Joan Vassos has revealed what changed her mind since she didn't think she'd get engaged going into The Golden Bachelorette.
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Joan repeatedly said in the press while The Golden Bachelorette was airing that she didn't expect, nor did she anticipate, getting engaged at the Final Rose Ceremony.
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But when Joan fell in love with Chock Chapple, she didn't hesitate to accept his romantic marriage proposal in Bora Bora.
When asked what caused her change of heart, Joan told Us Weekly, "I've been watching The Bachelor [franchise] for a million years, and sometimes I wonder how people get to the point of getting engaged in such a short amount of time," Joan explained.
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"Sometimes I feel like they rush into it -- young people, they have a lot more freedom to make the wrong decision and recover from that."
But Joan admitted she probably wouldn't bounce back that easily from heartbreak or a broken engagement.
"I don't feel that way about myself," Joan said.
Joan, however, realized that she was in a "unique opportunity" and needed to keep an open mind.
"[I thought to myself], 'I will have a hard time finding another person.' I did find out that you could really get to know somebody in that short amount of time," Joan shared.
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Joan also revealed that, if Chock were ready for an engagement, she wanted to leave that decision up to him.
Joan apparently wanted to feel desired, and Chock proposing would be the ultimate sign of commitment.
"Chock asked me [in Fantasy Suites], 'What do you want out of this? Do you want an engagement?'" Joan recalled.
"And I said, 'I want that to be up to you. I have picked you every single week. I've given you a rose, and now it's your turn to figure out what you want. You're in the driver's seat.'"
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Chock got down on one knee at the Final Rose Ceremony in Bora Bora after Joan rejected her runner-up bachelor, Guy Gansert, in second place.
While Joan changed her mind about getting engaged on The Golden Bachelorette, she's still not going to rush into a wedding with Chock.
"You're absolutely not going to see a TV wedding in three months," Joan told the magazine, seemingly alluding to the fact The Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist had wed a few months after their engagement aired on ABC.
Gerry and Theresa got married in January for a live televised special, but they announced their decision to get a divorce in April. (Their divorce has since been finalized).
"I loved that ending for Gerry and Theresa. The reason we're not having a wedding in three months has nothing to do with Gerry and Theresa," Joan insisted.
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"I just don't want to have another thing I have to plan right now. When we come together for a wedding, which could be a TV wedding, might not be, it won't be in three months."
Joan added, "I just don't want to have another thing to plan right now. We are loving being together, and I want to take the time for us to get to know each other's families and friends."
Joan admittedly felt like her future was a "black hole" after the passing of her late husband John Vassos, but now she said the future looks "so bright" with Chock.
"The possibilities are endless for us, which is a weird thing to say at this age, but I do feel that way," Joan shared.
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Joan and Chock recently revealed on "The Viall Files" that they will probably have a televised wedding, in order to include Bachelor Nation, in late 2025 or early 2026.
In the meantime, they'll be meeting up for romantic dates in New York City and traveling the world together.
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