Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Christina Mandrell & Brayden Bowers | A ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ Bachelor Love Story

Episode Date: February 13, 2024

#711. Buckle up, Bachelor fans because Christina Mandrell and Brayden Bowers join Kaitlyn in Nashville, freshly engaged, perfectly imperfect, and ready to share their love story with the world. Although Kaitlyn would NEVER make fun of a Bachelor contestant, she addresses the elephant in the room and finds out the true story behind Brayden's iconic dangly earrings. But don’t worry, they settle their differences and the three of them are ready to start a band together!  Plus, Christina reveals her secret acting gig in the Hannah Montana movie and Brayden explains his blind dive into the Bachelorette world. Hear about their whirlwind romance, from sliding into DMs to taking the life-changing trip of meeting each other. Learn how they navigate blending their families, prioritize communication, and keep the spark alive with weekly date nights. And make sure you stay till the end because Bradyen “wraps” up the podcast in an epic way!  Highlights from today's episode: (02:32)- Christina reveals her celebrity crushes, her obsession with Eminem and Paul McCartney, and her past involvement in music videos, including ones with MGK and Taylor Swift. (12:00) - Brayden shares the story behind his distinctive earrings and discusses his introduction to the Bachelor franchise. (19:30) - Dive into the couple's love story as they recount how they first met through social media and quickly became exclusive the first time they met in person. (27:17) - Learn about Brayden's transformative boating trip where he faced death, which led to profound realizations about his life and love for Christina. (31:05) - Gain insights into their approach to parenting and blending families, focusing on healthy communication and building a strong foundation. (42:15) - The 5 love languages, and what Brayden has discovered is at the core of those.  (47:50) - Christina and Brayden share how it was watching Bachelor in Paradise back once they were together.  (49:15) - They address the rumors about Christina’s pregnancy, the AI photothat circulated the internet, and why it is inappropriate for strangers to make comments about a woman's body.  (55:45) - The three of them discuss their experience at The Golden Wedding, and why Brayden decided to propose at Gerry and Theresa’s wedding.  This Episode is Sponsored by: BETTERHELP — Visit BetterHelp.com/VINE today to get 10% off your first month. PROGRESSIVE — Quote at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive. SKIMS — SKIMS Bras are now available at SKIMS.com . Plus, get free shipping on orders over $75! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay, let's talk about the original enemies to lovers story. Before all of our reality TV couples, before the rom-coms, we binge, there was Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy in pride and prejudice. And Audible has just dropped a brand new original that will have you completely hooked, I am. It's not just any audiobook. This is a full cast performance. So Marisa Abella, you might know her from industry, brings Elizabeth Bennett to life.

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So whether it's your first time experiencing Pride and Prejudice or you've read it a million times, you're going to fall absolutely in love all over again. So go listen to Pride and Prejudice now at audible.ca slash Jane Austen. Off the Vine. Hey everybody, welcome to Off the Vine podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Bristow. I'm so excited for you guys to watch or listen, whatever you're doing, this episode with Brayden and Christina from Bachelor nation they got engaged at gary's wedding we got into so many other things how brayden's going to step in as a dad how their relationship came to be we got timelines we got receipts we got

stamps we got it all and they're just hilarious i think you guys are really going to enjoy this episode i trolled you on my podcast once did you i did oh i'm leaving but i will say i will say the next podcast i made up for it because i was like it was so easy to poke fun at your And I loved your earrings, but I was in, I was watching Home Alone, and you know in Home Alone, the old man is like, yeah, she's got a whole drawer earrings, the dangly ones. So I kept like referring to that when you were on. That has to be at the beginning of the intro of the rap song. You? Is your family in music or something?

They dabble. Yeah. We'll talk about it later. You don't know about her family. Oh, my God. I was like, y'all are engaged. Oh, actually, so Aunt Barbara lives a street over. I thought we were about to pull into the same name.

Oh, really? Yeah. No way. Let's go over there after me. Let's go. Let's go. Hey, we're recording a song. So if you could just like come out of retirement.

Yeah. Get her on the strings or what are they called the steel guitar? Yes. Maybe fun. And our, yeah, could you just like. Our program here. Do you believe in us? Yeah.

Do you believe in us? We're just asking for like a $10,000 gift, you know? Yeah. And we'll be like, I think it's the magic number. And we'll be like, look, we've got the first line. The dangling was. What do you think? What do you think?

She's like, I remember just like going over there growing up and I would help sometimes just like, you know, reorganizing. This is just like I would be there and she had a big garden. She lives gardening. And I remember like for some reason I remember dusting her CD collections is such a weird memory. I don't know why. This is literally just from my memory. I haven't said this out loud.

But I remember how many M&M CDs there were. And that's really, I love Eminem so much. And I, um, like, put it in. And that's really where I started my love. It was Aunt Barbara. So that was the other day that she literally asks herself at least once a day. What would Marshall Mathers do right now? I don't know.

When you're thinking about like your past and stuff, it's like, is this too much? And it's not like, I don't think like bury it. But like if I overcome this, like would Eminem would be so disappointed if I was sitting here making excuses for myself right now. I was like, I was like, what? Like, I think you're the only person. I have three people I would be like Starstruck over and he's definitely one of those people but I couldn't let him know he's too cool I've well we I know two people that are like this she has a Hall Pass for two people she has a Hall Pass for Eminem's one of them and Jack Black's the other I don't know who this third guy is though I'm Paul McCartney oh I don't know if I could do I'm obsessed with your that's your three that's my three Hall McCartney Jack Black you'd want to hit that I didn't know it was Hall Pass I just said Starstruck oh okay okay I thought I thought I say Jackbug, but hey, you know, who am I?

That's kind of, that was, that was a big reason. Twice, wait, I said, oh. Hello. Wait, I need to circle back to Eminem still. I need to go back. I, too, am obsessed with Eminem. Why are we upset? I went to the Detroit Lions game just recently when they lost.

Marshall was there. And I took out binoculars. I found them. You did? In the whole, how many, 76,000 people I think? Exactly, probably. 76,422. I found Eminem.

Where was he? That's also like a great Waldo. You should have like taken a big, wide picture. I should have. But I felt like I was being such a creep. It's Eminem. It's not creepy. He would stare.

He was like this to me. I mean, he loves his creeps. He wrote a song about, he wrote a song about one. So it's like he'd probably write a song about you if you found out that you found him in a crowd with binoculars. You should tell them. And then we should tell them that we're also going to write a song. Start right.

Maybe we can feature him on. That's how we get big because we're going to just start beef with him. Like the MGK beef? Like, what was that? He was beef with, I mean, yeah. Oh, my gosh, because it was Megan Foxx in his video or something? No, no. Actually, let's, this is funny.

They were definitely not together yet because I was next to MGK in music video. We were in this old Cadillac for like hours and hours with Yellow Wolf, DJ Paul, and MGK and it was far before anything with Megan and we were just sitting there Yellow Wolf has a whiskey and we were just like sitting there taping filming this music video

way back in the day and it was right when Eminem had did his track because M&M had said something about Haley and then yeah right which you gotta yeah that he's his dad's got to do what he's got to do

and so then MGK did it and had his track back and it was like actually pretty good and usually when people go in on Eminem, it's like, all right, whatever. But Eminem hadn't responded yet when we were sitting there getting drunk in the Cadillac. And so he was kind of really popular. I mean, he's now way more popular than then, but this was like kind of his, like, moment. So you just were like in the music video.

