Like the many bachelors and bachelorettes who came in before them in paradise, Kevin Braasch and Mari Pepin-Solis didn’t have the most solid start in their relationship. Sure, it was love at first sight. But the spark flickered for some time, and someone got between them.
Though unlike most of these romances, which were cut short, theirs ended up with a promise to marry each other. In one of the few ending episodes, Braasch confessed his love for Pepin.
He said, “I usually just say I’m happy being alone, but coming to Paradise and meeting you has changed the whole course of my life at this point.” He then added that the 40 years it took him to find her, the love of his life, was worth the long wait.
(Though, admittedly, they almost suffered the same fate.)
They were one of the three Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 couples – along with Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt, as well as Riley Christian and Maurissa Gunn – to get out engaged!
If you miss them or want to catch up with their time in paradise, here’s a quick look back.
Sharing the first kiss… in the first episode
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The popular reality TV show Bachelor in Paradise aired its seventh season back in August 2021. In the first episode, the audience was introduced to former bachelors and bachelorettes (from previous seasons) who were given another chance to find and explore new relationships.
One of the first couples that impacted the show was boy band manager Kenny Braasch (who first appeared on Clare and Tayshia’s season of The Bachelorette) and former Miss Maryland USA Mari Pepin-Solis (who first appeared on Matt James’ season of The Bachelor). That is because it didn’t take long after the sparks between them flew for them to take action!
In the first episode, the two already shared their first kiss (and the first of the season).
Keeping Options Open
The viewers thought that Kenny and Mari were in it for the long haul. Unfortunately, they hit a major relationship roadblock in the third week.
While on the beach, Mari was heard saying that she knew Kenny wasn’t interested in anyone else because he told her so. As for her side, she didn’t want to block herself from exploring options. After all, the ultimate goal of being on the show was to find her person.
In an interview with the Click Bait podcast post-show filming, Mari shared that they initially talked about not going on dates with other people – which was edited out on the show. After sleeping on it, she decided to ask for opinions and advice.
Among the ones Mari reached out to was Wells Adams, the show’s guest host, and bartender. She asked when couples usually decide to become exclusive, to which he replied, “Not until, like, week three or four usually.”
Kenny was understandably upset by Mari’s statement, and he felt that she wasn’t as confident with their bond. He decided to back off and said, “And why not just completely say it’s done at this point.”
During that time, more women arrived in paradise, one of whom was Demi Burnett.
Demi first joined Bachelor Nation in 2019 in Season 23 of The Bachelor with Colton Underwood. She reappeared on the sixth season of Bachelor in Paradise, where she came out as bisexual and got engaged to her girlfriend, Kristian Haggerty. However, the couple broke up later that year.
Demi wasn’t shy about liking Kenny, and when Mari gave her a signal – telling her that she and Kenny were cooling off – she didn’t hesitate to take her shot. Like Mari, Kenny also opened up to options, so he and Demi started spending time together. A love triangle then followed.
The Infamous ‘Cake in Flames’ Scene
Rating tonight’s drama on #BachelorInParadise? This takes the cake ???? @mari_pepin pic.twitter.com/JaaFK9UVsl
— Bachelor in Paradise (@BachParadise) August 31, 2021
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Then came Kenny’s 40th birthday, and this is where things got out of hand.
In his podcast, Adams shared that Demi presented Kenny with a cake to celebrate his birthday by the beach. However, it turned out that the idea was Mari’s (she said it was hers), and Demi just kind of beat her to it.
So, Mari threw it straight to the bonfire. That scene took everyone by surprise and also definitely showed how she was still really into Kenny.
Reconnecting and Falling in Love
After everything that happened, it was obvious that many things were brewing between them. So, Kenny and Mari reconnected and talked things out.
Initially, Kenny was worried that Mari might change her mind again, even after she said that he missed him. However, he took that leap of faith and ultimately committed to her again.
Kenny even told her he wasn’t sure he felt that kind of feeling for her before. To which she replied, “I would leave here today like, with you.”
Their romance rolled over in the next few weeks. Then, on the penultimate episode of the season – six weeks into filming – they had an intimate candlelit conversation.
Mari told Kenny that she believed in their connection and that they would be good for each other.
Kenny responded, saying, “I mean, at the end of the day — I mean, I don’t know how you feel — but I do feel like I am falling in love with you.” Then came the sweetest words out of Mari. “That’s funny, because I’m falling in love with you too.”
Getting Engaged
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In the season finale, Kenny finally went down on one knee and popped the question that everyone was waiting to hear from him.
In his speech, he told Mari that they went through a lot of real-life relationship issues in paradise and were tested like no other couple. “Even with all that being said, I still — I’m shaking, sorry — Mari, I am so f—ing in love with you and literally, like, I can’t see my life without you,” he continued.
He also told her how amazing of a woman she was and how she changed his outlook on life. Mari said “yes” to him, and they exchanged their final roses.
Post-Paradise
After the season finale aired in October 2021, the couple shared more about what happened in paradise and their plans as newly-engaged lovebirds.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Kenny and Mari opened up about their temporary split in the show. Kenny said that he didn’t have any regrets about it because there were just a lot of things going on at that time. That rough patch ultimately led them to where they were, so it was all good.
As for the wedding, the couple was already set to be in Mari’s home, Puerto Rico. They wanted to take things slow and enjoy their moments together, and they really did.
In November 2021, they celebrated their first Thanksgiving with Mari’s family in Puerto Rico. They enjoyed their first Christmas in Chicago with Kenny’s family a month later. Then they jumpstarted 2022 with a big change: moving in together in Chicago!
In June, they had a photo shoot for their first engagement anniversary! The next month, they introduced their fur baby to fans (which they initially pranked as a baby with an eerily similar-looking photo as a sonogram). In between those, they attended a lot of events and shows.
Then shortly after New Year 2023, Kenny and Mari launched their Instagram series titled ‘Wedding Wednesday’ where they share the whole wedding planning process with fans. As of now, there are three sure things.
First, the wedding will be in November 2023. Second, they will have two ceremonies – one in Puerto Rico, which was already decided early on, and another in Chicago. Third, their first dance will be to the tune of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” which was also the song they first danced to in paradise!
Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin-Solis’ relationship may have had a lot of downs, but they didn’t let those ruin what they have. Soon, we’ll see them finally enter the next chapter of their life as Mr. and Mrs. Congratulations to the couple!
