Trista Sutter, Ryan Sutter Reveal Secret to 23-Year Marriage

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Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter have found their forever.

Ryan and his wife have been married for almost 23 years – ever since their live television wedding after the first season of The Bachelorette. He says a key to their lasting relationship is never doubting their love for each other.

Ryan recently told People magazine that he and Trista have a strong commitment to staying together. While they definitely argue sometimes, he says they never consider divorce. Instead, when things get tough, they take time apart to cool down and reflect, like going for longer walks or needing some space to think things through.

Ryan, 51, explained that they always manage to resolve their issues and work things out. He believes it’s better to focus on improving what you have rather than searching for something better elsewhere – essentially, taking care of your own ‘lawn’ will always yield the best results.

Trista believes that, beyond simply tending to their roses, a major factor in their lasting relationship has been returning to a normal life after being in the public eye.

Like any married couple, Ryan and Trista—parents to Max, 18, and Blakesley, 16—have their little disagreements, but they’re usually about minor things. They make a point of not being too serious and prioritize having fun, laughing, and joking around with each other. They also share a playful, sarcastic sense of humor.

Trista, 53, also emphasized the importance of preparing for success through education, hard work, and appreciating what you already have.

Trista always knew she’d found her life partner in Ryan, the former football player turned firefighter, when she chose him from the twenty-five contestants years ago.

“I did see us lasting forever,” she told the outlet, “or at least I hoped.”

As for Ryan, his forever began the second Trista handed him the final rose.

“I always said I’d marry her [the day she chose me],” he shared. “I didn’t have any doubts.”

For more on Trista and Ryan, and the status of other Bachelor Nation couples, keep reading…

Status: Dating

Before The Golden Bachelor even started airing, Mel Owen faced some criticism. He appeared on the MGoBlue Podcasts With Jon Jansen and stated he wouldn’t consider women over 60, and preferred they didn’t have hip replacements or wear wigs.

Although his longtime partner, Peg Munson, is also in her sixties, their relationship is full of energy and excitement. The former NFL player described her to Glamour as being remarkably high-spirited.

I was so moved during his final game in November 2025! He didn’t kneel, but he did present a beautiful Neil Lane ring, and his words really got to me. He said it symbolized our dedication to love and our promise to work through whatever the future brings, together. It felt incredibly genuine and hopeful.

Status: Engaged

Spencer Conley, who made a good impression on Jenn Tran with his friendly personality during The Bachelorette, found a connection on season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise. He shared a post with Jess Edwards (who previously tried to win over Joey Graziadei on The Bachelor) hinting they were falling for each other—a way of saying they weren’t quite ready to say “I love you” yet. In an August 2025 Instagram post, Spencer jokingly declared he’d “already won.”

Jess echoed the sentiment, posting on social media, “Just feeling really happy about this guy and everything!”

They were thrilled to choose each other over a $250,000 prize, and their happiness continued when they got engaged and received an unexpected check for $190,000.

“Everything that we’ve been through,” Jess said, “has led us to this exact moment.”

Their relationship eventually brought Jess to Dallas. She shared during the November 2025 After the Finale Rose special that she would be moving to Texas within a few weeks.

Status: Dating

Bailey Taylor Brown shared on Instagram in August 2025 that her date with Jeremy Simon was the best first date she’d ever had, following their time on the 10th season of Paradise. But could it also be their last? Bailey, who originally competed for Grant Ellis’ affection, and Jeremy, who almost won over Jenn on The Bachelorette, recently overcame their biggest fight yet when Bailey discovered Jeremy had hesitated about sending Susie Evans home.

Their romance continued to blossom while they were in Costa Rica. Even though they didn’t make it to the end of Bachelor in Paradise, they decided to keep dating after the show. They’ve already met each other’s families and are making plans to live in the same city.

In a September 2025 Instagram post, Bailey expressed how fortunate she felt to have met her partner and shared her excitement for the future.

