How Brayden Bowers Surprised Christina Mandrell with Engagement at “The Golden Bachelor” Wedding (Exclusive)

"I've dated before, but I've never known before. And then I meet her, and it's like there's no doubt in my mind,” Brayden Bowers exclusively tells PEOPLE

Brayden Bowers shares how he orchestrated his surprise on-air proposal to Christina Mandrell — just moments after she said "yes."

The Bachelor in Paradise alum exclusively tells PEOPLE how he and the Bachelor producers coordinated the live proposal during Thursday’s live Golden Wedding broadcast.

Bowers and Mandrell's relationship was revealed during the Season 9 finale of Bachelor in Paradise in 2023. The TV personality tells PEOPLE that he was “planning” to pop the question later this year.

He initially had the idea to put the ring on a slice of pineapple pizza after the two spoke about wanting to make pineapple pizza in Italy. However, after talking to the show’s producers, they collectively came up with the idea to propose with a ring by Neil Lane during the live special.

“From the experiences we both had like we both came into this show just wanting love,” says Bowers. “We both had hard, challenging roads in different ways, and we were both, I feel like, misunderstood. And it's like two misunderstood people that understand each other.”

Bowers adds that he knew “from the moment that” he met Mandrell that he loved her. “It's like they say, when you meet someone, you know, you know. And it's like I've never known before,” confesses Bowers. “I've dated before, but I've never known before. And then I meet her, and it's like there's no doubt in my mind.”

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Related: Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell Get Engaged on Live TV at The Golden Bachelor Wedding

Bowers also reveals how “amazing” it feels to have the weight of the surprise lifted and reveals that the two are moving in together this week.

“The thing is with her and her daughter, I wouldn't make a move out there if I wasn't sure that she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with,” explains Bowers. Mandrell is a mom to a 7-year-old named Blakely.

“I figured that we should make this proper and set the example too for Blakely and to show her the kind of love that she deserves as well,” continues Bowers. “And so, it's the kind of love I want to give to her mom every single day.”

Related: The Golden Bachelor's Gerry and Theresa Open Up About Finally Having Their Dream Wedding in Their 70s (Exclusive)

The newly engaged couple say they're looking forward to spending “every day” with each other.

“It's been weeks, or a couple of weeks since we've gotten to see each other. Just because we got to see each other for Blakely's birthday, and then just with the holidays and I had some family stuff going on, we just weren't able to link up,” explains Bowers. “We've been talking every day, but to just actually spend every single day together for the rest of our lives now.”

“We feel so grateful for every moment,” adds Mandrell. “There's been bad, there's been good. I mean, we've had these epic, crazy hard moments already, even though it's, you know, some would say fast. But just the every day, like life. We're excited for life.”

During the live Golden Wedding broadcast and his proposal, Bowers told Mandrell how she makes him feel like he could be himself "unapologetically."

"And I have no doubts that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he continued. "And like Gerry [Turner] said, it's like, you know, we have such little time and ... I just know that I want to spend the rest of my days with you."

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