Joan Vassos and her fiancé, Chock Chapple, may be bringing more of their love story to TV screens soon, after getting engaged during the finale of The Golden Bachelorette. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the couple opens up about their relationship and future plans, including the possibility of a televised wedding.
While Joan initially envisioned a small, intimate ceremony with close friends and family, she’s now considering the idea of a wedding broadcast for fans to see. “I originally thought we’d keep it small, but now that I think about it, a televised wedding could be fun,” she says. “Everyone who has followed our journey deserves to see the next chapter of us starting our life together.”
However, before any wedding plans are made, the couple is enjoying the excitement of being a public couple. “We haven’t put a ton of thought into the wedding yet,” Joan admits. “Right now, we just want to be normal people out in the world for a couple of months, and then we’ll think about the wedding.”
Joan and Chock’s journey to engagement may have been quick, but they both knew they were meant for each other from the beginning. Despite admitting they didn’t know each other very well when Chock proposed in Bora Bora, Joan felt a strong connection with him early on. “That initial confidence was there right away, and how easy we were together was evident,” Joan recalls. “We got to know each other really quickly, and by the time we were engaged, we’d already covered the important stuff.”
Chock’s feelings were equally clear. “By the time we got to Bora Bora, I knew I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her,” he shares. The couple says they’ve been in complete harmony since leaving the show, with no disagreements to date. “He’s very easygoing, so I give all the credit to him,” Joan says, adding with a laugh, “He’s very trainable!”
Chock, who has two children from a previous relationship, agrees that they complement each other perfectly. “We both have a ‘fixer’ mentality, and we handle life beautifully together,” he says. Joan adds that Chock gives her a sense of safety she hasn’t had since losing her late husband. “I know if something challenging comes up, he’ll step in and try to help me,” she says. “That’s what you miss when you lose a partner — doing everything alone. Now I have a true partner.”
As for the next steps, Joan and Chock are still figuring out where to call home but are excited to continue building their life together. “We’re taking it one step at a time and enjoying being a couple,” Joan says, with Chock adding, “We’re just happy to see what life has in store for us next.”
