Ah, Bachelor Nation! That’s a reference both to the legions of fans who love ABC’s “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor in Paradise” and other spinoffs, and to the contestants who appear on those shows.
Though these shows have been around for a long time, Bachelor Nation “success stories” are in the minority, with most couples breaking up soon after their onscreen declarations of love. There are exceptions, however.
Here are the longest-lasting Bachelor Nation relationships, listed from shortest to longest. Because it can be difficult to pinpoint the filming timeframe, we’re counting from the finale or “After the Final Rose” air date unless otherwise noted.
There’s one Bachelor Nation success story that’s not on this list. Astrid Loch and Kevin Wendt from Season 5 of “Bachelor in Paradise” broke up on the season finale, but as of January are now back together. We’ll see if they can outlast other couples on this list who met on one of the Bachelor shows.
30. Tessa Horst and Andy Baldwin
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 10
Time Together: About four months after the finale aired
Status: Split
Navy officer Andy Baldwin proposed to athletic social worker Tessa Horst at the end of his 2007 season of “The Bachelor.” The couple broke off their engagement in Aug. 2007, a few months after their finale aired. They continued dating a few months after that before going their separate ways.
Baldwin is pictured here with Trista Sutter, the first Bachelorette.
29. Vanessa Grimaldi and Nick Viall (Tie)
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 21
Time Together: Five months from finale airing
Status: Split
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, Nick Viall. The unlucky-in-love Bachelor was the runner up on Andi Dorfman’s and Kaitlyn Bristow’s seasons of “The Bachelorette.” He also tried his hand at dating on “The Bachelor in Paradise” before getting to be “The Bachelor” himself in 2017. Unfortunately, his engagement with Quebec native Vanessa Grimaldi only lasted five months after his onscreen proposal.
29. Chris Soules and Whitney Bischoff (Tie)
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 19
Time Together: Not quite six months in real time
Status: Split
Farmer Chris Soules made it to the top three on Andi Dorfman’s season of “The Bachelorette.” He got his own season of “The Bachelor” in 2015 and picked fertility nurse Whitney Bischoff. They were engaged for just shy of six months (in real time from show’s filming conclusion) before breaking up.
29. Becca Kufrin and Garrett Yrigoyen
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 14
Time Together: Almost six months and counting
Status: Engaged
Arie Luyendyk Jr. picked Becca Kufrin on his 2018 season of “The Bachelor” only to break up with her later on camera and go back to his runner up, Lauren Burnham. It was only right Kufrin got to be the next Bachelorette after that. And she seems to have chosen well, as she recently moved to live with fiance Garrett Yrigoyen. As of January, the couple has been together close to six months and counting since their engagement aired.
27. Nikki Ferrell and Juan Pablo Galavis
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 18
Time Together: Seven months
Status: Split
Controversial pro soccer player Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis picked pediatric nurse Nikki Ferrell in 2014 but didn’t tell her that he loved her. The couple only lasted seven months, from the finale engagement in March 2014 to when they announced their split in October 2014.
26. Courtney Robertson and Ben Flajnik
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 16
Time Together: Seven months from “After the Final Rose” episode
Status: Split
Ben Flajnik was the runner-up on season 7 of “The Bachelorette” with Ashley Hebert. He got the starring Bachelor role in 2012, proposing to “villain” Courtney Robertson. After seeing some of Robertson’s on-air antics, Flajnik broke it off while the season was still showing. The two got back together on “After the Final Rose” in March 2012. They split seven months later in October 2012.
25. Kendall Long and Joe Amabile
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 5
Time Together: Seven months and counting
Status: Dating
Kendall Long wasn’t picked on Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of “The Bachelor.” Neither was Joe Amabile chosen on Becca Kufrin’s season of “The Bachelorette.” But both found love on season 5 of “Bachelor in Paradise” in summer 2018. Long traveled with Amabile on his “Dancing with the Stars” tour, and they plan to move in together.
24. Krystal Nielson and Chris Randone
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 5
Time Together: Seven months and counting
Status: Engaged
Krystal Nielson was on Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of “The Bachelor” and Chris Randone appeared on Becca Kufrin’s season of “The Bachelorette.” Neither were picked, but they did pair up on “Bachelor in Paradise” season 5 in summer 2018. They’ve been engaged 7 months and counting, and they recently moved in together.
23. Andi Dorfman and Josh Murray
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 10
Time Together: Eight months
Status: Split
Lawyer Andi Dorfman famously told Juan Pablo Galvais “it’s not OK” before choosing to leave his season of “The Bachelor.” She became the next Bachelorette in 2014 and picked ex-baseball player Josh Murray. Unfortunately, the two only remained engaged for eight months.
