Could Bachelor in Paradise ’s Derek Peth Officiate Demi Burnett and Kristian Haggerty’s Wedding?

UPDATE: October 31, 2019, at 4:05 p.m. ET: — In an emotional Instagram post, Bachelor in Paradise's Demi Burnett announced that she and her fiancée, Kristian Haggerty, decided to go their separate ways.

“What has always been at the forefront of our relationship is love and care for one another,” Burnett wrote. “Our priority is doing what is best for us. With a heavy heart full of love for one another we have decided it is best for us to take a step back from our relationship. We ultimately want what is best for us in the long run and for us right now, that means being apart and growing individually.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

By far the most talked-about couple on Bachelor in Paradise this season was Demi Burnett and Kristian Haggerty. These two women made Bachelor Nation history for many reasons. For one, they're the first same-sex couple to appear on the franchise. And also, Haggerty wasn't a Bachelor contestant before she appeared on Paradise. She was someone Burnett was seeing off-camera. But Burnett couldn't stop thinking about Haggerty while she was on the show—where, remember, she was pursuing a relationship with Derek Peth. I know, complicated.

Ultimately, Burnett decided Haggerty was the one for her and ended things with Peth. Instead of leaving the show, though, she brought Haggerty on. The rest, like we said, is history.

Seeing Burnett and Haggerty's ups and downs on Bachelor in Paradise was refreshing and necessary—especially in the context of LGBTQ+ representation on TV. ABC handled their storyline in a careful, nuanced way, and that includes the engagement that happened at the end. Below, we discuss that and more with Burnett and Haggerty.

Glamour: Wait, Kristian, did I just hear you’re an ordained minister?

Kristian: Yes!

Holy crap! Wow.

Demi: She’s the whole package!

How many weddings have you done?

Kristian: Just one. It was my two best friends. Two gentleman. It was great.

Congratulations! Demi, did you have any idea Kristian was going to propose tonight?

Demi: No!

Really?

Demi: No. I had absolutely no idea. Can we talk about how I proposed [while in Paradise]?

Yes, we can. Why was it important that you wanted to propose in Paradise before Kristian did?

Demi: I am a control freak! I needed to be the one to do it, for my sanity! But even when I was down there, though, I still wasn’t thinking of an engagement. We got to a point where I wanted to do it.

I want to talk to you about Peter as the next Bachelor since a lot of people were hoping it would be Derek. Obviously, he got a lot of praise of how he handled things with you and Kristian, and while we hope anyone would react like that, we really got to see a really great journey, which is what you want out of your next Bachelor. So were you disappointed Derek wasn’t named the next Bachelor?

Demi: I adore him and I want him to find love no matter how that happens for him. I’m friends with Derek. I’m friends with Peter. I’m friends with Mike. I’m friends with all these guys. So whoever was going to be picked as the next Bachelor, I have no choice but to stan, because I’m friends with all of them.

Will you stay in touch with Derek after all this?

Demi: Of course! We talk to Derek all of the time! He’s great. He’s such a great guy.

Derek could officiate your wedding!

Demi: Derek, yes! How fucking ironic would that be?

He could do it with your dog, Kismet!

Kristian: Yes, Kismet!

So you guys aren’t living together at the moment, but you are living close to each other. What are you most excited about after this finale airs? What do you hope to do publicly since you’re such role models?

Demi: I am assuming I can speak for both of us, but we don’t know, we don’t. We don’t know what we’re doing. We’re taking it day by day, and we are finally going to be able to have a normal relationship where we can just go places, and of course we want to be involved in anything that would be supporting the community and really just helping anybody out. So we’re just taking it day by day and we’re going to figure it out along the way.

How would you like to see the franchise evolve after this? What can it do to continue to build on the major win I felt it achieved this season?

Demi: Again, I don’t know. I just...we just are two people who loved each other and they embraced that, so I think they’ll embrace anybody who comes on the show and it’ll just be more normalized, is my hope.

Do you think we’ll ever get a Bachelorette with all female contestants? Is that something you’d like to see?

Demi: I mean, of course. You know, it’s not something that I have experience...I don’t have the credentials to tell someone how to plan their TV program. I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I am open to seeing anything, and I think the rest of the world is at this point, is open to seeing anything too. So anything is possible, there’s no rules. Love is love. Retweet!

Lastly, Kristian, what is it like being thrown into the spotlight? How are you doing with all of this interest?

Kristian: I’m just thankful I have Demi next to me because she’s supportive and has been a great help to understand all the attention and what it means. I just, honestly, am focusing on us, so I don’t pay too much attention, but I love the positivity and support we’ve been getting, so I’m thankful for that. Just riding the wave!

Originally Appeared on Glamour