When the Cameras Stop Rolling

TV? or Not TV?

Rachel...

Wake up. Work. Wedding. Repeat.

That was the current cycle of Rachel's life, since she set an official wedding date. Her family was excited, and Bryan's mom was over the moon. Unfortunately, Rachel was never a huge planner. She always left that up to her mother and older sister. However, this was HER big day, and she had to buckle down and get to it. She knew she needed to find a wedding planner, but researching planners took time and energy, as well! Especially since she and Bryan were still trying to plan details regarding their LA move, and she still had to balance her philanthropy and public appearances.

Uhhhggg! This is getting so overwhelming! Rachel thought as she put her head down on the dining room table. Her dining room had turned into wedding headquarters. There were magazine cut outs, bridal expo print outs, and business cards spread onto every corner of the table. She had her laptop open, with the screen filled with multiple windows, showcasing various wedding websites. Her older sister, Constance, had gifted her a beautiful binder, entitled The Ultimate Wedding Planner, filled with tabs and a massive check list, which was also open on the table. So far, Rachel had two boxes checked:

Get engaged! Set a date

Two down, 274 to go! She thought to herself.

Rachel groaned out loud, her head still on the table. "Babe, you alright?" Bryan said, coming down the stairs. He stopped behind her chair and started massaging her shoulders. "I told you a thousand times, if you let me plan it, we would be done already," his tone suggested he was holding back a laugh.

"Bryan, I know that you would have this entire wedding planned in a week...and it would look like it, too! Baby...I just need you to show up, looking handsome, on May 26th. Until then, I got this!"

"Fine...your loss." Bryan said, "Come on Copper, mommy doesn't think we can throw a party together." Copper barked, and eagerly trotted alongside Bryan, as they started for the living room.

"Wait!" Rachel said nearly shouting, which caused Bryan to stop in his tracks. "The network reached out!" Bryan froze, and turned around. Rachel and Bryan had discussed the possibility of a network television wedding special, but since the network had never reached out, it was never an urgent issue. However, now that they had picked a date, and the reality of the wedding was settling in, they wondered if it was still an option. Rachel continued, "This morning, they called, while I was in the shower, but I missed it." Bryan slowly walked back into the dining room, taking a seat next to Rachel, at the table. Copper followed suit, eventually curling up at Bryan's feet.

"Okay...so what does this mean Rach?" Bryan seemed slightly eager, but held back for more information.

"I mean, we've always been open to doing the TV wedding, thing. It would be awesome because we could save the money we would have spent on the wedding, and put it towards a place in LA, or a nest egg for our family later."

"Not to mention, we would get paid for the broadcast. We could send all three kids to college on a full ride!" Bryan chimed in.

"I know you meant to say FOUR!" Rachel laughed, "But yes, it makes sense, financially. Plus, since this special would be all about us, they would have to make our love story the center of it all. People would really get a chance to see how amazing you are, and how amazing we are together! I think we deserve that, and so do our supporters. They deserve to see the love they believed in, from the start...don't you think baby?"

Bryan leaned in towards Rachel for a peck on the lips, "Of course, mi reina," and he took her hands into his. "Alright, so we got the pros. What are the cons?" The two were now sitting knee to knee, still holding hands. Copper was laying on the floor in the space between their legs. Rachel sighed, "Well, there are a few. First, we would have to be on their timeline. The new bachelor couple will be announced around the end of January. Winter games should end by February, and they will probably announce the new bachelorette at the end of March. Which means our special could either be a great lead into the new season of the bachelorette; or be something they want to air after the new bachelorette couple is introduced. You know? Like if they introduce the new bachelorette's engagement on Thursday, our wedding special could air on Friday, with a preview on Thursday, during After the Final Rose."

"I see...so that would mean we'd most likely have to get married between March and May." Bryan said, thoughtfully.

Rachel continued, "Another con is that we would essentially be their employees for our wedding. So, they would get to dictate a lot. Instead of being on the dance floor with friends and family during the reception, we may be stuck in a room doing interviews for the special."

"True, true. And we really want our special day to be ours. But think of our fans...our supporters. We want it to be ours, but part of that--for us--is sharing it with them." Bryan stated, now kissing the palm of Rachel's right hand.

"I know. You're right." She sighed deeply reflecting over what it would mean to open her relationship up to the critics, and trusting the network with their wedding story after what they did with their engagement. "You know what I didn't think about?" she asked Bryan, "The network may want the right to have input on our guest list. Honestly, so many of our former 'Bachelor Nation' friends have been coming out of the wood works trying to get an invite to the wedding because they think it will be televised. They want to extend their fifteen minutes on our backs."

Bryan chuckled, "Man! I've been getting messages and e-mails from some of the rose boys who weren't too happy for us, or had some negative things to say--they want to hang out or go get lunch--but it seems like only they are trying to get a few social media pictures in, with me, before the wedding. You know, just to make 'wedding cast.' It's kinda of crazy!" He shook his head. "Baby, what you want, is what we'll do. I support you 1000 percent, either way. What's important is that we say I do. I really don't care where, or who is there-beyond family."

Rachel thought a bit longer, then finally picked up the phone. She pressed the redial button, then put the call on speaker, carefully laying the phone down onto the cluttered table. Bryan and Rachel watched the screen as the phone rang a third, then fourth time.

"Hello, this is Tracy" a familiar voice said, on the phone line. "Is this Rachel Lindsay?"

"Yes! Hi Tracy! I'm here with Bryan, on the line. We were just returning your call from earlier."

"Great! So glad you both are on the line! Listen, Bachelor Nation needs a pick me up! Couples are falling apart left and right, or aren't ready to take the big plunge, like you two are! Honestly, you two are strong and the new face of the franchise and we want to showcase our successes!"

Rachel and Bryan looked at each other smiling, as if to say, 'we've got them where we want them'! Rachel took advantage of Tracy's pause, "That sounds really great....so what all did you have in mind?"

"Rachel! Bryan! The network wants to feature you two in a never before done week long special!"

"A week?!" Rachel said, shaking her head furiously. Bryan and Copper exchanged looks.

"Ok...how about three days? -- Better yet, let's draw up some papers which include more details, so you and Bryan can talk it over with your families. Does that sound good?"

Bryan quickly stated, "That sounds great, Tracy! Thank you for reaching out and we'll be in touch."

"Excellent! Buh-bye for now, you two!" The phone clicked. They sat in silence for a few moments. Then, Bryan spoke first, "We'll have our lawyers look over the details, and we'll talk to each other and our families. Baby, they wanted to do a week long special. That's because they think we can get the ratings, and they really want us. That also means we have room to negotiate things like the guest lists, and maybe we can even have some say over certain editing aspects or the story line. We got this. Team Abasolo, right, babe?"

Hearing her future last name brought a wide grin to Rachel's face. Bryan always knew the right thing to say. "Team Abasolo!" she shouted, darting her two fists in the air. Here goes nothing! Rachel thought. Wedding special, here we come!