22. Michelle Money and Cody Sattler
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 1
Time Together: Around nine months
Status: Split
Michelle Money is from Brad Womack’s 2011 “The Bachelor” season, and Cody Sattler was on Andi Dorfman’s season of “The Bachelorette.” Neither were picked on their respective shows, but they found love on the first season of “Bachelor in Paradise” in 2014. They dated for six months before their first breakup, later got back together and appeared on “Marriage Boot Camp,” then split up again shortly after filming that reality show. (Their timeline of being on and off again is a bit confusing.)
Sattler is pictured below in the front row in a white T-shirt and Money is off to the left in a white dress.
21. Jen Schefft and Andrew Firestone
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 3
Time Together: 10 months
Status: Split
Tire heir Andrew Firestone picked Jen Schefft in his season of “The Bachelor” in 2003. The pair amicably split after 10 months. Schefft had her own season of “The Bachelorette” but quickly broke up with her pick.
20. Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 2
Time Together: Almost 11 months and counting
Status: Engaged
Ashley Iaconetti competed on Chris Soules’ season of “The Bachelor,” and Jared Haibon was on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of “The Bachelorette.” Neither were picked but both went on the second season of “Bachelor in Paradise” in 2015. After several years of “it’s complicated” between the two of them, Iaconetti and Haibon officially started dating in March 2018 and got engaged in June 2018. The wedding is planned for August 2019.
19. Meredith Phillips and Ian McKee
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 2
Time Together: 12 months
Status: Split
Meredith Phillips was the third runner up on Bob Guiney’s season of “The Bachelor.” Phillips went on to be “The Bachelorette” and got engaged to her pick, Ian McKee, on the February 2004 finale of the show. The couple remained together until the following February.
18. Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski (Tie)
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 5
Time Together: Just over a year
Status: Split
Jillian Harris was the second runner-up on Jason Mesnick’s season of “The Bachelor.” Then she got her shot as “The Bachelorette” and picked Ed Swiderski. The two got engaged but eventually broke up amidst rumors that Swiderski might have cheated on Harris. From their on-air engagement in May 2009 to their breakup in summer 2010, this pair was together just over a year.
18. Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins (Tie)
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 20
Time Together: Just over a year
Status: Split
Ben Higgins got rejected by Kaitlyn Bristowe on her season of “The Bachelorette.” But he proposed to Lauren Bushnell on his 2016 season of “The Bachelor.” After just over a year together and their own reality show, “Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After,” the pair broke up in 2017.
17. Marcus Grodd and Lacy Faddoul
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 1
Time Together: Just over a year
Status: Split
Sparkly-eyed Marcus Grodd didn’t win Andi Dorfman’s hand on her season of “The Bachelorette.” And Juan Pablo Galavais eliminated Lacy Faddoul early on during his season of “The Bachelor.” But the two contestants did get engaged to each other on the first season of “Bachelor in Paradise.” They also supposedly got married on the show’s second season premiere, but it turned out the marriage was never made official, and Faddoul ghosted Grodd shortly after they returned from their “wedding.” Don’t feel too bad for him — he’s now married for real.
16. Lauren Burnham and Arie Luyendyk Jr.
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 22
Time Together: Just over a year and counting
Status: Married and expecting a baby
Arie Luyendyk Jr. appeared on Emily Maynard’s season of “The Bachelorette” but wasn’t picked. He had his own season of “The Bachelor” in 2018 and chose Becca Kufrin only to break up with her after the show and ask his runner up, Lauren Burnham, for another chance at New Year’s Eve 2017. They married in Hawaii in January 2019, and it’s looking like this couple may go the distance since they are expecting a baby girl in June 2019.
15. Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 4
Time Together: 17 months and counting
Status: Dating
Raven Gates was the runner up on Chris Soules’ season of “The Bachelor.” Adam Gottschalk was a contestant on Rachel Lindsay’s season of “The Bachelorette.” The two paired up on the controversial fourth season of “Bachelor in Paradise” and have been dating since the finale aired in September 2017.
14. Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 6
Time Together: 18 months
Status: Split
Ali Fedotowsky left as a contestant on Jake Pavelka’s season of “The Bachelor,” not because he rejected her, but because she faced losing her job. But she went on to be “The Bachelorette.” She and her pick, Roberto Martinez, lasted just about 18 months from their finale until calling off their engagement in Nov. 2011, with a rumored brief reconnection at another Bachelorette’s wedding.
13. Rachel Lindsay and Bryan Abasolo
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 13
Time Together: 18 months and counting
Status: Engaged
Rachel Lindsay didn’t get picked by Nick Viall on his season of “The Bachelor,” but she went on to become the first black Bachelorette in 2017. She picked Bryan Abasolo in the Aug. 2017 finale, surprising many who saw the show spotlight runner up Peter Kraus. But Lindsay and Abasolo are still happily attached and planning to marry in 2019.
