What to know about Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell, the 'Bachelor' couple who got engaged during 'The Golden Wedding'
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
- During ABC's "The Golden Wedding," another couple from the "Bachelor" franchise celebrated a big milestone.
- Brayden Bowers, from "The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor in Paradise," proposed to Christina Mandrell.
- Here's what to know about the couple who got engaged at Gerry and Theresa's wedding.
Fans tuning into ABC's "The Golden Wedding" on Thursday got an unexpected surprise — in addition to watching "The Golden Bachelor" stars Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tie the knot, viewers got to see another "Bachelor" couple get engaged.
Brayden Bowers, of "Bachelor in Paradise" season nine and "The Bachelorette" season 20, spoke to host Jesse Palmer about his relationship with his new girlfriend Christina Mandrell, who appeared on Zach Shallcross' season of "The Bachelor."
According to Brayden, he and Christina bonded through Instagram after connecting over their love of the band Tenacious D. Brayden then steered the conversation to a more serious topic.
"Christina, from the moment that I picked you up from the airport with your crazy ass rose and your fake disguise, I just knew that there was something special and there was something different," Brayden told Christina.
"I have no doubts that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And like Gerry said, it's like, you know, we have such little time and ... I just know that I want to spend the rest of my days with you," he added.
Brayden then got down on one knee and asked Christina to marry him, to the delight of onlookers and the host. Christina said yes, and asked Brayden if that was why they'd gotten their nails done before the event.
Jesse later noted to viewers that Brayden had gotten permission from Gerry and Theresa to propose at their wedding. (Regardless, some viewers were a little annoyed that Brayden chose another couple's event for the big moment.)
How did Brayden and Christina meet?
While it's unclear when exactly they met, Christina made an Instagram reel in December explaining that she was the one to first slide into Brayden's DMs. As they mentioned on "The Golden Wedding," they connected over their love of Tenacious D, and their relationship presumably blossomed from there. Presumably, they met and started dating sometime after June 2023, which is when "Bachelor in Paradise" season nine reportedly filmed.
The couple first revealed their relationship during the season nine finale of "Bachelor in Paradise."
In an Instagram reel shared shortly after the finale aired in December, Christina gushed about her relationship with Brayden.
"Beyond the cameras and reality show drama, Brayden (aka MY BOYFRIEND!) and I found something truly special. In each other, we have a space where being unapologetically ourselves is not just accepted but celebrated," she wrote in part in the caption.
Christina's 7-year-old daughter Blakely was also shown in the reel laughing and playing with Brayden.
Brayden, for his part, also praised Christina in a post shared after the finale.
"She has been there for me through very tough times already and has showed me so much grace through it all. She has become my confidant, my accountability partner, and my favorite person. I'm so grateful that I no longer have to be hush-hush about our relationship. I can finally shout it from the tops of the mountains," he wrote.