You're also in Taylor Swift's music video? There's a lot of music videos, and there's so many that people have not yet to find. Stop. Can we like secretly? Secretly. That's definitely not a word. Secretly. Secretly.

Secretly. That's so bad. We could just secrete. Unishtray. Just secreted. Just get it out, the glands. Get out the glands. Glans is not a good way.

Express the glands right now and tell us where. Well, I can give you like an exclusive list or something. I've got to figure it out. I need to add things to my resume that I've just not been able to find. There's a, I mean, we're in Nashville. So I'm born and raised Nashville. And the first ever, like, acting thing that I ever did, I remember I finally gave in and went with the agent that my family has been with.

And they were like, anytime you want to do, like, any acting or anything. And I was just like, I don't know. And I was shy. And it was, uh, I find it was like, okay, I'll do it. And they were like, all right, cool. You're going to be an extra in the Hannah Montana movie. Stop. And so that was the very first thing, like, that I had done that wasn't just, like, extra

with my family, choice dick commercials and, like, uh, farm and stuff. So that was the first thing. And the both scenes got cut. Oh, shit. Yep. That's like me. I was in Final Destination 3. They cut my part. What happened? I was just a cheerleader in the background. I didn't do it. I didn't get like killing. There's no acting. It's cool. Yeah, it was cool. But I spent so many hours of my day. I still got paid. But I was like, damn it.

So is your family into acting or all music? Well, mainly me. So I'm like the baby baby of the family. So my mom had me at 40. I have two siblings or three siblings with my dad. From my mom, I have three siblings, but they both have a different dad. So they're eight and 10 years older than me and then the next youngest person in my entire like Mandrell side of the family is my brother and sister and so I'm like way down there I wasn't really around when it was all

happening and whatnot and so it's kind of weird like the movies and they had TV show and they did all these things like your parents my mom and her two sisters the Mandrell sisters like I was the three of them their TV show was like it still holds the records for like most

viewed TV show but it was like I was definitely not even thought of yet my dad's 20 years younger than my mom so he probably wasn't even thought of she's a cooker just like her mom I am I'm older than him less and so um I never turned into your parents you don't try to oh you really do my mom she was on a he-ha for a lot of years too so they all did like a bunch of different things yeah I mean so my passion would be acting if I had to choose I mean I've dabbled with the singing and whatnot I guess I'm now I'm getting back into it with you guys um but the passion is

Yeah, the passion would be acting if I had to choose. Now, some people go on The Bachelor thinking that maybe an acting career could spike out of it. Did you think that? I definitely did not. My name could get out there in that way. So here's the thing. I love The Bachelor. You do.

And yours was the very first season that I started on. You might have told me this. I have not. I'm actually been watching you for a long time. So like she's been looking at you, your binoculars. Kind of, you know, like five in us. So, hi. Secretly.

But no, so my best friend, she, long story short, she had a lot of siblings, her dad's pastor, and she loved the bachelor and the bachelorette. And she wanted to watch it, but wasn't allowed in the house, even though she was, I think she was 18 or, oh, 17 or something. So she would come over to my place. Mama said, bachelor's from the dill. Right. And so she'd come over to my place and, like, hey, can I watch this? And I'm like, yeah, sure. what is this like this is okay once you get past you know right is this

craziness why is this happening then you know I'm one of those like the one of the boyfriends it's like oh this is stupid oh what is she doing over there like yeah what was a single tier yeah exactly that was me I was like the boyfriend of that situation and then um yeah so that really started with your season and so it was really cool for me because then I started doing like the brackets and I would have friends over weekly and And it was like, I never had, like, friends over, like, in that kind of way. Like I said, I'm the baby of the family. And there wasn't really, we didn't watch, like, sports or anything like that.

And so it was really cool. And then I got my, like, my family from different states and my mom and my sister and all these friends. And I would do a charcutory board, like, a whole underground. I'm obsessed. Yeah. Street, neither? No. We actually, can we cut this whole part from the podcast?

For legal reasons. Yeah. No, but it was really cool. And so that's why, like, just like, the whole Bachelor. and Bachelor, like, the whole franchise meant so much because it was just, like, kind of like, community. You didn't even know, but you were manifesting it. Well, this is also, we're going to then circle around

to the finale of Rachel and Gabby's season. Yeah. So they announced the five girls earlier, early on the finale for Zach's season, and you were there. Wait, I was there. You were there. I do remember you, because I remember it being like a Nashville girl. Okay, good.

Oh, I talked to you after, didn't I? Nope. I'm just kidding. But it was your problem. You were dreaming. Yes, yeah, that was the dream. She wanted to meet you just as badly as you wanted to meet. No, no, no, no, I need you guys to hear how I, I've not even said this out loud or two or anything.

So I walk out and I was like the last, no, I wasn't the last, yeah, I was the last of the five girls. And they are like from Nashville. And then I see you, like, you're the first person. I'm like, oh, okay, Zach's the Bachelor. No, I'm just kidding. I did care, but I was like, okay, but Caitlin Brista's in the audience. And I make eye contact with you and you're like, you had your phone out. And I was, I remember begging producers afterwards.

I was like, can you guys just like see what Caitlin Brista was tweeting? So I'm like, does she hate me? And so I made eye contact with you, though, and I winked because I'm like Nashville. And I was like, I never met you. And I had no connections or anything. I thought you were probably tweeting making fun of me is why I was scared. But no. So then you didn't acknowledge it.

So then next time I did it again. I think I did it three or four times. And I'm like, they're going to put this in. It's like she has a nervous kid. I really am excited about me. But it was like, I was just completely, like, Jesse, I was like, I was like, I, I don't know what's going on, except... Imagine they just keep panning to you, winking.

That's exactly how... Yeah, so they didn't end up from what I have seen. I've not been able to find the wink, but... Hey. I thank you for a fight. I see you. And then you got your phone now, and I'm just like,

she's making fun of me so hard right now. Like, this girl won't stop winging at me. I'm making fun of me, right? I don't blame her. I was about to be like, I don't make fun of anyone on the bad shirt, except dangling over there. Yeah, but then I realized why. Dingle boy.

Somebody told me it was like, you tell me why. Tell me how the earrings. I'm sure you've talked about this a lot, but I want to hear it because I think, from what I heard, it's a cool story. Yeah, so originally I was in the military. Yeah. In the military, you got to have short hair and all that stuff. Yeah, make fun of that.

Yeah. Make fun of that. I serve the country. Thank you for your service. Yeah. But no, so it was like, I got out and then I was, I went to pride. My sister lives in Sanfran. So we went to pride together in Sanfran and her one of her friends had clip on earrings.

And so I put the clip on earrings in. And I'm just like, I'm out there. I'm like, this kind of actually looked out of good. And, like, growing up, my dad always had his ears pierced, but he always told me I had two small lobes to really. I'm like, checking out your lobes. I'm like, those are great lobes. Thank you.

Yeah, great lobes. In face, dad. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. And I love you, and I love you, you know I love you.