Status: Dating

It looks like things are still going well for Andrew Spencer, from Katie Thurston’s season of Paradise, and Alexe Godin, who appeared on Grant’s season. Six days after Andrew publicly called Alexe his “love” on Instagram in August 2025, she returned the affectionate nickname, calling him her “darling” in a post of her own.

Even though they picked love instead of the $250,000 prize on the Bachelor in Paradise finale, they still received $125,000 to take home.

Oh my gosh, I just heard Alexe say that, and I’m completely losing it! It wasn’t just about the money, though he is leaving with a ton, it was about… love! He actually said love was the most important thing. Seriously, I’m obsessed. It’s everything!

The show will follow Alexe and Andrew as they start a new chapter together in Chicago, where they’re relocating to pursue their relationship.

In September 2025, she shared on Instagram that she’d found someone who matched her quirky personality, and she was excited to build a future with them.

Status: Split

During the finale of Bachelor in Paradise, a difficult situation arose for Kat Izzo and Dale Moss when Sean McLaughlin claimed Kat had hidden a laptop and was secretly communicating with a former boyfriend through letters. Kat, who works as a nurse practitioner, firmly denied contacting her ex while on the show.

She asked if they were still together before this happened. He replied that they were, explaining he hadn’t expected to meet anyone else.

I was so bummed when Kat and Dale didn’t make it to the final test on Paradise, but honestly, I was thrilled to see their connection was real! It turns out they’ve been traveling all over the U.S. together since then, and they’re even talking about moving closer to each other and building a life together. It’s so sweet – especially knowing Kat was on Zach Shallcross’ season and Dale was on Clare Crawley’s! I’m really rooting for them.

Dale wrote under Kat’s August 2025 Instagram post that things were difficult at times, but they got through it together, and he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

But their journey came to a close in early 2026. 

Kat mentioned on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast in January that he wasn’t willing to move from New York City.

She said he didn’t see San Diego as a place where he could advance his career. She admitted she never fully understood his reasons for leaving, and wasn’t sure what motivated his decision.

Status: Just friends—for now 

After leaving season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise, Gary Levingston and Leslie Fhima (who was a finalist on Golden Bachelor) seemed optimistic about their future together, even sharing a video about creating new memories. However, Leslie, who once inspired musician Prince, isn’t certain she wants to pursue a romantic relationship with Gary.

She shared that she and Gary talk constantly. Appearing on Bachelor Happy Hour in August 2025, she described him as one of her closest friends, someone she turns to when she needs advice or support. They’re always there for each other and have a strong bond.

Even though they live far apart – she’s in Minnesota and he’s in California – she’s still optimistic about their connection. She explained that, for her, the most important part of any relationship, especially a romantic one, is building a strong friendship first. She wants to be with someone she considers her best friend as they both get older.

Status: Just friends

Kim Buike, a frontrunner on Golden Bachelorette, has found love with Faith Martin, who received the first impression rose from Gerry Turner on The Bachelor. Though they didn’t find lasting romance on season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise, they continued dating. In August 2025, Faith shared a video on Instagram showing Kim enjoying a date in her hometown of Washington.

In the end, they realized they were better suited as friends than as a couple.

Faith shared in a September 2025 Instagram video that she and the other person communicate a couple of times a week, despite living five and a half hours apart. She clarified they aren’t romantically involved – they never fell in love, but they did have a strong connection while filming the show.

Grant met twenty-five women on the first night of The Bachelor, but ultimately chose Juliana Pasquarosa. Unfortunately, the couple broke up less than three months after their proposal was shown on television.

Grant announced on Instagram on June 13th that he and Juliana have decided to break up. He explained that they both tried their best and cared for each other deeply, but after careful consideration, they realized they weren’t compatible in the long run.

Joan Vassos, who was a contestant on The Golden Bachelor and later became the first Golden Bachelorette, is engaged! She found love with Chock Chapple on the show and they are now planning a wedding.

