Golden Bachelorette Star Puts Wedding Plans on Hold
It has been a full year since Chock Chapple proposed to Joan Vassos during the emotional season finale of The Golden Bachelorette. The couple, who famously split their time between her home in Maryland and his in Kansas, marked the special anniversary with a romantic trip to Bora Bora. It was there that Chapple presented Vassos with a stunning, custom Neil Lane Couture diamond ring.
Predictably, their devoted fans are eagerly asking when the pair will finally tie the knot. However, Vassos, 62, has revealed she is in absolutely no hurry to walk down the aisle. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the reality TV star confessed she hasn't even begun to think about their nuptials.
Family Comes First for Joan
The reason for the delay is a heartwarming one: the couple is currently focused entirely on her family. 'I'm so flattered that people watch the show and are invested in us,' she told the publication. 'I just got one child [Nicholas] married last summer, and then I have another one to get married this summer. So my son, my youngest [Luke] is getting married, and then I'll probably start thinking about our wedding.'
Vassos is a mother to four adult children—Nicholas, 35, Erica, 34, Allison, 31, and Luke, 29—whom she shared with her late husband, John Vassos. She is also a grandmother of three. Her commitment to her family is unwavering; she previously made headlines when she quit The Golden Bachelor to support her daughter Erica after a difficult childbirth.
Content and in No Rush
Emphasising her lack of urgency, Vassos explained her current outlook on life with Chapple. 'Not in a rush,' she stated firmly. 'I know we're not like having babies, we're not doing anything major. And we are really happy the way we are right now. We travel and we just get to do all the fun things.'
She affirmed her belief in the institution of marriage but added, 'I just don't think that we need to do it in any rush. We just do it kind of when it's comfortable for us.'
Navigating the logistics of a blended family does present its challenges, especially during the holidays. Vassos revealed that this Thanksgiving, they will be apart—he in Wichita, Kansas, and she in Maryland—but they plan to reunite for Christmas. To make the season special, they have rented an Airbnb in New York City for the entire month of December, a place she finds 'magical' during the holidays.
The couple is also tentatively house hunting in the city, though Vassos admitted it has been more difficult than anticipated due to their busy schedules. 'We're making progress,' she teased, remaining hopeful they might find a permanent base during their extended stay.
Despite the lack of a set wedding date or a shared home, Vassos expresses profound gratitude for having found love again with Chapple. She reflected on her journey, from being a 'shy' and 'nerdy' computer science major to a reality television star who found a second chance at love after 32 years of marriage.
Her first husband, John, passed away from pancreatic cancer in January 2021. In his honour, she now works as an ambassador for PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), using her platform to help others facing the disease.
As for her television career, it is far from over. While she was cut from the current season of Dancing with the Stars, fans can look forward to seeing her on HGTV's Bachelor Mansion Takeover in the new year and in a guest appearance on Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette in 2026.
