‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Finale: a Proposal, a Tearful Pre-Final Rose Twist and a Trip to Disney World

 Joan Vassos, the star of the first season, began Wednesday's Golden Bachelorette finale by crying, and she kept crying for the entire one and a half hours of the show.

"Will anyone ever love me again?" the golden star asked at the beginning of the episode, still in shock over potential suitor Pascal's decision to quit the show because he wasn't in love. Vassos clarified that Pascal's choice left her feeling "unlovable." Nancy, a former cast member of The Golden Bachelor, was there to soothe her and offer some wise counsel: "You're not unlovable, Joan."

Vassos also expressed her belief that she was fortunate to have had her late husband John, and she questioned why she would "get to have it twice." In the final set, the 60-year-old school administrator had to decide between Guy Gansert, an ER physician, and Chock Chapple, an insurance executive.

During her family's visit with Chapple, Vassos' tears stopped, and he kissed him right away to show everyone how serious he is. The date was "a perfect day," according to Chapple.

Vassos was sufficiently impacted by the family introduction with Chapple to feel compelled to make her ultimate choice even before The Final Rose, telling the camera that she had discovered love and had to break up with Gansert.

The reality star drew him aside and talked about her feelings. "I care so much about you," she told a tearful Gansert, "but instead of putting you through meeting my family and showing up on the last day, I wanted to spare you all of that because my heart belongs to somebody else now." "I sincerely apologize. I don't wish to cause you harm. I promise I didn't. The last thing I wanted was this.

"Today I felt fantastic. With you, I fell in love. Gansert told Vassos, "I was ready to let it all out." "It's completely different from what I expected."

With the show's leading lady, who had previously stated that she wouldn't declare her love until she was ready for the proposal, Vassos and Chapple had a charming beachside proposal. She remarked, "I never in a million years imagined that I would feel love like this again." "I'm finally able to tell you that I love you. It feels fantastic.

"We're engaged!" was shouted to the camera as the couple's engagement segment came to a close, and Vassos' mother received a FaceTime call. The newly engaged couple was beaming as they told the audience that they hoped their love story gave them hope and inspired others during the After The Final Rose live special.

"You must do something. I'm telling you to take a chance and go out and find your soul mate. Vassos remarked, "It simply makes your life so much better."

The show gave the couple and their families a trip to Florida's Walt Disney World Resort as a nod to their first date at Disneyland, where they mentioned that they wanted to take their kids and grandkids to see the theme. Palmer informed the couple that combining their families is just as important to finding love in their "golden years" as the two of them.

ABC gave Bachelor viewers a preview of leading man Grant Ellis' upcoming season, which is scheduled to debut in January 2025, while staying true to the fairytale love theme. Throughout the promo, a number of the women competing for Ellis' affection referred to him as a prince, interspersing their descriptions with a few tears to keep things interesting.