Bachelor in Paradise alumni Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon finally wed, and it was a Bachelor Nation reunion. There were plenty of members of Bachelor Nation there to celebrate the union of one of their own.
Ashley was a contestant on season 19 of The Bachelor, and Jared was a contestant on the 11th season of The Bachelorette. The two contestants didn't find love and were immediately whisked away to Bachelor in Paradise season 2. Ashley recounts love at first sight, while Jared said his attraction to Ashley was more of a slow burn. The two were back and forth throughout season 2 and 3 due to Jared being indecisive about their relationship, which left Ashley feeling led-on. Fast forward a few years and Jared finally decided to take the relationship with Ashley to beyond the friend zone. They returned to season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise as guests, and Jared got down on one knee and proposed to Ashley on the same beaches where they first met back in 2015.
The two wed in an intimate ceremony in Rhode Island, and according to Us, there were plenty of Bachelor Nation stars attended the wedding to support the couple. A Bachelor producer, Elan Gale, was there to officiate the wedding due to Chris Harrison being unable to attend the wedding. However, many other members of Bachelor Nation were present at the elegant ceremony and romantic reception. There was Evan Bass with his wife, Carly Waddell, who is currently expecting their second child, as well as Chris Strandburg, who was a contestant alongside the groom, Jared, on season 11 of The Bachelorette. There were also the winners of season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise, Chris Randone and Krystal Nielson, who's wedding will be televised sometime during this season of Bachelor in Paradise.
There were also Nick Viall and Ben Higgins, also on the same season of The Bachelorette, as well as Dean Unglert, who is on the current season of Bachelor in Paradise - all making up three of the nine groomsmen. There was also Kaitlyn Bristowe (who was romanced by the groom during their time on Bachelor in Paradise) and her current boyfriend and Bachelorette alum Jason Tartick. There was also Becca Tilley, Amandon Stanton (winner of Bachelor in Paradise season 3), and Olivia Caridi. Unfortunately, there were some former co-stars who weren't able to make it to the nuptials, such as close friend to Ashley and Jared, Tanner Tolbert and wife Jade Roper. Tanner was actually planning on officiating the wedding, but couldn't due to Jade having an emergency home birth in the closet of their home.
Of the 180 guests present, plenty of Bachelor Nation represented. It makes sense that the wedding of Ashley and Jared would be a reunion for the stars of shows past and present, due to the couple being collectively on five seasons of various Bachelor Nation shows. There were many happy couples present thanks to the shows bringing them together, but only time will tell if the wedding itself produced any new romances that might bloom sometime down road among Bachelor Nation contestants.
Source: Us