‘Bachelorette’ Alums Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried’s Relationship Timeline

Credit: ABC/Francisco Roman; Roger Wong/INFphoto.com; Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram; Matthew Land Studios

‘Bachelorette’ Alums Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried's Relationship Timeline

It’s a love story, baby, just … accept the final rose. Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried are one of Bachelor Nation’s rare success stories. Hartsock first competed for Sean Lowe’s heart on season 17 of The Bachelor, which aired in 2013. After making it to the hometown dates, the bridal stylist was sent packing. While Lowe ended up marrying winner Catherine Giudici, Hartsock was named the ninth Bachelorette. "I wanted to come back, because I know from first-hand experience the feelings are very real, and you really can form a relationship from it,” she declared on the May 2013 premiere episode. "Throughout this season, you’ll see I really wanted to make sure I was going to be the right person for them, as well, because I was really aware of that. I made sure if I’m not going to be the right person for you, let me know. It’s always a two-way street." During the season, Hartsock was briefly left heartbroken when Brooks Forester quit the show after making the final three. “I’m not broken,” she insisted to host Chris Harrison after breaking down. “My heart might be, but my spirit hasn’t been broken … I want to find someone to share my life with. I do, I really do.” [jwplayer TuYVJ0Lx-l3ahXupL] The designer subsequently accepted a proposal from Siegfried during the August 2013 finale. “I feel like I was blindsided by my feelings for Brooks, that I couldn’t see that the one thing I always needed was right in front of me,” Hartsock told Siegfried during the final rose ceremony. “You have been by my side from the very beginning … I thank you every day for never giving up. And you mean the absolute world to me. I love you. I love you so much.” Siegfried was thrilled by the love declaration. “You make me want to be a better person, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he told her before he got down on one knee. “I don’t want to make decisions for me anymore; I want to make decisions for you, and us, and our lives together.” The twosome will celebrate 5 years of marriage in January 2020. Scroll through for their complete relationship timeline:

Credit: ABC/Rick Rowell

May 2013

Season 9 of The Bachelorette started airing in May 2013.

Credit: ABC/Francisco Roman

August 2013

“I’ve never in my life met anyone like Chris,” Hartsock said after her final date with Siegfried. “I just feel so lucky to be that person that is receiving his love, because I’ve never felt anyone has loved me as much as I have loved them. It’s hard, because I feel guilty. Like, how could I not have loved him from the beginning?”

The mortgage broker proposed by the end of the episode. “Desiree Hartsock,” he said. “I want to be your first, and I want to be your last. Will you marry me?”

Credit: Roger Wong/INFphoto.com

March 2014

Hartsock, who designed her own wedding dress, opened up to Us Weekly about planning her nuptials in March 2014.

“I think I want it to be more low-key than people are expecting — a small ceremony — and just the essentials,” she told Us at the time. “I’m just excited to be designing my dress!”

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January 2015

The couple exchanged vows in front of family and friends — and even Forester — in Palos Verdes, California, on January 18, 2015.

“It’s cliche to say,” she told Us exclusively at the time. “But it was a dream come true.”

Credit: Matthew Land Studios

April 2016

Us broke the news in April 2016 that Hartsock was pregnant with baby No. 1. “We were in Hawaii, when we went for our one-year anniversary. That’s when we took a test and found out!” she told Us after posing for their pregnancy reveal photos with Matthew Land Studios.

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

October 2016

The twosome welcomed their first son, Asher Wrigley Siegfried, on October 19, 2016.

“He has already brought so much joy into our lives in one day,” the new mom gushed exclusively to Us at the time. “He’s strong, healthy, happy, playful and warm. Chris and I are beyond blessed with this beautiful gift of life that we are excited to have as a part of our family.”

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

July 2018

Us broke the news that the pair were expanding their family in July 2018.

“We’ll say, ‘Where’s the baby?’ And [Asher will] point to my stomach,” Hartsock told Us at the time. “But I still don’t think he understands, but he’s doing it.”

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

September 2018

The duo made headlines in September 2018 when season 11 of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars started airing. While Hartsock seemingly said she “settled” for her husband during a promo for the reality series, she clarified her remarks during an interview with Us.

“That was taken out of context,” she told Us. “It’s so frustrating because I didn’t say that. What I did say is exactly what is so frustrating is that because from The Bachelorette, our relationship was hidden a little bit because of all the other drama and so, people’s perspective was a lot of times that I settled and so, in that context I said, ‘People assumed that I settled for Chris.’  And then they just cut that out and used it.”

Hartsock concluded: “I obviously did not settle at all. Let’s get real. I upgraded.”

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

January 2019

Us exclusively confirmed that the former Bachelorette gave birth to son Zander Cruz Siegfried in January 2019.

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

January 2021

The twosome celebrated six years of marriage in January 2021.

“S I X years ✨ WOW what a beautiful journey we’ve been on since,” Hartsock gushed via Instagram. “Every day I thank God for you and our little family! I can’t wait to see where God takes us in the next six years! Love you babe so much! Always falling forward. ❤️”

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

January 2022

Siegfried reposted Bachelor Nation’s message on their seventh wedding anniversary, writing, “I’ll have you know I didn’t forget this year, but thank you for the reminder! Love you [Des].”

Credit: Courtesy Chris Siegfried/Instagram

January 2023

“8 years with you ♥️ and many more memories to make!” she captioned a wedding anniversary tribute via Instagram. “Love who you are @chrisrsiegfried and the father, husband and man you continue to be. All my love, all my years! 🥂Happy Anniversary!”

Credit: Courtesy Desiree Hartsock/Instagram

February 2023

The pair and their two sons took a trip to Newport Beach, California. “A long weekend well spent & I'm pretty sure I officially got my boys to love the beach as much as me 😉,” she wrote via Instagram.