Oh my gosh, watching Joan on The Golden Bachelorette finale just wrecked me in the best way! She said the sweetest thing – basically, that no matter how old you are, there’s always hope for love. And then, right before Chock proposed in Bora Bora, she said she’d waited her whole life for that moment! She told him she loved him and wanted to spend forever with him – waking up next to him every morning and kissing him goodnight. I literally cried! It was the most beautiful thing ever, and I’m so happy for them both!

Even though they’re currently in a long-distance relationship, they’re gradually starting to plan their future together.

Joan explained in a February 2026 Instagram Q&A that she and her partner are planning their wedding for 2027 because their children are also starting to plan their own weddings. She said they want to avoid having their wedding at the same time as their kids’ weddings.

During the finale of The Bachelorette season 21, it seemed like Jenn Tran, who previously appeared on The Bachelor, had found love with Devin Strader. However, Jenn shared during the After the Final Rose special in September 2024 that Devin quickly became distant once filming ended.

Jenn explained to Jesse Palmer that he had strongly declared his love for her, but the very next day acted as if those feelings never existed. She said all the promises and affection he’d expressed had suddenly disappeared.

The situation escalated when Devin posted a 13-minute video on Instagram explaining his perspective. In the video, he took responsibility for his actions and detailed the reasons behind their breakup, which he had originally discussed in a 15-minute phone call.

Jenn said he ended their relationship during a phone call in August, but he insists she pressed him about what was happening while he was trying to tell her in person.

Honestly, I felt completely stuck. I’d been hoping to tell her myself, face-to-face, but she really pushed me into a corner and I had no choice but to just spill it. It wasn’t how I wanted things to happen, but she left me with no other option.

Jenn then appeared on Dancing With the Stars and formed a close connection with her dance partner, Sasha Farber. They continued dancing together even after being eliminated in October 2024, but ultimately ended their relationship in 2025.

Greg Grippo, who appeared on Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette, started dating Victoria Fuller from Bachelor in Paradise in November 2022. They announced their relationship on the season eight finale of Bachelor in Paradise, but Greg shared in April 2024 that they had broken up.

Before Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo revealed they were dating after the season finale of Bachelor in Paradise, Victoria had broken up with her costar, Johnny DePhillipo, and ended their engagement.

Gerry and Theresa Nist got engaged in November 2023 on the season finale of The Golden Bachelor and were married in a televised ceremony in January 2024. They are now divorced.

However, three months after their nuptials, the couple announced that they were breaking up.

Gerry and Theresa have been having open and honest conversations about their relationship and future, as they shared on Good Morning America in April 2024. They’ve jointly decided to get a divorce.

They reached a divorce settlement in June 2024, according to court records reviewed by TopMob News.

In April 2025, Gerry shared on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast that he’s seeing someone and things are progressing nicely.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m still reeling! After watching Joey search for love all season, he finally got engaged to Kelsey! Can you believe it?! He went through thirty-two women, but it was always Kelsey! During the finale in March, he told her he couldn’t wait another minute to tell her he loved her, and then he proposed! He said she has this amazing energy that just makes him smile, something he’s never felt before. It was so sweet! He even said he always wanted a beautiful life, but meeting her showed him just how beautiful it could be. I’m seriously so happy for them both, they’re perfect together!

John Henry Spurlock, who competed for Charity Lawson’s affection, and Kat Izzo, a contestant from Zach Shallcross’ season, found a connection on Bachelor in Paradise, but their romance didn’t last. Though they hit it off mid-season, with John Henry even proposing with a Neil Lane diamond ring, they announced their split shortly after the show aired. They explained in a joint social media post that their differing career goals led them to realize they weren’t a long-term match, but they were thankful for the support they received from family, friends, and fans.

Eliza Isichei, who previously dated Clayton Echard, is engaged! Despite being hesitant about finding love again after her time on Paradise, she said yes to a proposal from Aaron Bryant, a software salesman, in a beautiful oceanfront setting. Eliza was especially touched that Aaron asked her mother for her blessing before proposing.

