5 ‘Bachelor’ couples that defied the odds

The ABC franchise “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” has unbelievable staying power — there have been a whopping 26 seasons, plus three seasons of its spinoff “Bachelor Pad.” And ABC is launching “Bachelor in Paradise” this summer.

That staying power, however, can’t be applied to the longevity of the show’s couples. Most don’t make it past the “After the Final Rose” episode.

That’s why nearly every season, the show drags out its greatest success story — Season 1 “Bachelorette” Trista Sutter and her husband, Ryan, who have been married since their televised nuptials in 2003 and have two kids. The pair recently renewed their vows, but are apparently having a few marital problems. So, they’re returning to their reality-TV roots to fix it, appearing on the latest iteration of WEtv’s “Marriage Boot Camp,” which premieres Friday night.

Here is a roundup of the other “Bachelor” couples that have defied the odds:

Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum

Season 7 “Bachelorette” Ashley Hebert had a rocky road to love. A couple of guys bailed midseason, and the one who she seemed to have the most chemistry with turned out to be a classic two-faced reality show villain. Bentley would woo Ashley then insult her during his confessional interviews. But Ashley persevered, and chose good guy J.P. in the end.

The pair married in 2012 (in an ABC special, natch). They live in Princeton, NJ, and are expecting a baby boy.

Jason and Molly Mesnick

The Mesnicks nearly never happened. Season 13 “Bachelor” and single dad Jason chose Melissa Rycroft in the season finale of the show, getting down on one knee and proposing. But in what was the most dramatic “After the Final Rose” ever (host Chris Harrison makes that claim a lot, but this one was actually the most dramatic), Jason dumped Melissa on live TV and tried to get with his runner-up, Molly.

Despite the complete awkwardness of the situation and the fact that the guy dumped her on TV just a few weeks prior, Molly went for it. The pair was married in an ABC special in 2010, and had a daughter, Riley Anne Mesnick, in 2013.

Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried

Season 9 “Bachelorette” Desiree gave her final rose to romantic, poem-writing Chris Siegfried, and he returned the favor with a proposal. The couple has been living together in Seattle and threw an engagement party in February.

Although Des has her own wedding blog, www.desireehartsock.com, and has been dishing details about her big day little by little, no date has been set yet.

Sean and Catherine Lowe

Season 17 “Bachelor” Sean Lowe married his finale pick, Catherine Giudici, in January. Lowe, who also appeared on “Dancing With the Stars,” was very vocal about his virginity and wanting to wait until marriage.

“My faith is so important to me,” Lowe told People about waiting to have sex until his wedding night. “Our family was founded on it. And [now], tonight will be a very special night for the two of us!”

Juan Pablo Galavis and Nikki Ferrell

Single dad and pro soccer player Juan Pablo gave his final rose to pediatric nurse Nikki Ferrell during the Season 18 finale of “The Bachelor” in March, and she accepted. Red flags were raised with Galavis wouldn’t tell Ferrell he loved her in the “After the Final Rose” episode, but he revealed later he told her in private. The pair isn’t engaged, but they are still dating.

“I’m planning on having a real relationship, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Galavis told Us Weekly about their current relationship status. “You don’t rush into things, and I wasn’t going to rush into it, so I’m going to take my time.”