Ben Higgins, Lauren Bushnell Update: ‘Bachelor’ Stars Talk Love, Life Together And Plans For Kids

Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell fell in love on ABC’s The Bachelor 2016 season and the finale showing their engagement aired just a matter of days ago. Ben and Lauren were clearly quite happy during the “After the Final Rose” special and fans are anxious to see what comes next for them. Could this couple manage to beat the odds when it comes to “Bachelor Nation” and end up tying the knot? Are they really happy and planning for the future?

During the “After the Final Rose” special, Bushnell said that she would be moving to Denver, Colorado, where Higgins is based, in a matter of weeks. The Bachelor lovebirds did the typical whirlwind of media stops right after the finale aired and they are sharing some updates directly with fans along the way. Bushnell just joined Snapchat and her fiancé joked that she’ll be sharing on behalf of both of them for now.

According to Us Weekly, this Bachelor duo will consider any additional opportunities that come their way, but Bushnell says that “if this ends right now and we go back to normal, both of us are beyond happy.” Higgins very likely could have snagged a gig on this spring’s offering of Dancing With the Stars, but he said that he wants to focus on his relationship right now. He has said that he’s not looking to remain in the spotlight, and while Higgins is open to things that might come along, both Bachelor stars have regular jobs and they’re happy to head back to those.

This news likely brings a sigh of relief from Bachelor fans who are hoping to see Higgins and Bushnell make it down the aisle. While many past couples have embraced the spotlight, viewers know that those who focus on their regular day-to-day lives and relationship often fare the best. Past successful “Bachelor Nation” couples like Ryan and Trista Sutter, Ashley and JP Rosenbaum, Desiree and Chris Siegfried, and Jason and Molly Mesnick all successfully managed to balance post-show opportunities with real life and ended up walking down the aisle.

Though there was plenty of drama leading up to that final rose ceremony, Higgins told People that “It was always Lauren.” Bachelor gossip guru Reality Steve had said mid-way through filming that Ben had fallen hard for Bushnell, but obviously, he developed what he felt were deep feelings for new Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher, as well.

Now, Higgins says, “no matter how much I felt for Jojo, I knew I could never say goodbye to Lauren.” The Bachelor star adds that he started falling for Bushnell the moment she stepped out of the limo on the first night of filming and in a sense it freaked him out that she so thoroughly captured his interest and attention.

Despite that, Higgins indicates that he had made a commitment to go through the process and at times he “had to fool myself into thinking I was open to other women.” He says that he doesn’t regret telling JoJo that he loved her, but things were quite confusing through the process and ultimately he found the person he wants to be with going forward. The Bachelor star has said that the day after the engagement, he told his fiancée everything about what he had said to Fletcher, and their relationship has stayed strong through those tough times due to their willingness to communicate.

Ben and Lauren have said they want to get married soon, and they are even talking a bit about having kids. The couple chatted with Entertainment Tonight, and Bushnell said she’d like three kids, maybe two, and Higgins seemed onboard with that. They say they definitely want a family, but they’re not sure how soon they’ll dive into that because they also want to enjoy the life they have together right now as well.

Do you think Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell will make it down the aisle and build a family together in Denver? The Bachelor fans are rooting for these two and cannot wait to see what comes next. Up next for the franchise is JoJo Fletcher in ABC’s The Bachelorette 2016 season. Filming has just gotten started, and spoilers should be coming out soon leading up to the show’s May premiere.

[Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images]