Yeah. I lobed you first. And now the five, babe. But I love that because you probably felt so like you had to look a certain way and now you get to to express yourself in other ways. Yeah. And then it just. became this thing where I was like I got him and then I went on a trip to I went on a trip to Mexico and I saw

like feather earrings someone was wearing I was like that looks so cool and so I ended up buying feather earrings and then it was just downhill from there and I just like I feel so bad that I mean one don't feel bad it's honestly like you were also getting like do you okay do you believe in people getting a bad edit or did they just show things that it was just like a one dimensional character of yourself that made you look bad I don't know if it's necessarily a bad edit I think everyone takes people different ways. And so I think that the way that they go with the edit is based on how the other people in the house are kind of taking you. And so it's

like, for me, it's like, that's how those other guys were looking at me is as the villain. Like, I was the boogeyman that they were afraid of that night. And they always have to have one. I had never seen the show before. Like, so for me, like, going on the show, it was like my friends, like I used to live with, like, in a house full of like, there was like three or four girls I used to live with in San Barbara. And they used to watch

it like religiously Monday night. And so one night, they were like, oh, we're going to sign you up. And I was like, yeah, sure. And I went to work. And it was like months later all of a sudden I got a random phone call and they're like hey like you know this is you know this is so-and-so from the bachelorette like we were wondering if you want to come on the season if you would like to meet with us and come on our season and I'm like sure I'm like so then it was just within a couple weeks I ended up on charity season I love that you went in without knowing yeah and I mean that's an interesting way to go in and it's probably better

and I'm that's how I kind of take life is it's like you know like take it as it comes and like explore the new experiences that you have and so I was happy I mean I ended up with the best prize you could possibly win and so it's it's pretty awesome it's like definitely blessed but yeah yeah you two just seemed like from i mean i hung out with you the night of that was so much you were wild i was on fire that night you were you were killed it that night somebody well somebody did end up taking me home not like that but no we yeah you were one of the producers were like do me to walk you home i was like um it's hard to find your room there it is hard to find your room there Even completely sober, I could not find that room.

I would walk in circles. I was like, same. I remember now, like, on our way back that night, you kept going the wrong way. I'm like, no. See, I know where I'm going. And it was like the one time I was actually able to get us back. Yeah, and we're walking. And I just wanted to get back to the room as fast as possible because someone here might have taken some of the flower arrangements from the wedding.

Did you? Okay. I'm going to bust her out right now. So she was like, she's like, these flowers are so beautiful. I need to shoot away. And I'm like, I'm like, baby. Some drinks and stuff. And I'm just walking around.

I'm like, I brought these with me. They're mine. These aren't what you think. And I kept telling him like, baby, like we have to, because we were about to drive back from, because that, like, we left like the very next day to go back and drive here. And I was like, we have to. Like he was moving. That was the move.

Oh, that was moving. I was like, we have to take these flowers like across country. He had a world truck of all of his things. Yeah, this is not going to work. And she's like, she's like, it'll be fine. And then now we have a bag of flowers. that have turned into like, you know, manure or whatever in our front yard. That was the bottom.

You don't understand. That's the part that was green. You really made them? You took them in the whole water? It's mulch. We have a bag of mulch. No, no, no. That was the bottom part with the foam.

She's green thumb. Okay, so here's the thing. Segwaying, I want to try this, the rituals. We've already had a couple seances for these drinking flowers. No, so this is, this is why, first of all, I have. hoard things. Okay, fair enough. We have, you know, realized now

therapy that maybe I'm learning now to express with words instead of holding on to experience with things, but it's fine. I really, you know, the flowers were nice. I'm so proud of you. Thanks. And, but no, here's a thing. So, yeah, we've been, I mean,

we don't have too much to say, really, but there is, you know, stay tuned for earring line coming out. And so we've been dabbling and dabbling. And, like, all things that. So, like, even what I've made here, which are awful ones, I would not get a close-up shot.

So these actually have the roses from, yeah. So these have roses from my season. And, like, I didn't get many, but, as you know, they replenish and make them fresh. So I got more than just the two. Yeah, okay. And so, yeah, I've been, like, drying them out and then making, like, jewelry and stuff.

She actually, so the cutest thing. So our first date, she actually took me skeet shooting. So, first of all. What shooting? You never been skeet shooting? Oh, really? Skeet shooting. Oh, have you ever shot a shotgun?

No, I'm Canadian. We're gonna, okay. But look, this is like sporting clay. It's like, look, we're going. It's gonna be so much fun. It's like, so basically you go and they like shoot the clay darts in the sky. And they have to like pull and you shoot the, shoot the darts. Yes, yes.

Yes, okay. Not like hunting or anything like that. Yes, I know exactly what that is now. I didn't know that's the name of it. So our first date, she actually took me there before we went to the Tenacious D concert. She took me to go skeet shooting. she actually she collected like the beads and the shotgun shells well you're like what are you doing like nothing foraging

she's collecting them and I was like this girl is so weird but it's awesome and uh we love weird and she actually made me earrings out of like the shotgun shells and stuff like that so like it's cute yeah wait I wow I suck I could never like I'm like online gift card I couldn't tell my liked them but I could make them these things I would be like um what do you like coffee Starbucks gift card do you like that's how good I'm like giving gifts Grab a coffee and discover non-stop action with BudMGM Casino.

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If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connix Ontario at 1866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. But MGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. we need timeline receipts we need i'm sure you've talked about this before but maybe we have actually i know we have listeners here that haven't heard the story because when i put a little question box up everyone was like how did they meet when tell it take us back to the beginning all right we'll run through i'm glad you're in so we got to talk about that you're in therapy too together yeah so we're actually so the show actually does relationship counseling

and they hook this up with so we're set we haven't set up our first counseling session for that yet, but done individual counseling. I'm so happy to hear they're doing that. They didn't do that back of murder. No. We did ask. Yeah. I mean, we reached out because it was like, I mean, we've had so many changes.

I mean, like, we, you're dating long distance and then you're moving in together and then you got a kiddo now. And so it's like, I mean. He almost died on a boat and then like, you know, yeah, big things. So when did this happen? We'll try and run through it because you just said you were watching Paradise together. Oh, yeah. We were together before that.

So was that hard to watch? We'll get there. We'll get there. Yeah. That's why we're in therapy. Got it. Yeah. No.

I thought this was therapy. This is definitely a grape therapy. This is why we're here. This is great. But yeah, no, so we met because she commented, so she commented on a post I had. I liked the post. I didn't respond to her comment. And so she kind of, afterwards she told me she got, like, she was a little salty about that.

But I made up for it because I ended up DMing her because she posts like a story of her and Blakely, like, or Blakely, like, cutting hair of Barbie. And at first I thought it was Blakely's hair that she was cutting. And I was like, did you just let her cut her own hair? Because, like, growing up, my sister letting one of her friends cut her hair, and I'll never forget how mad, like, my mom was. Oh, yeah. It was like, my sister was, like, half bald. It was really, it was the worst haircut I've ever seen. Yeah. So I was like, that's kind of where my head was. Yeah, shout out. You know, Paige. Screw you for messing my sister's hair up. But no, it's all good. I'll love. I promise I'm not mad

I'm not mad and neither is she she loves you too but yeah no so it was funny because so I reached out over that and then kind of like just like hey like you know what was it going on and we started DMing from there and it was strategic though which is nice because it was like he wanted to let me know that hey I know you got a kid and that's fine we can still chat

which was really sweet yeah that is sweet this was back in July so it was like right after I got back from Paradise I was home for like and she had she'd commented on a post and like I didn't respond at first because like I was it was so I had just gotten done yeah it's a lot it's whirlwind so it was like in my mind I was like I was going to counseling for like you know I was seeing a counselor that was talking about relationship health and like how to go about having a healthy relationship and what to really build on in order to have a healthy relationship and so I would with the class yeah well yeah I realized the biggest thing I had was contempt actually and it was just like thinking that you know something better and a lot of it came from my life. lack of, like, communicating and really, like, asking where other people were coming from and just thinking that I was having the thoughts and no one else was having the thoughts that was having, you know, and so it was- We talked about that on our first phone call.