However, their engagement didn’t last. Shortly after the show aired, Eliza and Aaron announced they were ending things. They shared that while it was difficult to watch their relationship unfold on TV, they were committed to a positive and respectful split, and confirmed the amicable breakup in December 2023.

Despite previously expressing disappointment that boyfriend Aven Jones hadn’t proposed in the traditional way – something he reportedly considered doing on The Bachelorette with Rachel Recchia – Kylee Russell accepted his proposal to try and make their relationship work after Paradise. Although she had a special engagement gown ready, she felt it was the right decision, stating that love requires taking chances. However, just two days after the season finale aired in December 2023, Kylee announced on social media that the relationship had ended due to Aven’s infidelity. Aven later apologized, admitting he had made serious mistakes and hurt Kylee.

Charity Lawson is thrilled with how her season of The Bachelorette ended! She hinted to TopMob News that things were going well, but that was an understatement of the romantic finale. Dotun Olubeko, an integrative medicine specialist, proposed to Charity, a child and family therapist, getting down on one knee and declaring their love “perfect.” He then asked her to marry him and make their relationship a reality.

Although a wedding—likely in 2025 or 2026—is in the future, Charity will first be showing off her moves on Dancing With the Stars. Dotun surprised her with the news on The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose, excitedly telling her that he knew how much she loved to dance and that he was thrilled she’d be joining the show.

 

I was so thrilled to see Zach finally get his happy ending! After a bit of a rocky journey, especially with those Fantasy Suite dates, he proposed to Kaity Biggar in March 2023. He told her he was completely in love and that she was his world – it was such a sweet moment! And then, in July 2023, they announced they were officially roommates, which felt like another huge step for them as a couple. I’m really happy for them both!

As a lifestyle expert, I always say weddings should truly reflect the couple, and that’s exactly what happened with my own! We got married on May 23, 2025, in a sweet, intimate chapel ceremony. We originally envisioned something bigger, but I realized it wasn’t necessary. I shared on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast that I stepped back and asked myself if all the fuss was truly important. Ultimately, the heart of a wedding is celebrating the love and connection between two people, and I didn’t want to get lost in the small details.

Okay, so get this – the reason she fell completely in love with the whole thing? It was the chapel! Her aunt, who’s basically a genius for getting her on the show, found the exact chapel near Austin where they had the ceremony. Kaity said it was absolutely perfect, and honestly, it WAS. It just…completed everything!

Danielle Maltby and Michael Allio, who seemed like a promising couple after meeting on Bachelor in Paradise, have broken up. Both had faced personal tragedy – Danielle lost her fiancé to a drug overdose, and Michael’s wife passed away, leaving him to raise their son James as a single father. After a year of Danielle moving to Ohio to be with Michael, they confirmed their split. Michael explained on a podcast that while they cared for each other, they weren’t compatible long-term, and he was grieving the loss of their envisioned future together.

Brandon Jones proposed to Serene Russell on season seven of Paradise, telling her he would love her forever. Sadly, their relationship didn’t last. Five months after getting engaged on the show, the couple announced their split in a May 2023 Instagram post. They explained that trying to work through their issues had been very difficult with so much public attention, and that while they still cared deeply for each other, the breakup was incredibly painful. They asked for privacy and kindness during this difficult time.

Pilot Rachel and contractor Tino Franco ended their engagement after he kissed someone else while their season of the show was still airing. Tino later admitted on the Viall Files podcast that he deeply regrets his actions. He said it was unfair to Rachel, that he’s still ashamed of it, and wishes he could have handled the situation differently.

Oh my gosh, you guys, it’s been a rollercoaster with Susie and Clayton! I was so invested! Remember how she initially said no to him at the finale? I almost couldn’t believe it! Then, they tried to make things work privately, which gave me hope…but sadly, it only lasted about six months. I’ve been following Susie’s blog, ‘Susie Was Like,’ and she explained it all. She said even though they had some really good times, she wasn’t truly happy. She felt like she was losing herself, and her ‘sparkle’ had faded. It was so brave of her to realize she needed to prioritize her own well-being, even if it meant ending things with Clayton. I’m just glad she’s putting herself first!

