The Golden Wedding on January 4, 2024, was a big event for Bachelor Nation. Bachelor and Bachelorette alums came out of retirement to pad the guest list and chat with host Jesse Palmer.
Recent Bachelor in Paradise alum Brayden Bowers used the occasion to propose to his girlfriend, Bachelor alum Christina Mandrell. Of course, she said yes. As he slipped the Neil Lane sparkler onto her finger, she asked, “Is this why we had to get our nails done earlier today?”
Even though it’s considered an etiquette no-no to propose at someone else’s wedding, Jesse assured viewers it was all cool. “Brayden actually called Gerry [Turner] and Theresa [Nist] and made sure he got their blessing before he proposed,” Jesse explained. Were they gonna say no when ABC’s paying for everything and probably wanted the proposal as part of the show?
A wedding proposal?
As Jesse interviewed seemingly every Bachelor Nation alum ever ahead of the wedding, he checked in with Brayden and Christina. The couple met a few months ago when she slid into his DMs and they bonded over Tenacious D. As they discussed their impending relocation to Tennessee together, the travel nurse took the actress/model’s hands and began his speech.
“For the first time in my life, I feel like I found someone that I can be myself with unapologetically,” he told her. “I have no doubts that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He got down on one knee and opened a ring box. Before he could even ask the question, Christina was screaming, “Yes! Yes!”
Usually, it would be extremely bad manners to propose at a wedding, taking the spotlight off the bride. It’s supposed to be her day. But this is Bachelor Nation, y’all. I’m sure when Brayden realized the opportunity to get his hands on a (free) Neil Lane ring and get to pop the question on national TV, he was all in. But fan reaction to the engagement was mixed.
Bachelor Nation reacts
Though the Internet immediately buzzed with messages of congratulations, others were critical of the move.
“Ain’t no way brayden just proposed to christina at someone else’s wedding,” one viewer tweeted.
Another wrote, “Not Brayden proposing to Christina Mandrell on Gerry and Theresa’s night!”
A third joked, “Between Leslie showing up, Brayden proposing to Christina, & Sandra bringing a Chippendale as her date, the pre-wedding has been lit. What else could happen?”
Saying he took inspiration from Gerry and Theresa, Brayden thought there was no time to waste. And they don’t want a long engagement. Looks like we’ll see another Bachelor Nation wedding in the near future.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK BRAYDEN AND CHRISTINA WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AS A COUPLE? DO YOU THINK IT WAS OKAY FOR BRAYDEN TO PROPOSE AT THE WEDDING OR WAS IT TACKY?