Yeah, and it was a lot of, it was based out of, like, a lot of insecurity of myself of just being like, I have these thoughts, these thoughts, these thoughts aren't normal, no one else is having these thoughts, and so I shouldn't say anything. And it kind of made me feel as though I was, to a degree, it made me feel like I was better, like, than other people, because I was in my head saying, no one else feels this way, no one else is thinking this way. I'm different. Yeah.

You know. Yeah. And so I had to learn that that wasn't the case. And through talking about that and talking to other people and seeing where they're coming from what thoughts they're having, you realize that you guys are both having very similar thoughts. And so you're not better. And so I just say what I'm thinking aloud while I, we find out together when it's popping in their hair. That's probably the best thing. Yeah.

I don't want to think about what I'm saying. I just want to find out. And it's actually amazing because she does just say it. And so the thoughts I'm having, she'll just say it. And I'm like, I think that too. Like, we finish each other sandwiches. Yeah. And so I learned that from counseling. I have. Yeah. Okay. I was wondering. So I was like, I've watched it. You're just really ready to toss over. Don't even let me get going. I'll start to sing the right here.

I just already know. I want more therapy. All right. But so we ended up, so we ended up meeting up after that. So like she gave me her number. And then we found out that, you know, she was going to see Tenacious D. And me and her both like Tenacious D. And she found out because I said something about Tenacious D. Did you just, yeah, did you just, did we just become best friends? Yeah, yeah. It was pretty amazing. And so I flew out the next week on Spirit Airline, almost died. It was amazing. Oh, shit. Yeah, well, that was your first mistake.

Yeah, it was, I mean, it was a last minute ticket. First was coming to see. It was the last minute ticket. So it was like, I saw Spirit Airlines 130 bucks versus like 600. I was like, okay, if I die, I die, you know, whatever. Wow. So I called in sick to work that weekend, came out. And then just, we just hit it off.

Because I had the tickets. I was like, okay, if you're a true fan, then call. Come on. And was this while the Paradise was airing? Not at all. So this was still before. Yeah. So were you guys getting recognized together, out together?

He came to Nashville and I told him. I was like, well, I don't want to awkwardly meet you, like picking you up in the car and side hug. So I am going to come inside. But it's Nashville and like people get recognized and I don't want to get in trouble. And we don't want to ruin like spoilers and stuff. So I'm going to come inside. So it's not awkward. But we're going to be really like low key.

Yeah. And so I showed up with a disguise of mustache and these big glasses and a huge rose that's like as tall as me and stuff. It was a six foot tall rose. And I'm just like, you're going to be really discreetly. I was like, yeah, okay. Yeah. So I was thinking she was going to be in a hoodie like in the corner or something like that. But no, she came out and I was just like, as soon as I was like, I freaking love this girl. Like and that was. And that's when I knew. Honestly, it was. And it was crazy. Like later that day, we had to talk.

We kissed right there. Yeah. Well, she curved me at first. With the mustache on? No, yeah. It was, we're in some, that was later. We're into some freaky stuff. Found out that from counseling, too, you know what I'm saying?

Counseling's where you find your kinks. So people that are against counseling, like, you should really get into it. You should be approved. Go to counseling. Yeah. You can, it's a safe place there. Yeah. But, yeah, so we just, I mean, it was amazing.

That day we ended up talking. And, like, the biggest thing was with long distance is it's, you don't want anything to be up in the air. questions so it's like if I was I knew that if so true I knew that if we really hit it off this trip that it was like I wanted to make sure that we had to talk about that I wasn't gonna like see anybody else like I wanted to let her know I was exclusively gonna be just seeing her because if you go back home it's you don't know what they're doing you're not spending time together and then there's so much insecurities that build off of that and so I didn't want to mess up a good thing and honestly from that moment I was like this is a good thing and so that later that day

we ended up talking and I was like hey like you know I just I want to let you know like I you know, I really like you and I don't know how you feel and I understand like if you're seeing other people, that's fine. But I just want to let you know like I'm not going to be seeing anyone else because I really am wanting to pursue this. And she was like, I'm on the same page. And so it was just really neat to be on. Before the sun went down on the first day. Yeah. It was before the sun went down the first day. I love that. Especially because when you come off shows like that, I feel like you really are prepared to just like kind of have all your walls down and just say what you're thinking and feeling and be like, I'm all in. Yeah. Yeah. We were definitely being very able.

vulnerable, and real, and it could have gone very differently. Because you're also thinking, like, if I'm really liking someone inviting them into my life, I have a daughter, and you're thinking, this is, like, I'm not going to, like, mess around with this when there's a daughter involved. And then what was it like meeting Blakely? So we didn't, he didn't meet her on that trip because it was so short, but. So you knew you're in love that day. Yeah. Right.

We didn't say that, though. When did we know? So then we're gonna We're definitely not going fast forward Okay, so let's speed it up Did the trip It's amazing incredible We're exclusive then

Come back home I'm going to a boating trip Almost die on that boating trip Yeah oh I remember that This was like super serious Oh yeah I remember you Yeah we're not like I mean we're trying to fast forward

But yeah it wasn't like Oh the boat saying It was like really really bad It was actually it was But it was a moment that It put a lot of things In a perspective for me Where I'm like I'm 25 years old

Life doesn't seem short But in reality life is short life's here one second and it's gone the next and so for me in that moment it just put things in a perspective and I just I knew that I loved her and I wasn't going to follow these timelines that I thought we had to follow anymore I wasn't going to hold things in that I like leave anything left unsaid and so I I got off the boat or I got on land I got off the boat way ahead but I got on land and I just called her and I was like hey I know this is fast but I had these feelings from the first moment I met you

and I just love you and I don't want to From the outside of T-Mobile on this like random phone Like hey all this just happened and this is that None of that matters though I don't want to talk about any of that I want to talk about I love you and what And she's like Blakely no cookies what? Yeah

You're like what would Marshall do Eminem could he handle this of course Yeah he could go and so yeah And so it was just one moment one opportunity Yeah this is it and I was I was nervous, but I wasn't nervous because, I mean, life just almost ended for me. And so in that moment, it was

I was just like, I'm letting it all out there. And without any hesitation, she just responded, she's like, I love you too. And it was, like, heavens opened up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The cherub started seeing it. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, it was, but, yeah. You were levitating? Pretty much. And so that weekend, she

ended up coming out to see me, introduced her to my family. I was like, I'm not taking a note for an answer. Like, I'm, this is, because his uncle and his dad were also on the boat. So it was a big family, like emotional thing. Almost took out all the men in our family. That's so scary. What happened?

We still don't really know. Really? So what we think is that we think that there was like a like something catastrophic that happened to the hole. And so because we were out there for three hours. Yeah. And nothing was wrong. Boat wasn't taking on any water.