Susie then began dating Justin Glaze from Bachelor Nation, but they ended their relationship in August 2024.

Michelle, an elementary school teacher from Minnesota, received a proposal and a $200,000 check for a future home from Nayte Olukoya, a sales executive from Texas, after appearing on a reality show. However, the couple broke up just six months after the show’s finale in December 2021, realizing they weren’t a good match. Nayte later admitted on a podcast that their relationship was filled with conflict and that ending things without an in-person conversation was a mistake. Michelle later found love with Jack Leius, and they became engaged in 2023, marrying in Minnesota in June 2025.

As a lifestyle expert, I always try to help people understand relationships, and sadly, sometimes even seemingly perfect connections don’t last. That was the case with Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian from Bachelor in Paradise. Viewers really fell in love with their vision of a cozy future together – those sweet Sunday mornings felt so real! But after the show, things didn’t quite work out. They announced in January 2022 that they were splitting up, explaining that they both needed to focus on personal growth. It’s tough when things don’t go as planned, but sometimes prioritizing yourself is the healthiest thing to do.

Status: Split

The first same-sex couple from Bachelor in Paradise got engaged on season six, but they broke up and announced their split on Halloween in 2019.

We’ve always cared deeply for each other, and making the best decision for both of us has always been our top priority. With love and sadness, we’ve decided to separate so we can both focus on growing as individuals. This is what we believe is best for our future and for right now, as shared in a joint statement.

Despite a breakup during season seven of Bachelor in Paradise, Noah Erb and Abigail Heringer realized they were meant to be together. The couple, who first competed for the hearts of Tayshia and Matt James respectively, initially lived in San Diego before recently buying a house in Noah’s hometown of Tulsa. Abigail announced the exciting news on Instagram in July 2023, joking they were entering their ‘Chip and Joanna Gaines era.’ They’re now planning a wedding after Noah proposed in San Diego in August 2023.

Serena Pitt and Joe Amabile, who first connected on reality TV, surprised everyone by getting legally married in October 2022! The couple – Serena was a finalist on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor, and Joe, known as the “Grocery Store Joe” from Becca Kufrin’s season – decided to tie the knot at City Hall near their New York City home about a year after getting engaged on Bachelor in Paradise. They’re still planning a larger wedding celebration for September 2023. Serena, who now co-hosts the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast with Joe, shared the news with a playful message: “We are still having a wedding this September but who doesn’t want to get married twice!”

Kenny Braasch proposed to Mari Pepin with a Neil Lane diamond ring during the 2021 finale of Paradise, telling her, “I am so in love with you and can’t imagine my life without you.” Mari, who first appeared on The Bachelor and caught Matt’s eye, relocated from Maryland to Kenny’s hometown of Chicago to begin planning their future together. Before their November 2023 wedding – a 65-person oceanfront ceremony in Puerto Rico – the couple solidified their bond with matching tattoos during a May 2023 trip to the Bahamas. Kenny was previously eliminated by Tayshia Adams during week five of Paradise.

Status: Married

Becca Kufrin, who starred on The Bachelorette, and Thomas Jacobs, a contestant from Katie Thurston’s season, found love on season seven of Bachelor in Paradise in 2021. They initially broke up during filming but later got back together.

In May 2022, they announced their engagement, revealing that Becca had proposed. She told TopMob News she hoped their unconventional approach would empower others to break with tradition. Thomas returned the proposal favor in October. They welcomed their son, Benson, in September 2023, with Becca sharing on Instagram that they were overwhelmed with love for their “tiny man.”

Just weeks after Benson’s birth, the couple had a surprise wedding ceremony on October 13th.

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2026-03-18 18:55