LOS ANGELES — Just a day after Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple’s dream engagement in Bora Bora aired on ABC’s “Golden Bachelorette,” the couple was excited to share their reality-TV romance.

Despite only getting a few hours of sleep after their first public evening together until midnight, they were cheerful and enthusiastic. Before diving into details about the finale — including how 61-year-old Vassos said goodbye to 66-year-old emergency-room doctor Guy Gansert, leading to Chapple’s proposal — there was a minor issue with jewelry.

“I’m getting rid of this other ring,” Vassos stated, hiding away a less impressive piece that might overshadow the stunning emerald-cut diamond ring she excitedly received from Chapple during the beach proposal. No worries for the fans of reality romance! The dazzling engagement ring and their love story are thriving.

“This ring is staying on,” she exclaimed, momentarily releasing Chapple’s hand to showcase the 4-carat diamond. “We began in paradise and have only grown stronger since.”

The couple has successfully navigated their first day together in public, which began last summer when 24 senior bachelors competed for Vassos on the first “Golden Bachelorette.” However, they have actually been together since August 1, when the show’s production concluded, bringing joy to the widow Vassos, who lost her husband John to pancreatic cancer in 2021, and Chapple, who grieved the loss of his fiancée Kathy to cancer in 2022.

The couple has enjoyed some private moments in their respective homes (Vassos resides in Rockville, Maryland) and spent a lot of time at six undisclosed locations, which they found beneficial.

“Dating on reality television is unique and things moved really quickly,” Vassos explained, who was previously a contestant on Gerry Turner’s “Golden Bachelor” last fall. “You gather the essentials needed for decision-making, discussing values and future plans, but you miss out on ordinary experiences, like cooking together or simply living at home.”

“They refer to it as happy couple retreats,” Chapple shared, confessing he still doesn’t know Vassos’ middle name (Yvonne), although she knows his. He also discovered that Vassos is great at crossword puzzles and appreciates her strong fashion advice. “She’s not afraid to tell me ‘no, no’ about certain shoes. She did that this morning. It’s as if we’ve been married for years.”

The couple mostly watched “Golden Bachelorette” episodes separately, except for their Disneyland date in Episode 2, which Vassos acknowledged as the beginning of their relationship. “Everything felt so effortless from the start,” she added.

Chapple admitted it was challenging watching Vassos kiss other contestants with whom he had formed bonds in the Bachelor Mansion. “I liked those guys,” he said. “I preferred them to be other guys I knew. You want them to have the best time, but my heart was with Joan.”

Chapple, however, is choosing not to watch the episode featuring the Fantasy Suites, where Vassos felt heartbroken when Chicago salon owner Pascal Ibgui, 69, told her he wasn’t in love and departed the show.

“I haven’t watched it and I prefer not to,” he sighed. “Pascal and I are friends, and I wish him all the best.”

They entered the studio green room for Wednesday’s live finale and have not yet seen the Bora Bora episode, but they are thrilled about how it all played out, especially regarding the ring. While Chapple didn’t have the opportunity to seek guidance from Bachelor Nation jeweler Neil Lane, “he did a better job with it than I would have,” Chapple noted. “What matters is that Joan is happy with it.”

How will Joan and Chock manage the distance?

The couple is also on the same page regarding the 1,230 miles that separate their homes in Maryland and Kansas. The difficulty in agreeing on a location to live contributed to last year’s “Golden Bachelor” couple, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, announcing their divorce just three months after their extravagant January wedding.

Chapple and Vassos are looking to find a place together in New York City while planning to travel back and forth to their hometowns. “We see that as a positive,” Vassos shared. “It allows us to experience each other’s lives in different states and learn more about each other. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually excited to visit Kansas.”

What is the wedding plan for Joan and Chock?

During their appearance on “After the Final Rose” hosted by Jesse Palmer on Wednesday, the question of marriage didn’t arise at all. This is likely due to the rapid decline of the previous romantic union involving Turner and Nist. Joan Vassos has shared with YSL News that she felt “pressure” as the next star of the “Golden” series following the public issues that emerged from that relationship. This new couple has decided to take their time to really get to know one another.

“This has nothing to do with Gerry and Theresa,” Vassos clarifies. “Their relationship had a unique end, which unfolded rather quickly.”

“To be honest, it didn’t work out for them, and we respect their situation,” Chapple adds. “We want to ensure that doesn’t happen to us. We’re taking our time. We’re in love, we’re engaged, but we want to make sure everything feels just right. The only pressure I feel is from my own desire to ensure I have a fantastic partner and that we succeed.”

They are, however, planning to get married—potentially even televised. “There will be a Chapter 2. We want to tie the knot,” Vassos states, hinting at securing plans in the upcoming year. “For now, we’re still enjoying the early days of our relationship, like holding hands in public and dining together. We just want a bit of normalcy in our lives for a while.”