ABC/ROBERT VOETS
Well, it wasn't exactly a picture-perfect courtship. So maybe it was only fitting that it rained -- make that poured -- during the wedding of Bachelor Jason Mesnick and his bride, Molly Malaney. Still, rain couldn't dampen their giddy enthusiasiasm throughout ABC's two-hour special, The Bachelor: Jason and Molly's Wedding.
The controversial couple had a rough year, due to Mesnick's unorthodox (or at least flaky!) way of discerning true love. As the 13th Bachelor, Mesnick proposed to Melissa Rycroft, sending finalist Malaney home. But during the After the Final Rose episode hosted by Chris Harrison, Mesnick dumped Rycroft while cameras rolled, professing his love for Malaney. Together ever since, they've weathered a backlash from fans who called his actions cruel.
"He thought he was doing the right thing at the time," said Malaney.
"I felt like I risked a lot in front of everybody, but I’m one of those people who believes that things happen for a reason," said Mesnick. "And I feel like my whole life has been building to this one moment. Molly is not like anybody else I’ve ever met. She’s strong, kind-hearted and resilient. We’ve been through a lot together. We make a really good team."
The wedding special followed the couple in the weeks leading up to the nuptials -- choosing rings, registering for china, sampling cake.
Trista and Ryan Sutter (The Bachelorette, Season 1): "There’s nothing like it when you fall in love with someone and you create a life out of that love," said Trista.
Jake Pavelka & Vienna Girardi (The Bachelor, Season 14): "There’s no doubt in my mind that Vienna and I are going to be married," said Pavelka. "Hopefully we’re gonna be following in their footsteps shortly."
Jillian Harris & Ed Swiderski (The Bachelorette, Season 5): "We are planning a wedding," said Harris. "We’re taking our own time, but we will be the next Bachelor couple to make it."
Charlie O'Connell & Sarah Brice (The Bachelor, Season 7): "We’re looking at houses, thinking about moving in together," said O'Connell. "I don’t want to live together until we’re married," said Brice. "Well, we’re looking at houses," said O'Connell. "So, whenever I have a ring, we’ll buy one," said Brice.
If only the weather had cooperated! Winds and rain turned umbrellas backwards while guests huddled together for warmth. "From a weather perspective, it’s about as bad as it could possibly be," said Jo Gartin, the wedding planner.
"From the moment that I met you, you gave me butterflies," she said during her vows. "You’ve become my best friend, my strength and my hope. What you did for me means more than you will ever know. When I was sad, you brought me up. You made me focus only on what’s important in life."
Believe it or not, a rainbow eventually appeared, recalling American Idol favorite Jason Castro's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (which he performed while the bride walked down the aisle).
Plus:
- The Bachelor Finale: And the Final Rose Goes to...
- Bachelor Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney's Wedding to Air on TV
- The Bachelor Tell-All: The Return of Rozlyn
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