And all of a sudden like Aaron goes to, Aaron asks, he goes to lift up the offboard engine. Off of paradise. And as soon as he steps on the swim deck, the boat just sinks. And normally with those boats, you can lift the offboard engine because it's, You don't want to swim. You don't want to go through kelp. You don't want to, you know, go through and do all that stuff. And so all of a sudden it just starts sinking.

And within 45 seconds, we're stuck in 17 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean with life vest and an ice chest. Which they had stopped there because of all the activity, like on the fish like meter thing. And so they're, I was supposed to say hunting tuna. They're fishing for 400 pound tuna. And like there's all this activity down there. And he also got wrapped in the fishing line. And his dad had to cut him out because he was getting pulled under. That is traumatic.

And, like, people panic in the water, too. Oh, I would have been, I feel like I would have been really panicked. I mean, I panicked for a moment because the fishing line was wrapped around me and started pulling me down. And my dad, he had like a knife, like, those on his life vest. Because he was the only one actually wearing the life vest the whole time. Yeah, I do. I have a cut, like, a scar on my arm from it. But he actually cut me free.

And, like, there was, like, I was bleeding in the water. In the active, active, shark waters. And so it was great. You know, we were protected. And, you know, by the grace of God, like, someone ended, like, that fishing but ended up being out there and found us. And so, I mean, the whole thing was a miracle. And then, like, after that, I was, you know, just testing.

I was testing the miracles then. And I was like, hey, let's see if I could have another miracle. God, what did you got for me up there, big man, you know? Yeah. Got a boyfriend that day. Yeah. And so 918, it's, you know, an anniversary of not only life, but the future too. So it's cool.

Oh, crazy. Definitely put things in perspective. So then I go there, that trip. And then we see each other a few different times. And then October 19th is my first. birthday, but that's when I, we flew out for my birthday with Lakely, and that's when they finally met in person. Like, we have FaceTime and stuff, but I mean, I wasn't nervous about it or anything like that. At this point, like, he's the first boyfriend that I've had since I was 17, like, an actual, like,

boyfriend. And so, me saying, like, yes to that and being that serious, like, it's obviously, he's going to meet, they're going to meet each other. So I wasn't nervous at that point about that at all. Were you nervous? Yeah. I mean, it's, it's a big deal coming in. coming into a little girl's life and being potentially a future father figure for them. And so, I mean, you want to be, you want to be friends of them, but you also want the respect level. It's like, you can't be too friendly. It's hard balance. And it's a hard balance too because it's like, what's my role really?

Yeah. Bray dad. Yeah, bray dad. But, yeah, I just, I didn't, I mean, it's just been navigating it as I've been going. And, I mean, she's an amazing little girl. She's so smart, so funny. And so it's been really cool, like, getting to know her. stuff and yeah I was definitely nervous going into that weekend how do you navigate that

conversation of what your role is going to be well she's grounded right now oh shit it's okay though she's oh bad cop good cop no no no very very on a team okay that's the whole thank you i hate i hate the thought of that because no and i feel like the mom always has to be labeled the bad cop but even for even for the child i feel like and i mean i'm not an expert but in my experience your hands it's not fair for the child to have the power to be able to try and manipulate that way try to figure out it was so cute okay so it was cute because she she did get grounded and then she tried playing a little bit she's like oh you know my mom's been go-karting because we went to go-karting this is a new how old is she made me mad at seven so we went go-karting this like it's like

K-1 racing it's like an indoor go-karting that's after we go shooting we just have a full day playing in activity Yeah, we did this go-kart racing at K-1 racing And you know, Christina had never been there before to that specific place And she's like, oh, this is my first time being here It's like you have to wear a helmet. It's like fast fast. I've done go-karting like whatever But not this. And so she had told me she's like, oh, it's my first time. And so like this was weeks ago. And so the other day we're in the grocery store, Blakely just got grounded like the other night And Blakely goes like, she's like, hey, I just need to tell you something. And I felt like it was funny because I felt like I was on the

Bachelor again. She's like, hey, I need to pull you. Can I steal your first? Like, you picked her up from... Oh, this was yesterday. Yeah. You got her from school and I was at work. This is, this is live. So we're sitting there and she's like, I need to tell you something. She's like, you know how my mom said that, you know, she's never been go-karting before? She actually lied. She's been. And I was like, I looked at it. I was like, well, I know she's bitch. And she, yeah, she met like, like with her dad and she would have been like, maybe she saw pictures or something. I don't know. She would have been two or three. But it was just... And I'm just like, and I mean, I mean... You're like, hey, I thought we were on a team. Yeah, and it's not like I took her to the side and be like, don't tell him. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like, no, not at all. Like, what was that dynamic? We're going to shut that down. But I was like, I was laughing so hard. And so I like, I called Christina and I told her. She's smart. Yeah, I called her and I was like, yeah, hey, Blake's mad at you. And she's like, what do you mean?

I'm like, she told me you lied to me. She's like, what I lie about? And I was like, the go-karting. You've been with someone else before? You know, and then we had to talk about that. And it was a big deal. I was really hurt. We almost broke it.

He went to counseling for it. That's why we're here. Yeah. Do you guys want to sit down? You're wondering or good that you're here today? It's about Go-Corps. Yeah. So, I mean, having her in the picture has been, it's been an amazing dynamic.

It's definitely had its tough times. But it's, I mean, a kid brings so much light to the stuff, though, too. I mean, when you see the world through a kid's eyes, it just, it adds a new dynamic. And it makes you have such a, like, a new appreciation for things that you just start taking for granted. Well, and probably hold their respect for each other because you want to, set such a good example that you like put your best foot forward in communication or in your relationship because you're like we want to give her such a good example right yeah like if we have something that might you know be not like we never want I mean we do argue but like the other day

whenever we like sideline or whatever I was like I don't want this to be taken in I don't even know what it was about but like we sideline to to have that discussion that could have gone either way and but then still also like being real in front of her and everything's open open for discussion. He's teaching me now that I don't have to explain everything because I do explain everything. If she asks, I'm like, well, I don't want her to just think it's, you know, there's no reason. There is reason behind it. But he's like, sometimes you can just say. Yeah. Because I said so, I'm like, wait, I think you're, everything's balance. Everything and balance. And you're going to mess up the kids no matter what, but just the least that you can do

it. I think the most important thing is like creating an environment for her to feel safe to be a child in. And that's where I go back to, like, saying, like, it's not fair for her to have the power to be like, oh, well, you know, let me go to this, this parent or this person and try to figure out the best way. Because kids' natural, I mean, a human's natural reaction is going to try to get out of a situation that they don't feel comfortable in. Right. And so she's feeling like she's in trouble. Like, and there's a way. I mean, she's smart. Yeah.

It's not saying that she's being, like, bad manipulative. It's kind of scary how smart she is. Well, at this, I'm like, we need to catch it now before she's smarter than us. But I think that, like, you know, it's not fair for a kid to have to be trying to do that and figure out what everyone else wants because then she'll never learn what she wants and learn herself. So it's hard and it's definitely not like a perfect or easy thing. But it's so hot when she moms. Like, I have to say, yeah, I was like, I mean, like it is. It's like I find it so attractive just the other night, just the way she was patient with her, talking with her and handling her emotions and also making sure that she was just letting her know like, hey,

these are the rules and you have to follow. I was just like, wow. I mean, it really sounds like you two have healthy communication. You're going to therapy. People that know you have all been like, this makes so much sense. Like you two make so much sense together. And like I'm a big energy gal. Like I take energy.

