Joan Vassos Says Marriage Could Have Broken What She Built With Chock Chapple: “It’s Just Not Worth the Risk”

The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos has been engaged to Chock Chapple since late in 2024, but has opened up about their arrangement more than once and is now sharing that marriage could strain their relationship. Throughout The Golden Bachelorette season 1, viewers watched as Joan and Chock fell for one another despite feeling like he had red flags. Chock seemed to be a bit too non-committal for Joan, but when the pair wound up together by the end of the season, viewers accepted it. Now, waiting for wedding bells, Bachelor Nation hasn't seen much progress from the happy couple.

On the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, Joan and Chock shared that the pace of their relationship might make marriage a struggle right now, as they've both become so busy. Maintaining a long-distance romance, Chock and Joan continue to carve time out of their busy schedules to visit one another in their native Maryland or Kansas, but haven't made anymore future plans yet. Joan explained that marriage could "put...strain on our relationship at this point," and they're happy with their current situation. As two "very busy" people, Joan and Chock are enjoying "absence [makes] the heart grow fonder" right now.

What Joan & Chock’s Shocking Wedding Update Means For Relationship

They're Focused On Continuing To Build Their Relationship

Joan and Chock have made it clear many times that they're in no rush to get married, but their most recent update really gives clarity to why that is. While the pair have been doing their best to keep up appearances in public about their long-distance romance being a sweet, romantic time, it's clear that the pair are genuinely still living lives that revolve around being in their own respective places. Merging their lives in one place isn't something that would work, as Joan's work as a school administrator keeps her in Maryland, while Chock's business is currently in Kansas.

Throughout their discussion of their relationship, it became obvious that Joan and Chock are genuinely committed to one another in a serious way, but their relationship isn't something they feel needs that added layer of togetherness right now. As they continue to get to know one another, Joan and Chock may find that things don't move past this long-distance phase. They're currently focused on building their relationship around their lives, rather than making their whole lives about their relationship, which is healthy. Joan and Chock's reveal that they're getting around to wedding planning feels like the best move for them.

Our Take On Joan Claiming Marriage Would Strain Relationship Right Now

She Understands Where She Stands

While it may not make sense to some Bachelor Nation viewers why Joan feels comfortable saying marriage could strain her relationship with Chock, it makes sense to the couple. Joan's understanding of her relationship with Chock, which he seems to share with her, is that their time together is best spent with some long-distance sprinkled in at the moment so they can maintain their lives, which make them each happy. While they may not be together all the time, Joan understanding that she or Chock making sacrifices for each other after The Golden Bachelorette wouldn't work is a mature move.