The Bachelorette’s Dustin Kendrick’s Wedding to Katrina Schollenberger

If you love a good modern love story, Dustin and Kat Kendrick have one that has it all – a slow-burn romance, a surprise proposal in England, a meaningful civil ceremony in London, and a destination wedding planned for a castle in Scotland.In this conversation, the couple shares how they met, what made their relationship feel right, why they chose to keep parts of their wedding intentionally private, and how they’re balancing a big international celebration with the details that actually matter to them. If you’re planning a wedding yourself, you’ll also find plenty of practical takeaways about pacing, budgeting, and staying focused on what makes the day feel like you.

Their story begins in New York City, but not exactly in the way you’d expect. Kat originally matched with one of Dustin’s friends on a dating app, which led to a casual hangout with a group of friends. Dustin and Kat were around each other during that first outing, but nothing dramatic happened right away. Instead, they stayed lightly connected on Instagram and started talking in DMs. That slow, easy back-and-forth eventually turned into their first date – and then into a relationship that has now lasted five years.What makes their story interesting is how unforced it felt. Kat didn’t go into the connection knowing much about Dustin’s Bachelor Nation background. She had watched a few seasons of The Bachelor, but not the one Dustin was on. In fact, she says she didn’t realize who he was until later, when she Googled him after noticing he was verified on Instagram.That detail matters because it shows how their relationship started outside the spotlight. It wasn’t built on his TV past or on a big, scripted meet-cute. It was built on chemistry, curiosity, and time. Why the slow pace worked for themDustin says he naturally likes to take things slow, and Kat seems to appreciate that too. They dated casually for about six months before becoming official, which gave them space to really get to know each other.That slower rhythm is a big reason their relationship feels so steady. Instead of rushing into commitment, they let the connection build over time. For couples reading this, that’s a useful reminder: not every relationship needs to move fast to be serious.

Dustin proposed during a trip to England while Kat’s family was around, and the moment ended up being beautifully intimate. Although there were hints along the way – including Dustin encouraging Kat to wear a nicer dress and her noticing an unusually fancy bottle of champagne at her parents’ house – she still didn’t want to fully assume what was coming.That hesitation made the moment more emotional. Kat says she was overwhelmed when the proposal happened and completely blacked out in the best possible way. Dustin, meanwhile, had spent weeks thinking through the logistics, including asking her dad for permission and figuring out the right moment.He had originally planned to propose in a restaurant, but Kat later said she was glad he didn’t. The private moment, just the two of them, felt more sacred and less performative. That choice says a lot about how they seem to approach big milestones: with intention, not pressure.Why the proposal worked so wellThe setting helped, of course. Oxford brought the kind of romantic, old-world feel that makes a proposal feel cinematic without needing a huge production. But the real success of the moment came from the fact that it reflected them.It was quiet, personal, and emotionally grounded. Then, after the proposal, they got to celebrate with family, have dinner, drink champagne, and call their friends. So they still got the joy of sharing the news – just not in a way that made the proposal itself feel crowded.

One of the most useful parts of Dustin and Kat’s story is their decision to do a civil ceremony before their larger celebration. For Kat, getting legally married at Chelsea Town Hall in London was deeply important. She grew up nearby, saw brides there often, and always romanticized the building as a place where meaningful weddings happened.That combination of history and personal memory made the location feel right. It also meant the legal part of the marriage could stay small and calm, while their bigger wedding could be more celebratory and expansive later on.The civil ceremony itself still felt like a real wedding. They had a proper processional, legal vows, rings, a registrar, family present, and photos afterward. It wasn’t a placeholder or a technicality. It was a meaningful event in its own right.Dustin also noted that the legal side of marrying in the UK mattered for visa reasons, which adds a practical layer to the emotional one. So this wasn’t just about sentiment – it was also about making future logistics easier.What couples can learn from their approachNot every couple has to treat the legal ceremony and the celebration as one and the same. In fact, separating them can be a smart move if it reduces stress and gives each moment its own purpose.Their civil ceremony gave them intimacy, while the big wedding will give them scale. That balance may be especially helpful for couples planning destination weddings or working across multiple countries.

