What’s next for The Golden Bachelorette couple Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple? Since their engagement was made public over a month ago, fans have been eagerly speculating about their future—particularly whether they will follow the same path as The Golden Bachelor stars Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. Specifically, will Joan and Chock tie the knot on TV like Gerry and Theresa did?
While they’re not rushing to get married like the couple from last year’s Golden spinoff, Joan and Chock have begun to warm to the idea of a televised wedding. Initially, Joan had envisioned a small, intimate ceremony with just close family and friends. However, after hearing from fans who found hope and inspiration in her journey, Joan has reconsidered. She shared on the Call It What It Is podcast:
“I thought, I just want it to be our family and friends and just be intimate, just us being a couple — finally not a couple that everybody is watching. Just us.”
But then, she reflected on how much her relationship has meant to fans, saying:
“Now that I’ve seen people’s reactions to the show and how much hope it’s given people, leaving them at the curb right when they get to see the real finale—a wedding—doesn’t feel right.”
Joan’s perspective is that since they fell in love on television, it might not be fair to deny fans the chance to witness their next big step. She and Chock discussed the possibility of a televised wedding with the podcast hosts, explaining that a private ceremony would be for them, while a larger televised event would be for fans and ratings—and potentially financial compensation from ABC.
Chock seemed open to the idea, though he acknowledged the trade-offs involved. He said:
“I think a little bit of it is giving up control. Because between the two of us, we could throw one hell of a party.”
While Joan is coming around to the idea, she’s also been candid about her reluctance to dive into wedding planning. In a conversation with Decider in November, she admitted that the thought of planning a wedding was not something she was excited about. She explained:
“We’re slowly coming to the thought that maybe we would do a televised one. Our original discussions were for something small, just friends and family. But we’re still a little bit away from that. We’re ready to enjoy being a couple out in public, like normal people. A wedding takes a lot of planning, so I’m not sure if I’m dying to start that yet. Maybe after the holidays, I’ll start thinking about it.”
It seems the couple is in no rush to tie the knot and may still opt for a quieter ceremony. But, as fans saw with Gerry and Theresa’s rushed televised wedding, not every relationship benefits from such a public spectacle. Gerry and Theresa’s quick marriage ended in divorce just months later, a separation that was partly due to distance and other personal issues.
With that in mind, some wonder whether Joan and Chock should carefully consider their next steps. While a televised wedding could be a great opportunity for ABC, it’s important for the couple to prioritize what’s best for them, not just what’s best for TV ratings.
As for now, Joan and Chock are content enjoying their engagement in private. Whether or not they eventually walk down the aisle on TV remains to be seen. However, fans will be keeping a close eye on what comes next for the couple.