12. Carly Waddell and Evan Bass
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 3
Time Together: Just under 2.5 years and counting
Status: Married with children
Carly Waddell didn’t win Chris Soules’ heart on his season of “The Bachelor.” And Evan Bass didn’t propose to JoJo Fletcher on her season of “The Bachelorette.” But Waddell went on to appear on the second and third season of “Bachelor in Paradise.” It was on the third season that she met Bass, who won her over and proposed in the finale, which aired in September 2016. Chris Harrison officiated at their tropical wedding in June 2017. Their first child, a daughter named Isabella, was born in February 2018. Bass also has three sons from his first marriage.
11. JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 12
Time Together: 2.5 years and counting
Status: Engaged
JoJo Fletcher almost got the final rose from Ben Higgins, but her consolation prize was starring in the next season of “The Bachelorette.” There she got engaged to Jordan Rogers on the last episode, which aired in August 2016. Two and a half years later, they still haven’t finalized wedding plans but are still dating and starring in their own reality show, “Engaged with JoJo & Jordan.”
10. Kaitlyn Bristowe and Shawn Booth
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 11
Time Together: 3.5 years
Status: Split
Ms. Personality Kaitlyn Bristowe charmed Chris Soules on “The Bachelor” but wasn’t his ultimate pick. She fended off a rival Bachelorette to star in her own season of the show in 2015 and picked Shawn Booth over Nick Viall. The couple looked like they were going strong but broke up after close to three and a half years together.
9. Jade Roper Tolbert and Tanner Tolbert
Show: “Bachelor in Paradise,” Season 2
Time Together: Going on 3.5 years and counting
Status: Married with a child
Jade Roper was on Chris Soules’ season of “The Bachelor,” and Tanner Tolbert was on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season of “The Bachelorette.” The two paired up on the second season of “Bachelor in Paradise,” with their engagement airing in September 2015. The two have since gotten married and have a daughter.
8. Mary Delgado and Byron Velvick
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 6
Time Together: About five years, on and off
Status: Split
“The Bachelor”‘s Byron Velvick and his pick, Mary Delgado, had a rocky relationship. They got engaged on the show in the fall of 2004, but Delgado was arrested in 2007 for allegedly assaulting Velvick during an argument. The pair split for good in 2009.
7. Sarah Brice and Charlie O’Connell
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 7
Time together: Not quite five years
Status: Split
Actor Jerry O’Connell’s look-alike brother, Charlie, starred in “The Bachelor” in 2005 and picked Sarah Brice in the May 2005 finale. The two were engaged and dated on and off for just under five years before splitting in April 2010.
6. Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 9
Time Together: Just over five years and counting
Status: Married with children
Desiree Hartsock was on Sean Lowe’s season of “The Bachelor” before starring in “The Bachelorette” in 2013. She and her pick, Chris Siegfried, got engaged on the show in May 2013 (the show aired in Aug. 2013) and married in 2015. They now have two sons.
5. Catherine (Giudici) Lowe and Sean Lowe
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 17
Time Together: Almost six years and counting
Status: Married with children
Former “Bachelorette” contestant Sean Lowe found lasting love in with Catherine Giudici, his final pick on “The Bachelor” finale that aired in March 2013. The pair is the only couple who ended up together in a Bachelor finale to also get married. (Two other Bachelors switched from their final picks to their runner-ups.) They have two sons and have said they will probably try for a third.
3. Ashley Hebert Rosenbaum and J.P. Rosenbaum
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 7
Time Together: Seven years and counting
Status: Married with children
Pediatric dentist Ashley Hebert didn’t get picked by Brad Womack on his season of “The Bachelor,” but it worked out because she got engaged to J.P. Rosenbaum on her season of “The Bachelorette” in Aug. 2011. The two married in 2012 and now have a son and a daughter together. They’ve appeared on the 2017 season of “Marriage Boot Camp,” so hopefully they got extra support from the show for their busy life as a family of four.
2. Molly (Malaney) and Jason Mesnick
Show: “The Bachelor,” Season 13
Time Together: Almost 10 years
Status: Married with children
Jason Mesnick was the runner up on DeAnna Pappas’ season of “The Bachelorette” before starring in “The Bachelor.” While he picked Melissa Rycroft in the show’s season finale, after it aired, Mesnick decided he’d made a mistake and went back to runner-up Molly Malaney on the “After the Final Rose” episode, which aired in March 2009. After all that drama, you might think Molly and Jason didn’t have much of a shot. But the two married in 2010 and now live in Seattle with their daughter, Riley, and Mesnick’s son, Ty, from his first marriage.
1. Trista (Rehn) and Ryan Sutter
Show: “The Bachelorette,” Season 1
Time Together: 16 years and counting
Status: Married with children
After being the runner up on the first season of “The Bachelor,” Trista Rehn got to be the first star of “The Bachelorette,” the finale of which aired in early 2003. She and her pick on that show, Ryan Sutter, have had the longest Bachelor Nation relationship. Their opulent 2003 wedding was televised, and they now have a son and a daughter. Trista and Ryan have been together (in real time) since 2002 and have been married for 15 years. They’re the ultimate Bachelor universe couple to beat!