I felt that. Like it just feels like you two are on the right path for what you need to do and to come together as a family. And it's like really cool to see. It's been, yeah. It's been, I absolutely also believe in the energy thing. And I think that's why, like, we knew it was going to be so serious, him coming here in the first place to even meet. Because through the phone, you can still, you know, the energy still goes through the phone waves, too.

And, um, it's crazy. Transface. But honestly, like, me watching him on charity season, like, I felt that. There was a few different things that I was, like, that's why I even, like, reached out. I mean, obviously hot stuff over there. But I'm like, that's, like, that's crazy. that's weird and I kept referring back to like the things that he had said on there

because I'm like you're too perfect you're just mirroring me you're just so smart and you're just being like my dream man right now because there's no way and then I remember I'm like no that's the evidence he didn't even know I was a person yet yeah no the energy thing very we we have to keep going back to that

when things because things we had a few days the other week that we were just like not arguing but just like little bigger just you're on normal human relationship stuff and he's been working night shifts and like it's just back and forth definitely wasn't like we were like despising or second guessing or anything like that it's just like I think I really respect how you were like it's really important that we are going to prioritize and do a date date night or date something every week and that's been a game changer

because it's like the biggest thing is especially with a kiddo like what I was learning is that I was coming in and I was giving Blakely all this love all this attention and a lot of times when you start doing that and you start cohabitating, you start spending so much time with each other that you forget to have those special moments that set aside for actual time together. Because it's like, you know, we do the dishes together, we clean the house together,

we're going through our business together, like making a count together. We're like, oh, we're spending so much time together, but you forget to spend that quality time that's actually devoted to appreciating that person and being like, I cherish you, you know? You know that it usually takes like marriages 20 years to get there? Well, you guys have already figured

And we haven't even started therapy, but it's just like, I really think it's like the energy thing. It's like really from the beginning being so vulnerable and honest and like open with what we're needing and that we don't even know what we're needing. And then like instead of just like how you said like before in relationships and I'm guilty of this in all of my relationships of like just with humans and like parents and friends and everything just so much internally considering them and thinking like I know them. I know what they would want. so I'm going to do all this and really put in myself last, but no one knew I was doing that. And I was like, well, I don't need to tell them. I don't need a pat on the back.

Right. That's not why I'm doing it. But really, it's like they act. That's not actually for them. That's like you're being uncomfortable with talking and asking them what they want. So I think like just really talking about things is just absolutely what needs to happen. Oh, tell her about the love. Because this is before we had met in person, he had said, we had had a big talk.

It was like, this is probably the first moment. Yeah, of course I do. When you had said this was like the first. moment that I was like, oh my gosh. What's a six? Snap. Well, hold on. Hold on.

Did they steal mine? They better not. Oh my gosh. So, yeah. Hey, tell me. Okay, so we're having this. Yeah, don't tell us first. But, um, so I kind of, I feel like there's one love language that kind of encompasses

them all and it's consideration. It's like, I mean, when you think about access service, when you think about quality time, when you think about gift giving, all those things. In reality, all it is is considering that person, whether, like, quality time is considering them when they're there. Access is considering. considering what they need done and how you can like you know do things for them

gift giving it's you're not there but you're going and doing something and you see something and you consider them while you're going and doing something and it's like oh this reminded me of you today and I wanted to give it to you because I thought of you and so even deeper than that though like which is so cool is like considering that person

like everything's a circumstance everything different everything is circumstantial so like maybe this person doesn't want like wants me to surprise them with this or they would want me to talk to them and they would want to be in on this and they, you know, just really considering for each circumstance is like dope

because sometimes it is going to be, you know, an act of service or it's going to be, okay, no, I wanted to do that act with them and have quality time doing it. Like it didn't mean as much that I went and, you know, painted the wall because really they envisioned like doing it together and it's like, but I was doing an act of service for you.

And so I think that's where so much frustration comes in relationships though because you're like, I'm giving you this. love like I'm doing this like and that was what we experienced like when I first got out here with Blake I was like and I told her I was like I'm giving you this love like I am doing all this stuff I'm doing homework with Blakely I'm taking I'm doing cleaning the dishes like yeah and I'm sitting there like I can't complain about that like who am I what he's being amazing is me perfect but if she was is I wasn't asking her what kind of love language she needed at that time

I wasn't like and so although I was being considered I was internalizing it and I was doing all those things for me. Yeah. And so to ask her to have appreciation for that, it's, you can't really do that. You know, it's like, it's like, I wasn't, like, I wasn't considering it as like me. Because then there's like, it's just so many levels. No, it's like when a dog sits and he wants a cookie. Like you wanted the cookie. You wanted to be like, but look what I'm doing for you. When really there is so much. Yeah. And so how did you get through that? You did you just ask questions? Like, what do you need? Well, that took me like really like feeling safe with him to say anything and everything which is just like

that's got to be your rock that's got to be your foundation because me sitting here I'm one of my biggest fears or like just from being like the youngest in the family and I don't want to be annoying I feel like I'm just being annoying about everything and so I'm like well I don't want to like nag or like whatever and I'm

sitting here seeing this man who I love being amazing with my child and like taking all this on and just like wow but I'm like but really like could we do something like you know could we have like a talk like just us like I know that now you know now you want to do some you know whatever it was I'm just like well thank you for all that but also I need more and that was hard that's hard

to say yeah because I'm with you I don't like feeling needy no and I don't ever want to come across as that but then it builds up and I'm like I hear myself right now yeah if I'm like I I respect us and our relationship so much that I have to just sound awful right now there's been different times too where I'm like I hear myself and I don't even even agree and I hate what I'm saying I'm on your side on this one but listen this is what's happening I can't control it my mind and my body are disagreeing but here it is let's team up on me I needed to hear that because again I would have just kept yeah I would have just kept doing it over the cup thing you said it was great we're really just we're starting yeah filling up each other's

yeah but feeling it differently you get to you fill up the cups but it's like you got to ask each other and not just like assume what cups they want their stuff Nothing. Where do you want? What do you want? What do you want? Was that Shakespeare? Filleth thy cup. No, but I get. No, not that one.

I get what you're saying. I see you P. I actually did an Instagram story today where I was like, I'm just like, yesterday I was like, I hate everything. And today I was like, highest vibration, I'm living on it. And then I just said out loud. I was like, why am I different every day? That's okay. But that's the thing people change every day.

Every day. And we're, I mean, my dad always told me growing up, he's like, We're a kaleidoscope. Like, you look into it and it's like you can focus on the different images in each one. But it's like, there's so many, like, there's so many different, we're so multifaceted. Don't put yourself in a box. To put yourself in a box or say that you have, you're this one type of person. Like, oh, like, he's always happier.

Yeah. She's always, you know. No. Like. It's so true. That must have been really frustrating, though, to be on a show where they put you in a box and they literally make you one dimensional. I can totally, that's what I could like see through it though.

