Fans first met Bachelor Nation star Sydney Hightower on Season 24 of “The Bachelor,” and while things didn’t work out with Peter Weber, Sydney has continued to share her life with fans on social media.

Shortly after her time on “The Bachelor,” Sydney met NFL star Fred Warner, and the two have been inseparable since. Sydney and Fred announced their engagement in May and are in the thick of planning their dreamy San Diego wedding for 2022.

Now, Sydney is sitting down exclusively with BachelorNation.com to discuss her excitement about becoming Mrs. Warner and to reveal how “The Bachelor” actually brought her and her fiancé together.

So far, the couple has chosen a venue and a date. Sydney has also picked out her wedding dress, and one of her bridesmaids is a fellow Bachelor Nation star, she tells BachelorNation.com exclusively.

“There will be several of the girls from my season at the wedding and even some from other seasons that I’ve connected with that will be there for sure,” she adds.

Below, Sydney chats more with BachelorNation.com about her upcoming wedding and her goals for the future — including growing a family with Fred!

Bachelor Nation: When did you and Fred meet?

Sydney Hightower: Fred and I actually first met the night before we filmed the “Women Tell All,” but we weren’t dating yet. I was in L.A. for the filming of “Women Tell All” and he was in L.A. doing his training for football when we met.

BN: So that means you started dating around the time the pandemic began. Do you feel like having all that time together brought you even closer?

SH: It definitely did, because we did start dating in the depths of COVID. I think that with any COVID romance, it speeds the projection of your relationship up a lot, just because of the amount of time that you’re together. I was in Alabama at the time and he was in California, so I came out here and it definitely made us appreciate the time that we did have together. It progressed fairly quickly, and we knew early on that we wanted to be together for a long time.

BN: How would you describe Fred’s relationship with the Bachelor franchise? Was he aware of you when you were on the show?

SH: Yes! So, we actually met because of the show. His brother and his brother’s wife watched “The Bachelor,” and they were like, “Fred, do you watch ‘The Bachelor?’” It was the middle of his football season, and he was going to the Super Bowl, so he wasn’t watching. But they insisted that he watch because, “There’s this girl on the show and she’s everything that you are attracted to, both physically and personality-wise, so you need to find this girl on social media.” At the time, Fred didn’t know if I ended up with the Bachelor, so he waited until the episode where I got sent home and then he found me on social media.

BN: What a great story! So, he knew about “The Bachelor,” but were you a big football fan before meeting Fred?

SH: Absolutely. I was born and raised in Alabama, and I went to University of Alabama and football runs through our veins there. So, me, my whole family, and everyone I knew was surrounded by football in Alabama. I’m definitely very savvy on football. I don’t know everything, but I definitely knew that world for sure!

BN: Love it! Now that you’ve been together for a couple years, how has your relationship changed since you first met?

SH: It’s changed a lot. We’re about to get married, so that’s a huge step forward! But I would say we just really respect each other a lot. We also appreciate each other’s past, where we came from, and how far we’ve worked to be where we’re at now. We’re an amazing team. I just couldn’t imagine my life without him. It’s so crazy to think about how it’s coming up on two years together now, but it really feels like I’ve known him my whole life.

BN: That is so sweet. What is it about him that makes him the perfect match for you?

SH: Fred is very accepting and just so go-with-the-flow chill. I’m a very type-A person and very scheduled. He lets me be me, and not only does it not bother him, he actually appreciates it, which I love. He is also just so patient. Overall, he treats me like glass and is so soft and gentle with me. I’m very, very spoiled.

BN: Love to hear that you’re being treated like a queen! When it comes to the wedding, where are you in the process? Have you set a date?

SH: Fred’s originally from San Diego and I’m from Alabama. He has a larger family than I do, so we decided to get married in San Diego. We’re getting married on June 25, 2022!

BN: So exciting that you picked a date! Has Fred been involved in the planning process?

SH: We actually talked about this last night (laughs). I was like, “Are you cool with me just doing everything?” Like I said, I’m very type-A and love to have control over planning, and he’s totally cool with that. But it’s because we trust each other and we understand each other a lot. Before I even make a decision, I know what he would and wouldn’t be okay with. So, it’s mostly me, but we also have a wedding planner who helps a lot. He trusts me to make all the right decisions, and I am loving it!

BN: We saw on Instagram that you celebrated your bachelorette party in Nashville with fellow Bachelor Nation stars. Are you planning on inviting some of your Bachelor fam to the wedding?

SH: Oh, yes, there will be several of the girls from my season and even some from other seasons that I’ve connected with that will be there for sure. People always say you build such strong friendships on the show and that one day these will be your bridesmaids. And now that day is here and it’s true! One of the girls from my season is one of my bridesmaids! It’s wild.

BN: We saw on your IG Stories that you went dress shopping. Did you say yes to the dress yet?

SH: I definitely did! It’s so funny; I thought I was going to be so picky and want to go to eight or nine boutiques, but I only went to one. The dress I picked was the last dress I tried on my first day of dress shopping! I was not expecting myself to find “the one” at the first appointment at the first boutique, but I knew it was my dress, so I didn’t want to keep trying on more.

BN: Can you give us any hints about what your wedding dress looks like?

SH: I was super big on not needing it to be a true white. I veered more towards the nudes and off-whites. So that’s one thing I’ll tease. Oh! And I’m very into my veil. I love a very long lace veil and I got one custom made, so I can’t wait to wear it.

BN: That sounds beautiful! We can’t wait to see it next June. Now that you’ve been wedding planning, do you have any advice for newly engaged couples about to go through the process?

SH: As soon as you announce that you’re engaged, everyone’s so excited and happy for you, but they are also immediately going to ask, “When’s the wedding?!” And you’re going to be like, “I literally just put the ring on my finger and I want to enjoy this moment!” So, to any other couple just getting engaged, take that moment! We took three months after we got engaged to just bask in being engaged. We didn’t talk about planning the wedding yet; we just enjoyed those three months of being newly engaged. I think that’s so important to appreciate that special time, because once you’re married you can’t get that initial engagement bliss back. So, no need to rush into starting to plan, make phone calls, and start emailing. The wedding will come when it’s supposed to come. Relax and enjoy your moment!

BN: That’s really great advice! What are you most looking forward to about being married after the wedding day itself?

SH: Well, I don’t think a ton will change. Being engaged now, it almost feels like we’re married. But I think my name change is going to be huge for me. I’m very excited about that! I’m going to be Sydney Warner.

BN: Sydney Warner has a nice ring to it!

SH: Agreed! It’s going to be great. I’m excited about the name change, but I’m also just ready to grow old with him and start a family together. That’s really important to us. We are looking forward to fulfilling our dream of filling up a house and having big celebrations for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

BN: Speaking of growing your family, have you and Fred talked about having babies?

SH: Yes, definitely. Fred is ready to be the family man — I just need a little time! But yes, we definitely are looking forward to that in the near future, for sure.

BN: How exciting! Do you feel like your time on “The Bachelor” impacted your outlook on love and ultimately led you to your thriving relationship with Fred?