Following over a dozen years of devotion, The Bachelorette contestant Jillian Harris has finally gotten hitched to her long-time beau Justin Pasutto.
The pair shared their vows during not one, but two tender ceremonies which honored tradition yet also added personal flair, making for a wedding event that was long overdue.
The pair, who have two children between them, wed first on Aug. 21 in a classic church ceremony. At the same church in which Justin’s parents wed years earlier, the event had a special significance for the groom’s family. Jillian walked down the aisle to live music of “Pachelbel’s Canon,” performed by her childhood piano instructor Judy Yamamoto, and the intimate and nostalgic feel of the event was heightened.
Only two days afterward, on Aug. 23, the couple welcomed a second wedding bash at their own West Kelowna, British Columbia farm. With friends and loved ones around them, they called the affair “dreamy and romantic,” full of flowers, giggles, and emotional moments. Their good friend Warwick Andrews presided over this second ceremony, combining the spiritual with the intimate in a manner that perfectly reflected their own path together.
Jillian, 45, confessed that the wedding took years to plan. “After planning for eight years, we’ve decided to really go for it,” she said to People. “It is a real fairy-tale dream come true. I’m so glad that we waited this long so that we could really plan the day that we’ve always wanted.”
The wait was actually long. Jillian and Justin got engaged last Christmas in 2016 after dating for a number of years, but with having raised their kids, working crazy careers, and running their farm, there never seemed quite right to sit down and make arrangements for the wedding. But the waiting provided them with the room to plan out a day – or, more accurately, two days – that perfectly celebrated their love story.
One of the memorable moments of the wedding was Jillian’s dress. Throughout the festivities, she changed into five dresses, each of which was selected for a specific occasion. Among them was one she had picked years previously, one that she initially believed she had lost her love for. “I fell in love with the dress,” Jillian remembered. Back then, it had long sleeves, but we altered it. Over the years, I sort of didn’t love it anymore, and it was left at Candé Bridal for seven years.
After finally settling on a wedding date, Jillian shopped far and wide for a new dress but was unable to find anything that suited her. Her bridal advisor Adriana urged her to go back to her first gown, and when she put it back on again – this time accompanied by her cousins and daughter – Jillian was in floods of tears, recognizing it was always destined to be her wedding gown.
Aside from the style, the ceremonies were full of personal and cultural references. The couple threw an Italian-themed rehearsal dinner to celebrate Justin’s heritage, featuring food, music, and decor that reflected his family’s heritage. “Justin is Catholic, but I am not, and I was very nervous about that part,” Jillian confessed. So it was important for us to make it meaningful.” They created their own personalized liturgy, making sure their vows were special and personal yet still honoring tradition.
Their own farm in West Kelowna was the ultimate wedding site, repurposed into a classic, sophisticated, and luxurious setting for the reception. Jillian called the location nothing less than enchanting and attributed it to Justin for his tireless efforts for the last two years in fulfilling their dreams. “Justin has worked night and day for the last two years to restore the property, planting trees, digging dirt, seeding grass, watering and overseeing the crew,” Jillian said. “He’s dedicated the last year of his life to making my wedding venue aspirations a reality.”
The couple’s children, Leo, 9, and Annie, 6, were also key to the celebrations. Jillian tends to post family moments on social media, and she made sure that their children were also at the center of the wedding celebrations.
For viewers who have watched Jillian transition from The Bachelorette to interior design work and motherhood, watching her finally wed Justin after 13 years is a moment of full circle. Their romance, one founded on patience, family, and shared commitment, ended with a wedding day that infused tradition, romance, and contemporary flair into one special day.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