Like, like even just watching him on there. And even with the earrings and the style, I could see it because it's like, I told him time i was like i never really like told you this because i'm really bad at talking um about my feelings but like i love your style and he's like i don't really know like what there's not like one word to say like my style is i'm like oh i know that's what i love it's like if you're vibing if you're in a store like you like you said you're like in poppy shop seeing earrings and you're like that's a vibe and that's been like how i do too so it's not like okay today i want to look like girly and it's like a whole thing it's not like i'm yeah it's not like you're like trying to be different people it's just like i was

really like vibing with this and the energy and like this is what this is what I'm doing right now and it's fine I do think that's fine to be something different every day I think that's why I get so frustrated it frustrated on the internet because I'm like you don't know me I'm so much more than what you think I am but how tell me how it was watching paradise together we had never talked ever right at all and so like anything I'm seeing even though we're together right now it was before but yeah that's true I think it was harder on me though in that regard because Because, like, for me, it felt as though, like, I was cheating. Even though I wasn't cheating, but it's, like, it made me...

It didn't feel right. Yeah, I was like, okay, I'm sitting here, like, with this girl I love, and she's having to watch me make out with other people on TV. And it's like, I mean, it put in perspective what, like, the bachelor, or the bachelorette, like, what you probably had to go through. It's terrible. I mean, the amount of guilt that you end up feeling through that whole thing, that's like, I'm, I'm, I had so much shame for so long. I mean, it's just...

And I talked to, um, Katie, too, and she'd kind of give me some advice. And I'm like, should I watch? Should I not? She's like, you got to watch. Yeah. And honestly, I was so grateful. Like, she gave me so much grace through that whole thing because it was, she understood that I was sensitive towards that.

Because, like, you know, my, I have my identity and, like, my morals and who I ground myself on. Yeah. And it was being shaken because I was thinking, I was like, okay, like, you know, I'm, I'm this bad guy. Like, I was dating, I was making out with all these people. Right. And she's having to see me. And it was just, it was rough.

But, Lord knows what I was doing on the outside of. I'm just. Yeah, hers just wasn't aired on national. That's true. What are you doing? Let's talk. What are you? I'm not kidding.

Who was he? I'm in him. People have speculation. People have opinions. They're saying you're pregnant. There's AI shit. Oh, so that, yeah, that was so people have been saying. She did the AI ever since.

So that was, so the reason. So here, here, let me back up here. Oh my gosh, this is good. This is good to talk about. Because, so for months now, for months and months and months, people have been well hold the line so back up for months and months people have been saying like then I'm pregnant and it's why because because the holidays and oh and no and that's what people are saying and so it's like and you know so my

I have a home gym and I love to do crossfit and stuff but like when it gets cold outside it's not as fun for me to just be like in working out all the time I'm traveling and then we're dating and it's like you know exactly so I I was I'm very really just fine as long as I'm feeling healthy and stuff but yeah I'm not sitting here saying I was the same weight or I don't even know what weight but like that's I thought people were saying you were pregnant because you guys got engaged so fast so so well that was also so there were so many different things and then like on other sites and like click bait things or um you know it's one thing but then it's like all of my comments on my socials were like oh I see the bomb and like all these things and then people defending those people are like just because someone's enjoying the holidays and having a great time and like, you know, enjoying food and whatnot. Like, you don't need to say that she's pregnant and then other people.

It was just, people were defending me in ways that were like, wait, hold on. You're like, adding to it. And so then became a whole thing of like, well, it can't be Braden's because they, you know, she's so far along. And like, I've just, and I hadn't addressed it because, you know, how you, I know that you've experienced,

like, different. Exactly. So I'm like, I'm not even going to address it or what. But whenever, so from the Golden Bachelor, we're making a big drive and I had like a few different little surprises at the house, like this big earring revolving electric display and whatnot. And then I, me and my sister had done AI to the entire,

like I have a, on my staircase, I have all these pictures, but we had replaced most of them with like us getting engaged, which I didn't know we were going to be engaged, but us getting engaged are a few of our wedding photos, us with a baby, me pregnant, us pushing a stroller. but if you look closely, the baby's head is just an earring display. And, like, all of these really super creepy, like, goofy, like, yeah. But, like, yeah, any of my friends that knew I was doing, they were like, if I did that to a guy, they would like.

It's just an AI of two. So there's the one that bother, the one I was like, who is this? There are these two guys. And they're, like, in bikinis on the beach. And I'm like, who are these dudes? And she's like, oh, that's me and Cece. And I'm like, what? We switched to the guy, like, the app where you, like, switch.

That's been on there for years, to be fair. But I saw it, I was like, why do you have two random dudes just on your wall? And the bikini bottoms just like really posed. I can't believe you wouldn't recognize me as a dude, honey. Oh, she turned me, she turned me into like a slutty elf for Christmas. Like, I'll show you all those airs. There's like 30 of them. There's so, I know.

I'm really bad because there's so much content we need to get together. But I did this whole entire wall. And then, so it was like the premiere. And we've been going on live to watch. First of all, we love Joey. But so we've been watching. watching and we've been doing like lives when we can on the Bachelor Mondays

and right before we went on because I was like I need to post something so people like know like or like you know are seeing that we're going live or whatever and I was just like oh I remember this time last year and it was the photo that I already had on there and people then were like most people were just like hilariously laughing

and it was with the baby bump it was like edited out like not my dress and I did feel like maybe I should have thought of this or something but people did get upset of like is this an announcement and don't be like right like you should be more considerate than that but like because I think about that often I mean I would never like just like falsely or make jokes like that or anything so I was like kind of disappointed I didn't think of that but then I'm also like okay well I'm also a huge advocate for talking about that kind of things and I miscarried twins

before Blakely and then like I almost actually died having Blakely and she was very premature and like and I get all of the heartache and like so much that goes on with all of that so I did not mean to be like that with them but it that was just kind of probably self like personally like months and months of build up of being like oh yeah I'm pregnant every one but I wasn't trying to make an announcement it was just like I've seen so many articles about she's really showing today even in the engagement um like people like when I hunched over and he hadn't even put the ring on me yet and someone came up with like champagne and so I was just like put it on me put it on me and so like they're like see she even denied the champagne

And I'm just like, you guys, like, there was so much. So I'm not pregnant. Do you remember that right after the proposal happened? Yeah. I remember. And I'm surprised I didn't wink at you as I was getting proposed to. But I'm like, yeah, yes to him, but what are you doing later? And so, no, I run over and I'm just like, Caitlin Wizard, do you want to be my maid of honor?

And you're like, you're like, you're going to hear it first. I'm just like, this is amazing. I was so worried because the champagne, you guys were like about to knock it over. and you could see like me in the background like and then I didn't want to be like the best background shots that whole wedding the meatball was incredible it's so funny because people were like you were trying to start to get the camera I'm like I actually avoided the camera at all the house today it was it was hard to find the camera it was so funny because I remember sitting standing there with you and you're like I don't want to be in this shot I don't know like you're like trying to hide behind me and then like looking back you end up in all his shots talking about because we hadn't watched it and we're making the drive back and it was before he started not feeling good yeah we all that's right and um yeah we all that's We just keep seeing memes. I'm like, oh, my gosh, the meatballs. That was like bioterrorism, whatever they brought to that wedding. I know so many people got sick.

I was, we were talking over the phone about, and you were having the same thing that was. Yeah, you passed out the scene. I'm like, how are you? He's doing this. Are you alive? And what's coming? He threw up. I was like, no, no, no, no.

