'The Bachelorette' star Desiree Hartsock: Chris Siegfried isn't bothered by my Brooks Forester history

The Bachelorette star Desiree Hartsock picked Chris Siegfried as her final bachelor and he proposed marriage to her during Monday night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating show's ninth-season finale.


Desiree selected Chris, a 27-year-old mortgage broker from Seattle, WA, over Drew Kenney a 27-year-old digital marketing analyst from Scottsdale, AZ, during the finale -- but only after she struggled to gather her emotions and pick up the pieces following Brooks Forester's decision to dump her and unexpectedly leave the show.

During a Tuesday conference call with reporters, the happily engaged couple talked to Reality TV World about their overall experience on the show and current relationship. To read what they had to say, click here.

Below are some additional highlights from the couple's call. Check back with Reality TV World soon for more. 

We saw a little bit of your conversation, Desiree, with Chris about what happened when Brooks left at the end of the episode. Could you guys talk a little bit about the conversations that you had afterwards to kind of clear up what had happened so the two of you could move forward?


Desiree Hartsock: Yeah, I mean, I did express to him during the proposal everything that had happened with Brooks and I needed that. I needed him to know that in order to move forward and be honest. Since the proposal, I guess, I don't know. We haven't needed to rehash anything more. He pretty much knows all the details and that didn't bother him.

Chris Siegfried: Yeah, we've really been focusing on our relationship now and that's not something that everybody gets to see. I was glad that she was honest with me and that's kind of where we wanted to start our relationship, and that's where we're going now.

Desiree, do you plan to take Chris' last name?

Desiree Hartsock: I do, definitely. I'm very traditional in that sense, so I will be a Siegfried.

Chris Siegfried: Heyyy!


Do you have a favorite memory from your time together on The Bachelorette?

Desiree Hartsock: Oh, that's really good. You know, there's so many unique memories and also so many great times with Chris that I can't even pinpoint just one.

I mean, obviously the proposal, (laughs) of course. I think that what also was nice for me was to see his hometown and be on the baseball field with him. To be honest, that was a really great moment, because I could see my future -- what it would look like with him.

Chris Siegfried: Yeah, I really enjoyed seeing her out there on the baseball field, playing catch with her and watching her swing a bat. I was very impressed and I think I expressed that quite a bit on the show for everyone, so yeah.

What has been the hardest thing about your relationship since the show wrapped besides the distance and the media attention?


Desiree Hartsock: The hardest thing. You know, to be honest, I would say the hardest thing is just not being -- like, while we were in hiding -- able to do normal couple things, you know, go get a cup of coffee or just share my day with him.

Chris Siegfried: Yeah, we want to get back to exactly how we were before -- out of the public and enjoying ourselves and grabbing breakfast or coffee, like she said, and going on hikes.

Desiree Hartsock: The hardest part was just being away, not being able to have that normalcy.

What made you decide to move to Seattle and so quickly as well?

Desiree Hartsock: Yeah, I mean, I have always loved California. And that's mainly because I haven't had any roots anywhere with my family. I've always been away from them, and I think that I haven't really -- you know, I've thought about living in other areas but I never settled down in other areas, because I hadn't met someone that I wanted to spend my life with.


I think once you find that, you compromise and you make it work.  So, I wanted to move to be with Chris.  And I think so quickly is because at first, I was going to wait until the end of the year, but after waiting for three months, I mean, we realized that we missed each other too much and we just need to start out life together as soon as possible.

What are date nights like for you two now that the cat's out of the bag and you're not climbing mountains or on boats in Antigua? What is a perfect date night going to look like now?

Desiree Hartsock: You know what? We actually have our first date planned and that's just to explore Seattle and, you know, to take a walk, grab some breakfast. And we don't need the mountains and the helicopters. We just need a good conversation and time together. What do you think?

Chris Siegfried: Yes, yes, that's what, you know, we've kind of drawn out our date in Seattle, our first date. So, we're both very excited to have that experience here shortly. Yes.

Desiree, what do you plan to do when you get to Seattle as far as your career since you're obviously moving from California? Do you have any plans as far as what you'd like to do?


Desiree Hartsock: Yes, I mean, my entire, you know, dreams since -- for many, many years is to design my own bridal gown collection. So I can design anywhere I want to be and I can be creative. So, that's what I plan to do, work on a jewelry line and a bridal line and just allow that time to really do what I love.

Do you think you'll design your own wedding gown?

Desiree Hartsock: Definitely, yes. I will definitely design my own wedding gown.

I actually have interviewed Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici before, and Catherine wanted you to win the whole time Chris because you were from Seattle. 

Chris Siegfried: Go Seattle!

And she tweeted last night, "Seattle for the win." So now that you guys are going to be living in Seattle, any chance you'll go on a double date with Sean and Catherine?


Chris Siegfried: You know, that is a very good question.

Desiree Hartsock: I mean...

Chris Siegfried: Well, yes, Catherine and Sean don't live in Seattle.

Desiree Hartsock: But, I mean, they live in the neighborhood.

Chris Siegfried: That'd be, you know, it'd be...

Desiree Hartsock: I mean, it'd be interesting because, you know...


Chris Siegfried: Definitely an experience we all share together.

Desiree Hartsock: I do like them both and we, you know, I do speak to both of them. So, that would be a possibility.

And Catherine said she wants to have you at her wedding.  She told me that.

Chris Siegfried: Aw.

Desiree Hartsock: Aw, thanks.

What do you think Chris' relationship with Nate will be like? Have you spent much time with him?


Desiree Hartsock: No, they haven't been able to, you know, spend much time [together], but the time that my brother was able to meet Chris, he really took a liking to him and has nothing but kind words to say.  I think my brother can see all that Chris is and what Chris means to me, and I think that's all that matters. 

You've been to so many fantastic places now together. Where would you possibly honeymoon?

Chris Siegfried: Good question. Where should we go? You know, we did like a lot of the places that we visited.

Desiree Hartsock: I loved Spain. 

Chris Siegfried: Yes, we both really liked Spain. So we could both see ourselves going back to Spain possibly.

Desiree Hartsock: And you can never go wrong with, like, an island. 


Chris Siegfried: Yes, so most likely something warm. 

Check back with Reality TV World soon for more from Desiree and Chris. To begin reading what Drew had to say during his interview, click here. To start reading Brooks' perspective on the season, click here.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski