5 Dating Show Couples That Stayed Together & 5 That Split Immediately

#5: Split: Amaya Espinal & Bryan Arenales

“Love Island” (2019-)

Some champion couples make it a few years before the romance is shattered. These two made it only a few weeks outside the villa. Social media was abuzz that “Love Island” season 7 winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales had unfollowed each other’s social media accounts. Cheating allegations dogged the pair after they returned from the show’s Fijian villa. Though they put on a united front at the reunion, it was no surprise when Espinal confirmed their breakup a few days later. The reasons cited were their different ideas about what they wanted from a partner.

#5: Together: Olivia Buckland & Alex Bowen

“Love Island UK” (2015-)

Though they were not technically the winners, this runner-up couple may have done more to legitimize the “Love Island” format than any of its winners. Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen captured the British public’s hearts on the show’s second season. Even their nuptials became a television event. They starred in a 2018 limited series, “Olivia and Alex Said Yes,” covering their wedding preparations. This reality TV power couple have managed to stay in the spotlight as social media influencers. They’ve dedicated their content to sharing the joys and trials of marriage and family for their devoted followers.

#4: Split: Arie Luyendyk Jr. & Becca Kufrin

“The Bachelor” (2002-)

These two couldn’t even make it through the reunion. Season 22’s “After the Final Rose” ceremony was not exactly a fairy tale ending for the winning contestant. Becca Kufrin may have won Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s heart on set, but he confessed that he still had feelings, and more of them, for runner-up Lauren Burnham. Luyendyk’s casual dismissal of his relationship with Kufrin was hard to watch. Kufrin would later enjoy a brief but failed relationship with Garrett Yrigoyen, who won her hand on season 14 of “The Bachelorette.” You can say many things about how Luyendyk handled things, but he and Burnham turned out to be the real deal. They’re now married and have three children.

#4: Together: Jordan Rodgers & JoJo Fletcher

“The Bachelorette” (2003-)

ABC’s “Bachelor” franchise is undoubtedly the shining example of the dating show genre. That doesn’t mean its bachelors and bachelorettes always find everlasting happiness. But season 12 “Bachelorette” JoJo Fletcher and former NFL pro Jordan Rodgers have done pretty well since their time on the show ended. Like most good things, it took some time. The show’s finale proposal didn’t compel these two to tie the knot right away. In fact, it would be almost six years after their season wrapped and Rodgers won Fletcher’s affections that the two married. In August 2025, they announced they were expecting a child.

#3: Split: Gabby Windey & Erich Schwer

“The Bachelorette” (2003-)

After meeting on “The Bachelor,” pals Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey co-starred on the 19th season of its sister show. Recchia and her choice, Tino Franco, broke up while the season was airing. Several months later, Windey and her choice, Erich Schwer, announced their breakup. Windey spoke highly of Schwer after the relationship ended. Schwer has since been linked to another woman. However, Windey’s journey since the show has been the most interesting. She came out as a lesbian in 2023 and announced she was in a relationship with actor, writer, and host Robby Hoffman.

#3: Together: Desiree Hartsock & Chris Siegfried

“The Bachelorette” (2003-)

Season 9 saw its Bachelorette’s heart torn to shreds. When Desiree Hartsock’s first choice, Brooks Forester, quit the show in the final weeks, it threw her and the audience for a loop. She admitted that he was the one for her. Some fans felt that eventual winner Chris Siegfried was her second choice. Many thought the relationship was doomed. Others saw the whole situation as fate. The two have since joined the pantheon of “Bachelor Nation” success stories. Married since 2015, the couple are still going strong and have three sons together.

#2: Split: Peter Weber & Hannah Ann Sluss

“The Bachelor” (2002-)

Few “Bachelor” pairings ended up with more egg on their faces than season 24’s “winning” couple, and we use both terms loosely. “Pilot Pete” Weber immediately threw aside his original choice of Hannah Ann Sluss. He realized he wanted to be with runner-up Madison Prewett instead. He righted that wrong, and all was well in Bachelor Nation. Except it wasn’t. Weber and Prewett never actually rekindled the relationship, despite how things appeared on "After the Final Rose." But Weber tried again. This time, he moved on to the show’s fifth place contestant, Kelley Flanagan. You can accuse Pilot Pete of many things, but you can’t say he didn’t weigh his options.

#2: Together: Cameron Hamilton & Lauren Speed-Hamilton

“Love Is Blind” (2020-)

The inaugural season of Netflix’s incredibly popular social experiment was full of drama and chaotic mismatches. Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed had amazing chemistry in the pod. From the moment they met face to face, we knew they were the fan favorites. Although “Love Is Blind” has churned out season after season, few couples were as lovable and easy to root for as these two. They were married in the season finale. Although they’re grateful for the show, they don’t seem too interested in being tied to it, declining to attend a reunion in 2024. In 2025, the couple had their first child.

#1: Split: Jason Mesnick & Melissa Rycroft

“The Bachelor” (2002-)

Love isn’t a game, and sometimes winning is worse than losing. Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Melissa Rycroft found that out on “The Bachelor”’s 13th season. Jason Mesnick gave her his final rose, only to take it back just months later. He broke up with Rycroft on the show’s reunion special. Instead, he still had feelings for the season’s runner-up, Molly Malaney. Despite the highly controversial way they reunited, Jason and Molly are still together, having married in 2010. Rycroft has since made multiple appearances on TV and gone on to marry and have a family of her own.

#1: Together: Trista Rehn & Ryan Sutter

“The Bachelorette” (2003-)

If Bachelor Nation had a king and queen, it might be these two. Trista Rehn was first introduced on the very first season of “The Bachelor.” She was so popular that she even became the very first “Bachelorette.” She chose former pro football player and firefighter Ryan Sutter as her winner. They married on a televised special in 2003. They’ve continued sharing their journey as a couple and parents over the past two decades. Seeing that original “Bachelor” couple Alex Michel and Amanda Marsh didn’t last, Trista and Ryan are essentially the Kelly Clarkson of the entire franchise.

Which of these couples were you rooting for the most? Sound off in the comments.