Inside 'The Bachelor' Stars Arie and Lauren's Love Story
When it comes to Bachelor love stories, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham's is *actually* one of the most dramatic (and romantic!) of all time. Arie and Lauren met on his season of The Bachelor, which premiered in 2018. Although Burnham was originally the runner-up, Luyendyk had a last-minute change of heart, which played out in real time on the season finale. After asking for a second chance, he proposed on the live After the Final Rose special, and the two have been happily together ever since. In the years following their Hawaii destination wedding, Arie and Lauren have welcomed three children together (including a set of twins!) and renewed their vows not once, but twice.
Here, we break down Lauren and Arie's complete relationship timeline, from the first rose to where they stand today. Plus, we look back on Arie and Lauren's wedding photos, which they exclusively shared with The Knot back in 2019.
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Arie and Lauren's Relationship Timeline
Arie and Lauren's journey began on The Bachelor. The race car driver first appeared on Emily Maynard's season of The Bachelorette in 2012, where he was the first runner-up. Six years later, he was selected to be The Bachelor for season 22, and the rest is (almost) history.
2017: Arie and Lauren Meet on The Bachelor
Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham met in 2017 while filming season 22 of The Bachelor. Burnham emerged as a frontrunner in the middle of the season, and she advanced to the final episode. During the finale, though, Luyendyk proposed to Becca Kufrin.
2018: Arie Proposes to Lauren on After the Final Rose
In what was one of the most shocking plot twists in Bachelor history, Luyendyk revealed he had a change of heart. His emotional breakup with Kufrin was chronicled on camera, and he ultimately told producers that he wanted to ask Burnham for a second chance. The two began dating as the season aired in real-time and debuted their relationship during the After the Final Rose special. At the end of the finale, Luyendyk proposed to Burnham—and she happily accepted.
January 12, 2019: Lauren and Arie Get Married in Hawaii
Arie and Lauren got married on January 12, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. At the time, the couple unveiled exclusive wedding photos and details with The Knot, which we share below.
May 29, 2019: Arie and Lauren's First Child is Born
Four months into married life, Lauren and Arie welcomed their first child together: daughter Alessi.
September 2019: Arie and Lauren Renew Their Vows in Las Vegas
In September, Arie and Lauren made a spur-of-the-moment decision to renew their wedding vows in Las Vegas. "We always talked about just eloping because wedding planning got kind of stressful, to be honest," Luyendyk former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay in an episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast. Burnham added, "We're like, 'Ugh, why don't we just quit this and go elope in Vegas?' And we thought seriously about it while we were planning our Hawaii wedding. And then Arie had to go back [to Vegas] for a P.F. Chang's event and I'm like, 'Well, your parents are coming with us, our daughter's with us, we might as well just do our second wedding. It would be fun.' So that's what we did."
The sequel ceremony was a classic Vegas celebration, complete with an Elvis officiant and a hot pink Cadillac.
June 11, 2021: Lauren and Arie Welcome Twins
The Luyendyk family grew once again in June 2021 with the arrival of Lauren and Arie's twins, Senna and Lux. "@Luyendyktwins are here," Luyendyk shared on Instagram at the time. "Momma and babies are doing great, and everything went smoothly. Spending time cherishing these moments, thank you all for all the support."
August 2023: Arie and Lauren Renew Their Vows…Again!
Twice is just as nice. In August 2023, Arie and Lauren partnered with Aruba I Do, the Caribbean's largest vow renewal company, to seal the deal again—four years after their original wedding. This time, they were joined not only by all three of their children, but also by hundreds of other couples who renewed their vows at the same time.
Inside Lauren and Arie's Wedding Day
On January 12, 2019, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham exchanged vows before their loved ones at a converted sugar mill in Hawaii. "It was a moment I'll never forget," Luyendyk told The Knot in an exclusive interview. "As soon as I saw her, I began to cry. All I could say to myself was, 'Hold it together!' She looked just as I had imagined when I played the scene in my head a thousand times before that day… perfect."
Burnham was also overcome with emotion as she saw her husband's raw reaction as he awaited her arrival. "I knew I was going to be emotional once I saw Arie, because I, too, had been picturing that moment in my head over and over again," she reflected. "I was tearing up as I walked towards Arie, but my dad did a good job of keeping things light for me."
She added, "I'll never forget how handsome and sweet Arie looked down there at the end of the aisle waiting for me."
The Venue
One of the first details that Luyendyk and Burnham released about their highly private wedding was where it would be held: Haiku Mill in Maui, Hawaii. The space was previously a processing factory for sugarcane, and now plays host to countless events and galas.
"I moved from Virginia to Arizona and we were Googling places all over the world, and this picture of this venue kept popping up and popping up," Burnham previously told The Knot. "We kept coming back to that one and it was like, 'OK. I think this is the venue. Let's go for it.'"
The First Look
"The anticipation was intense," Luyendyk said of what he believed would be his first glimpse of Burnham on their wedding day. " I was so ready to see Lauren… And I stood for what felt like 10 minutes just waiting her to tap me on the shoulder."
Instead, best man Dustin Martin was sent out. "When the moment finally came, I was terrified to see my best man standing in a wedding gown drinking a Kona Beer," the reality lead added. "I should have known just by how hard he had tapped me, but it was still a complete surprise. Lauren definitely pulled one over on me and it was hilarious. It honestly lightened the mood and helped me shake my nerves a bit."
The Ceremony
Burnham's father walked her down the aisle, while the bride's grandparents stood in for a flower girl and ring bearer, much to the delight of the wedding guests.
