The Bachelorette alum Jillian Harris and Justin Pasutto have tied the knot after 13 years of being a couple.
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Jillian and her husband described their first ceremony as "romantic, elegant and traditional." The pair had the honor of saying, "I do" in the same church where Justin's parents got married.
"We spent a lot of time customizing the liturgy so it felt special and personal to us as a couple and as a family," Jillian said.
"Justin is Catholic, but I am not, and I was very nervous about that part, so it was important for us to make it meaningful."
Later that evening on August 21, the pair hosted an Italian-themed rehearsal dinner at their home. Guests dined on pizza, pasta and gelato, and the night was a nod to Justin's Italian roots.
After a quiet day of yoga and golfing on Friday, August 22, the wedding took place the next day at Jillian and Justin's lakeside property.
The couple's farm wedding in West Kelowna was apparently "dreamy and romantic," as they exchanged handwritten vows in front of 176 guests.
"Justin has worked tirelessly over the past two years to repair the property, replanting trees, moving dirt, planting grass, irrigating and managing the team," Jillian shared.
"He has devoted the last year of his life to making my wedding venue dreams come true."
Jillian called the flower-farm event "timeless" and "luxurious" with colorful pastel flowers, including roses and hydrangeas.
Jillian wore a total of five dresses over the course of her four-day wedding celebration.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW"After eight years of planning, we've decided to really go for it!" Jillian told the magazine.
"It is an actual fairy-tale dream come true. I'm so happy that we waited this long so that we could truly plan the day that we've always dreamed of."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
At the reception, Jillian and Justin had their first dance as husband and wife to Taylor Swift's "Lover." As the song progressed, the newlyweds' children -- 9-year-old son Leo and 6-year-old daughter Annie -- joined in.
The family pets were even honored in the names of the wedding cocktails, and attendees enjoyed a three-tiered wedding cake, which featured their kids' initials.
The celebration ended on Sunday, August 24 with a farewell lake party that paid tribute to Jillian's late grandmother. Jillian served pierogies, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and more in memory of her Ukrainian culture.
Jillian and Justin said they experienced "love at first sight" when they met outside of a bar in Kelowna in June 2012.
The pair got engaged on Christmas morning in December 2016 and initially planned a July 2020 backyard wedding.
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And then in Summer 2023, "wicked wildfires" destroyed most of the couple's Kelowna farm and property.
Jillian and Justin figured they "might as well run away and get married in Italy" in 2024.
However, the couple feared illness and making their parents travel abroad, and so they settled on a "last-minute" decision to wed on their hometown property.
"The first four times we tried to plan this wedding, it did not go well," Jillian said.
"We were stressed about location, budget, COVID, our babies being young, and still growing as a couple. But after being together for 13 years, and finding the most amazing wedding planners... the process has been an absolute joy."
Jillian shared how her wedding finally arrived after many highs and lows in life.
"We have had babies, lost loved ones, lost our dog Nacho, gone through COVID, and watched our property burn nearly to the ground," Jillian recalled.
"At this point, we want to celebrate all that we have created together, everything we have accomplished, and all the hardships we have overcome. We want to celebrate the successes, the relationships, and the wins."
Jillian said her wedding felt like "a congratulations and a seal" on her long-term relationship with Justin and they're looking forward to "the next chapter."
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"We have gone about this in a different order, having been together for 13 years and already having babies, building houses, and even having a TV show together. Usually, people meet, marry, and then build their lives, but we have already proven we can get through anything," Jillian gushed.
"We've already proven we can have those big fights and still love each other. We've already proven that we can travel together, go through pain together, raise babies together."
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Jillian teased, "Next spring, we are planting a truffle farm with 500 oak trees, which will be a new business venture. We will focus on our children, helping them grow, honoring their passions and growing with them as they get older."
Jillian found fame when she competed for Jason Mesnick's heart on The Bachelor's thirteenth season, which aired in early 2009 on ABC. She ended up finishing in third place.
She then went on to star as the Bachelorette. At the end of Season 5, Jillian selected Ed Swiderski and the pair got engaged; however, they split in 2010.
After her The Bachelorette experience, Jillian continued to work in television as a designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as well as Love It or List It Vancouver.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
