The Golden Bachelorette: 8 Signs Joan Vassos & Chock Chapple's Marriage Timeline Isn't Going As Planned (Their Relationship Isn't As Perfect As It Seems)

Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple got engaged at the end of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, but there are signs the relationship isn't as perfect as it seems. 62-year-old Joan and 60-year-old Chock have seemed so blissfully happy since walking away from the show arm in arm, but their relationship seems to have stalled out. Joan made her television debut during a different Bachelor franchise show.

She appeared as a contestant during Gerry Turner's season of The Golden Bachelor. The show was a big hit with the audience who loved the idea of older singles getting a second chance at love later in life. When a family emergency made Joan leave the season early, she was cast as The Bachelor spin-off's first female lead.

Joan kicked off The Golden Bachelorette season 1 by greeting 24 single Golden men, including Chock. The two hit it off immediately, and Joan even gave Chock her first solo date. They spent the season falling in love. In the end, it wasn't surprising when Joan gave Chock her final rose. He then got down on one knee and pulled out a diamond ring, and Joan accepted his proposal. They left the show as a happily engaged couple, headed for their happy ending. Since then, they've been delighted as they blend their lives, but there are signs the relationship may not be as perfect as it seems.

8Joan & Chock Aren't Ready For Marriage

They're Both Still Mourning

Long before appearing on Gerry's season of The Golden Bachelor, Joan was married to John Vassos. They were married for 32 years and had four children together before he passed away in 2021. It wasn't long before she agreed to appear in Gerry's season, then went from there to leading her season with very little time in between. She's been in The Bachelor franchise for most of her time as a widow. She may care deeply for Chock, but her heart still belongs to John.

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Chock had also lost a great love in recent years. In 2022, he had to bury Katherine Goree, his fiancée of nine years. During their first The Golden Bachelorette season 1 solo date, Chock told Joan it was the most devastating loss of his life. It wasn't long before he agreed to appear on the show, and it just seemed like he wasn't ready. If Joan and Chock are still struggling with loss, it's unclear where their love story will fit into their lives.

7Chock Wasn't At Joan's Birthday Celebration

She Celebrated With Her Family Instead

Joan and Chock have been togethera lot since leaving The Golden Bachelorette, but he was recently absent from an important event. Joan posted Instagram photos and footage from her birthday celebration, and Chock was conspicuously missing from the event. Several of her children and grandchildren gathered around her as Joan celebrated her 62nd trip around the sun.

Joan joked it was the 33rd anniversary of her 29th birthday, and she even blew out a "29" candle on one of her two birthday cakes. Though it's possible Chock was there and didn't appear in the photographs, it's more likely he was absent. This is the first birthday since Joan and Chock met, and it's not a good sign they're already skipping major life events.

6Joan & Chock Have Family Drama

They Have Six Adult Children Between Them

Joan has four adult children, and Chock has two of his own. After getting engaged during The Golden Bachelorette season 1 finale, Joan and Chock were determined to blend their families. They're both close to their children, so it was important for them to be a part of the process. Joan had Chock and his children over for Thanksgiving in Maryland and shared the photos of the holiday on Instagram.

Joan and Chock posted their Christmas photos on Instagram, and the Vassos and Chapples seemed to be coalescing. Things appeared to be going well, but Joan posted an Instagram clip of her and Chock discussing their relationship with their followers. When they discuss bringing their families together, Joan confesses it's been a "little harder right now." If they don't address their family drama, they may never make it down the aisle.

5Joan & Chock Don't Have A Wedding Date Yet

Joan Didn't Want To Rush Things

Since the show films long before the finale airs, Joan and Chock were engaged for several months before going public with their status. They had to keep their relationship secret that whole time, which was no easy task. It was surprising when Joan accepted Chock's proposal because she had indicated otherwise.

Soon after ABC announced Joan would be The Golden Bachelorette, Joan told CNN she had no intention of marrying anyone she met on the show. She argued the time allotted during the show wasn't enough to get to know someone, and she wanted to take things slowly. All of Joan's reluctance went out the window once Chock got down on one knee during The Golden Bachelorette rose ceremony. She may have been unable to say no to Chock or his ring, but only time will tellif Joan and Chock's relationship will last.

4Joan & Chock Don't Want A Repeat Of The Past

Gerry & Theresa Are A Cautionary Tale

Joan and Chock aren't the first Golden couple to get engaged during The Bachelor spin-off. The Golden Bachelor season 1 ended with Gerry marrying 70-year-old Theresa Nist. Hopes were high for the couple, but Gerry and Theresa announced the first Golden Bachelor divorce after only three months of marriage. The failure of Gerry and Theresa's marriage put a lot of pressure on Joan and Chock, who didn't want to damage the brand with another divorce.

Unlike Gerry and Theresa, Joan and Chock didn't rush into marriage right after getting engaged on The Golden Bachelorette. They've both made it a point to say they have no intention of rushing into a wedding. They want to get to know each other first and want their families to work together seamlessly. Though Joan and Chock appear to be deeply in love, they're taking their time, and are unlikely to get married anytime soon.

3Joan & Chock Are Already Talking About Divorce

They've Addressed Signing A Prenuptial Agreement

Joan and Chock were recently interviewed on the Call It What It Is Podcast, where they discussed a wide array of subjects. They talked about their time on The Golden Bachelorette season 1, but they also discussed their current lives together, and their plans for the future. When they were asked directly about signing a prenuptial agreement, Joan and Chock confessed that they discussed their finances regularly.

Joan and Chock are in their 60s, and though they enjoy successful careers, they are nearing the end of their working years. They need to protect their financial futures because they can't work forever. They're both keeping their homes but they're shopping for a new home to live in together. They've been apartment hunting in New York City, where property is very expensive. The fact that Joan and Chock are already discussing divorce could be a bad sign.

2Joan & Chock Are Already Bickering

They Have Different Communication Styles

Since getting engaged on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 finale, Joan and Chock have been spending a lot of time together, which may be grating on their nerves. Joan has always enjoyed doing cooking tutorials on social media, and, now that she's with Chock, she has a co-star. Joan recently posted an Instagram video of her and Chock cooking together, and it offered insight into their relationship. In the video, Joan and Chock are having fun, until Chock places garlic cloves, and Joan snaps at him about doing it wrong.

"Our first cooking video together..."

Chock seemed visibly annoyed by her correction, but he quickly laughed it off, and the couple moved on with the tutorial. Joan's caption reads, "Our first cooking video together..." If Joan continues to snap at Chock whenever he doesn't do things exactly how she wants, their first cooking video together may also be their last cooking video together. The fact that Joan and Chock already sound like an old, bickering couple isn't promising.

1Joan & Chock Don't Have A Plan In NYC Yet

Long Distance Relationships Rarely Work

Before she appeared on The Golden Bachelor season 1, Joan lived in Maryland. Before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Chock lived in Kansas. After getting engaged, the new couple announced that neither of them had plans to sell their homes.

Instead, they would travel back and forth to be together. Understandably, neither wants to upend their lives for someone they just met on a reality television show, but living separately isn't conducive to a successful relationship. Joan and Chock have started shopping for a home to live in together and even started apartment hunting in New York City. Their search hasn't yielded results yet, and it's not a good sign. A couple should want to live together, and it's concerning that Joan and Chock aren't in a hurry to do so.