The happy couple wanted to include as many of their loved ones as possible in their wedding ceremony—including Chris Harrison. The longtime Bachelor host officiated the nuptials (as he did for former Bachelorette Ashley Hebert, Bachelor J.P. Rosenbaum and other franchise couples) and struck a good balance between funny jokes ribbing the couple and heartfelt stories about the pair and their journey together.
"He's a true professional," Luyendyk said. "It was great to hang out with him leading up to the wedding and it really allowed us to get to know each other outside of the Bachelor world. His speech was clever, funny and touching all at the same time. He really nailed it."
The Decor
The overarching theme of the Luyendyk-Burnham wedding was, perhaps surprisingly, Twilight: Breaking Dawn. With Maui's natural lush greenery and a waterfall fittingly serving as a backdrop for the couple at the altar, the pair's wedding aesthetic was disarmingly magical.
"Almost every inspiration photo that Lauren would text to me would be from the movie," wedding planner Kimiko Hosaki of K.H & co. previously told Us Weekly. Several chandeliers hung suspended above the aisle leading toward the altar to add to the otherworldly look, and a giant, leafy arch framed their moment.
The Flowers
In keeping with the couple's magical, ethereal theme, the florals for their wedding ceremony and reception were largely monochromatic. Mandy Grace Designs provided the flower arrangements, which consisted of a classic bouquet of white flowers for the bride (ranunculus and specialty garden roses), with an attention to detail for the centerpieces at the reception, made up of native Hawaiian flowers and plants.
Lauren Burnham's Wedding Dress
Burnham had a very specific vision when it came to her wedding gown, and she wasn't afraid to share it with designer Hayley Paige, who created the sparkly princess-inspired dress, especially for the Bachelor alum. The gown featured an A-line silhouette that helped hide Burnham's tiny baby bump (she and Luyendyk were expecting their first child, due in June), paired with a plunging crystal neckline, modest train and floral embellishments.
"I wanted a fairy tale wedding, so I wanted to design a gown with Hayley that fit with the theme and the venue," Burnham told The Knot. "It was very unique and very me with head-to-toe glitter and intricate beading. I loved it so much that I think I'll probably continue to wear it around the house from time to time."
The Wedding Party
Neither Burnham nor Luyendyk opted to include many of their Bachelor Nation pals in their bridal party, choosing instead to invite their closest off-camera friends and family to stand by their side up at the altar (though Maquel Cooper, who was a contestant on the show alongside Burnham, was a bridesmaid).
The bride's sister Heather was her maid of honor, and Luyendyk's good buddy Dustin Martin was his best man. Burnham's bridal beauty look was a fresh yet glamorous presentation executed by Maui Makeup Artistry.
Lindsay Marie Design made Burnham's headpiece, as well as intricate pieces for each bridesmaid. The wedding party also wore robes from Hayley Paige's Hologram Athleisure line.
The Wedding "Somethings"
Family played a large role in Burnham's "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." The expectant mom combined her something old with something blue by taking one of Luyendyk's old suits and cutting a heart from its fabric. She then implemented the sentimental piece into her custom La Gartier garter.
Burnham borrowed a pair of earrings from Molina Jewelers, while her something new was a handkerchief from her mother.
Arie and Lauren's Wedding Rings
In a sweet nod toward their good ole friend Neil Lane, both Luyendyk and Burnham donned hardware by the veteran Bachelor jeweler. Luyendyk's wedding band was rose gold and platinum, while Burnham's was inlaid with an impressive 200 French-cut diamonds.
"Arie and Lauren have a special connection," Lane told The Knot. "I wanted their rings to be symbolic of their love: striking yet timeless. Both designs speak to their individual qualities and journey together as a couple."
The Reception Menu
After Luyendyk and Burnham exchanged vows, the newlyweds invited their guests to join them for a two-hour cocktail hour followed by a multi-course dinner, all taking place in the same location elsewhere at Haiku Mill. Burnham and Luyendyk's fathers gave toasts during the reception (their mothers both spoke at the rehearsal dinner the night before), and guests including former Bachelor star Sean Lowe and his wife, Catherine Giudici, danced the night away.
Guests noshed on prime rib and fresh, local seafood that showcased the wide swath of foods available in Hawaii during a multi-course meal served at long, communal tables decorated with candles, with hanging chandeliers and dangling greenery overhead. Cocktail hour bites included kalua pork wontons, mochiko chicken, Lokelani Sparkling Rosé from the Bubbly Bar and more libations from LeVecke Wine & Spirits.
The Cake
Luyendyk and Burnham enlisted the help of Maui-based bakery Cake Fanatic to create a sweet treat that matched their romantic setting. The four-tiered cake marble confection was frosted white with gold-leaf detailing and pale buttercream flowers wrapping their way around the structure.
The Entertainment
To keep things groovin' through the night, the couple hired Island Encore Entertainment to spin some tunes for their guests. The couple also showed off their dance moves (they took dance lessons leading up to their wedding) choreographed to Calum Scott's "You Are the Reason."
Additionally, as an extra unique touch, the pair called upon the talents of artist Jeanne Young, who live painted the wedding.
The Takeaway
Last fall, the couple explained to us why they're a perfect fit for each other. "She senses when I'm stressed out about something and she's really good about working with me through that," the season 22 Bachelor said. "And that also goes with wedding planning too."
"We're just really happy with each other and we vibe well together," Burnham added. "We're best friends, so we're just ready for that next step."
"It felt a little strange at first--but in the very best way," Luyendyk concluded of his new marriage. "We're getting used to it… Plus, it's fun to call each other 'husband' and 'wife.'"
With reporting by Esther Lee.