Is that what's coming for me? And he fainted. Joey got sick too. Did he? Yeah, he did. I know Zach and Katie did. I mean, there were a lot of people. And, I mean, I've, like, it's gone now, but I like, I'm residual.

Yeah. All this residual cough that occasionally comes here. Yeah, same. Same. And it's just like, I'm like, what is this going to end? I know. That was crazy. That whole wedding, it was so worth it, though.

I'll get sick again. I didn't have to deal with the sickness, but I did. I also to make that drive. How did you feel about people who were just very? I think you knew in proposing at a wedding. You knew people were going to be like whatever, whatever. But you talked to Gary. I mean, I talked to Gary.

He's a bastard wedding, guys. He was one of the first. people that knew that we were together too like they are they text and they call and all yeah the thing is too is it's like I mean knowing that I wanted to get married or it's like honestly for me and like our story is it's it was such a big role yeah it was played in our lives like Bachelor like we met because we were both on the show right in reality we would have never met if it wasn't for being on the show I loved that moment like I loved it it was thank you but honestly yeah I mean Gary and Teresa both they both gave me the heads up

like they're like yeah go for it I mean like his daughter were all stoked for me so I mean as long as I didn't offend them the rest of the world can be offended totally and that's my thing is like everyone you've been friends with like way before too and then do you see like their Christmas they did all like earrings

they like he's been friends with all of them like the proposal was not why we were invited to the wedding like we had I mean I feel like people are so quick to get offended for other people you know what I mean at the end of the day it was about Gary and Teresa and their family and they weren't offended I loved I would not I would not get offended if somebody got engaged at my wedding. I'd be like, what a day for love.

Right. I really wouldn't. And I understand people not loving it as well, but like for at their own personal wedding. Although my dad, uh, text us the other day. He said he's like, when's the wedding date? Because, uh, he was like, hashtag, I'm going to propose at your wedding. Ha ha, ha. To his girlfriend. I'm like, go for it. That might, that might be a good thing for us. Do that. Do that. I have two very important questions before I let you go.

Okay. One is do you. You share earrings? Yes. Yeah. I would. And two is do you have a wedding date? So we haven't said... You don't have to tell me.

Yeah, no. So we haven't... We haven't said a date yet. You have so many duties to do. Come on. Yeah, I do it. We're thinking that we want to do like winter, spring next year. Yeah.

We're kind of trying to decide whether we want to do like a big wedding or if we want to do something like small but like a location, like a cool location. Yes. Have like friends and family fly out. So, you know, there's literally so many options. It's not a date. But we know it's going to be probably probably. early next year. Would you televise it?

I mean, I really just like, I want to make sure that my family's there and then her family's like you want your community to be there. You know what I mean? It's like the people that you do everyday life with. Like those are the biggest people that I really want there. Yes, Blakely. Who wants a miniature version of my address and she wants to walk out after me, which is not happening.

She also wants, here comes a bride, played for her as she was. I think you have to definitely just do like an instrumental tenacious D song. Surely Jack Black has, I'm just going to wait and see when Jack Black has an opening schedule. Or I'm or Robin M or Paul McCartney. Oh my gosh. I'm like, I'm, I'm going to help plan. Yeah.

Oh, sweet. That would help so much. And then I'll wrap at the wedding. And then we'll get, okay, we have so many plans. So we are wedding planning. So, tune in next time when we're wedding planning. We'll do a whole podcast just planning. It'll be so boring.

We'll be sitting there being like, so do you like this color? No. He's it. I'm done picking out colors. I tried to pick out her nail polish the other day. And it was just like, she hated it. She's like, I don't want to dress in Christmas colors. And I'm like, oh, really, that color?

Okay. I'm like, she's like, I appreciate your style. I want to consider you, but not when it was the wrong answer. I really like your guys' relationship. I do. Thank you. It's fun. It's goofy.

It's quirky. It's not perfect. It's not perfect. No, it's perfectly imperfect. I like it. Imperfectly perfect. Imperfectly perfect. You know what I'm saying.

Yeah, I know what you're saying. I'm just, I love you guys. Thank you. Thanks for having us. You have a wrap before I cut. Oh, any of other stuff. Oh, rap? Well, you want to give me a beat?

Give on a beat? Yeah. Freebeat. You can just give them three words. No, give them three words, dude. Stop it. Nope. Right now.

Nope. I could give you three words. Hopefully if the beat's good. We'll have to find a good beat. Okay, I'm going to give you three words, and those three words are podcast. Nice. Wine. Okay.

And love. It might speed up. Oh. Let's go. Let's go. She's really just promoting her song that she came out with. Yeah. I'm on a podcast

I'm going real fast Yeah, I'm going out blast How do you do Come in there, y'all act like a fool Everybody say I'm just a tool But I'm just playing it playing it real cool Damn, yeah, you know I feel fine Sitting at home drinking my wines

How are you gonna do this this time I just sit in the seat and then I go rhyme How you go do that thing? I'm like Oh my goodness, yeah look at her ring Oh my goodness yeah where you from Oh yeah best believe yeah that's all love That's three words The end of the verse

Isn't that crazy? I did that all I'm proud of myself I did not even curse Oh Holy shit I was a little rough It's like

No that's not even I was a little rough What? I was like I stuttered a little bit I feel like we should say I had goosebumps over a freestyle It's crazy I feel like you should also say

Since you did all that Like so he's nursing He's nursing here now And the job that he got Is at like a prison in like a death row inmate. Oh yeah, I'm working like a maximum... But wait, but...

So you need to know, you need to know this because did you know we have a whole fan base there of back here? Yeah, so prisoners? Did I come do a podcast? Probably. Honestly, actually, I don't know if they'll let you, but that would actually be wild.

A few of the people actually are on Netflix thing, so sure you may be. These guys know the show. I like, I came into the unit and I mean, I didn't have my earring because you can't wear your earrings at the jail, like, so I come in, like, and I'm not even wearing a name tag because like I really don't.

want these guys to know my name because it's like I mean they still have ties like these guys are oh yeah for sure they're they're grim and they're like yeah they have connections in the outside world yes this is not like jail this is prison prison like maximum security these guys serial killers like murderers and their bachelor pants yeah some of them aren't that bad but yeah they came in and they're like holy shit that's the dude off the bachelor you're like dude you're like you are paradise they're like bro you look like a bitch when you cried and I'm like, I knew him immediately and remembered

everything, but then Yeah, they're like, why do you fight those guys when they pressed you in the van? I'm like, I'm like, well, you can't, man. And they're like, you tucked your tails and ran. They're like, you should have effed them up, man. So, like, referencing Paradise, his season, but then even says, but that's okay.

Oh, yeah, they're like, yeah, you cried like a bee, but it's all good because you got a fine, fine girl now. And they're like, they're like, please tell him you getting in that every night. And I'm like, I can't disclose this guy. I'm like, you just say what you got to say, man. I'm not working. I'm like, I do get in that every night.

I am. We make love. We make love. And, uh, you know. And they're like, wait, you rap. Consensual. You rap. Stop.

Oh, yeah. You try to get me to freestyle. It was wild. I think that's where we end in this year. And you know what? And thank you for listening to everybody. I hope you enjoyed this podcast. I'll see you next Tuesday.

See your next Tuesday. Thank you.