & Tanner Tolbert
Though The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have low success rates, things improve when looking at Bachelor in Paradise. It’s not hard to see why, as the summer spin-off allows cast members to spend more time together. Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert were the first Paradise couple to get engaged and (legally) married.
The two became the first real Bachelor in Paradise success story, and have been trotted out on the show multiple times in subsequent seasons to prove the process really can work. Jade and Tanner got married in 2016 and have since welcomed three children, one of which was dramatically birthed in a closet.
Raven Gates & Adam Gottschalk
On Bachelor in Paradise Season 4, there was another Bachelor Nation success story, with Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk. Their journey was a little different, as they opted to leave the show together, but not engaged. It was a smart move, and they were wise not to rush things, as many Bachelor Nation couples often do.
The pair got engaged in 2019 and married in 2021, cementing their relationship as one of the better ones to come out of Bachelor in Paradise. Raven and Adam have already welcomed their first child and are expecting their second this year. The sped-up timeline of Bachelor Nation relationships is often what leads to their downfall. However, Raven and Adam managed to avoid that.
Kevin Wendt & Astrid Loch
Kevin Wendt and Astrid Loch’s relationship had more ups and downs than the other Bachelor Nation success stories, but they’ve stood the test of time and seem to now be on solid footing. Their journey on Bachelor in Paradise was difficult, and they couple actually split up while still on the show, leaving the beach separately.
However, on the After the Final Rose for that season of Bachelor in Paradise, Kevin and Astrid revealed they were back together. Since then it’s been smooth sailing for the couple. After getting engaged in 2019, Astrid and Kevin welcomed their first child in 2021, and a little over a year later, they officially tied the knot.
Though it’s not often that a Bachelor Nation couple can make it work long term, there are still a few examples of the franchise occasionally working its magic and making true love happen.
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