October 20, 2020 • pillow talk
This Week in Bachelor Nation History: DeAnna Pappas Marries Stephen Stagliano
Thirteen years ago, DeAnna Pappas wooed Brad Womack on Season 11 of "The Bachelor." She didn't receive the final rose, but then got her second chance at love a few months later as the Season 4 Bachelorette. Though DeAnna and Jesse Csincsak broke off their engagement, this Southern belle's Bachelor Nation love story wasn't over just yet.
DeAnna met now-husband Stephen Stagliano thanks to Stephen's twin brother Michael, who vied for Jillian Harris' heart on Season 5 of "The Bachelorette" and later appeared on "Bachelor Pad." DeAnna and Stephen hit it off immediately, as if their love story was written in the stars.
The couple tied the knot October 22, 2011 in DeAnna's home state of Georgia. DeAnna and Stephen opted for a "Southern chic" wedding. She described to "Green Wedding Shoes" at the time, "I wanted everything to have a true Southern feel while still being classic and elegant."
Nine years later, DeAnna and Stephen have two kids, Addison, 6, and Austin, 4.
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DeAnna often pays tribute to her husband and speaks about the importance of date nights and quality time together. On June 26, she posted a photo of herself and Stephen and wrote, "I remember going into #thebachelorette & thinking I knew exactly what I wanted in a relationship. And then came you."
She continued, "Walking straight into my life to break down my walls, soften my heart, build me up, prove that compassion and grace do exist, & show me what real LOVE is supposed to be like. Forever grateful for you, my dear. Thank you for saving me. @stephenstag ❤️"
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In August, DeAnna spoke with Becca Kufrin and Rachel Lindsay on "Bachelor Happy Hour" about her relationship and why she appreciates Stephen so much.
She said, "One thing I pride myself in is that I never settled. I could have at least 25 times, but I never ever settled. I knew I wanted something really, really great and I just wasn’t ready for it. I was at a selfish time in my life."
DeAnna said later in the podcast, "I’m not saying our marriage is perfect. We have definitely weathered some serious storms, and I am thankful to be where we are now to think we have come out the other side. That’s the beautiful thing about marriage."
She continued, "We are committed to each other and our family and making things work, and that’s deep down below the dirt. I think that’s the beautiful thing that I never felt before I met Stephen, that I would find a partner that would fight for us."
Happy anniversary, DeAnna and Stephen!