When it came time to plan the big wedding, Scotland won out over London for a few reasons. Budget was one factor – the London venues they explored quickly became extremely expensive, especially once catering costs were added. But atmosphere mattered too.Kat wanted something romantic, warm, and autumnal. Scotland gave them that, plus a little more personality. Their chosen venue is a castle in Edinburgh with red ivy, gardens, paddocks of Highland cows, and plenty of visual charm. Kat found it while scrolling TikTok, which is a very modern wedding-planning detail in itself.Dustin was sold on the cows. Kat was sold on the full aesthetic. Together, they found a venue that felt both elevated and fun.They’re also expecting a big crowd. Their original guest list was about 205 people, and 134 have confirmed so far. Guests are traveling from the U.S., England, Australia, Dubai, and beyond, which makes the wedding feel more like an international gathering than a standard local event.Their wedding style is a blend, not a theme parkKat described the overall vibe as luxury, romantic, and a little rustic. She’s using deep burgundy, blush pink, green, and white in the design, along with candles and fairy lights to keep the atmosphere warm.That’s a helpful reminder for couples who feel pressure to pick a “theme” and run with it. You don’t need a gimmick. You just need a clear direction.Their wedding is rooted in place, season, and personality. It’s not trying to imitate someone else’s event. It’s trying to feel like theirs.

If you’re in the thick of wedding planning, Dustin and Kat’s advice is refreshingly practical.Their first major recommendation is simple: Hire a planner.

Kat says even highly organized people benefit from having one. A good planner can help reduce decision fatigue, manage logistics, and keep the process moving when you’re overwhelmed by options. Their second lesson is to focus on what actually matters. It’s easy to get swept up in wedding “noise” – endless posts, dresses, vendors, beauty advice, and extras that all sound fun in theory. But not everything is necessary. For them, the key was learning to distinguish between meaningful details and expensive distractions. That meant skipping some extras, streamlining decisions, and not spending money on things guests probably won’t notice – like fancy flooring upgrades.Their biggest planning takeaways

Kat also pointed out that some of the best decisions came from adding personal touches: the venue, the music, the food, and the way they wanted the day to feel. That’s the sweet spot. You don’t need to do everything. You just need to do the right things.

Even though they’ve only been married for a few weeks, Dustin and Kat say the biggest change is that nothing really feels different – and that’s a good thing.They still feel like themselves. They still have the same rhythm, the same humor, and the same sense of emotional safety. Kat says they’ve always treated each other like best friends, and that hasn’t shifted just because they signed the paperwork.That’s probably the healthiest possible answer to the question “what changed after you got married?” For them, marriage wasn’t a transformation of the relationship. It was a confirmation of what they had already built.

Beyond wedding planning, both Dustin and Kat are busy with work they care about.Dustin is building Guaranteed Karma, a gamified volunteering platform that helps people find volunteer opportunities, create their own, and track impact. He also mentioned the upcoming Good Deed Tap , a feature that lets users log good deeds throughout the day and keep a streak going. Kat, meanwhile, continues working at the Daily Mail on live news, major trials, fashion columns, and bridal-adjacent stories. She’s also been writing about wedding beauty myths and the realities of bridal spending, including a memorable nail salon bill that turned into a story of its own.That mix of serious reporting and lighter bridal content makes her perspective especially interesting. She’s not just observing wedding culture – she’s actively testing it, questioning it, and reporting back on what’s actually worth the money.

Dustin and Kat Kendrick’s wedding story works because it never loses sight of what matters: their relationship, their families, and the feeling behind each decision. From a private proposal in Oxford to a meaningful civil ceremony in London to a castle wedding in Scotland, every step has been shaped by intention.If you’re planning your own wedding, their story is a good reminder that you don’t need to do everything – just the right things. The best celebrations tend to be the ones that feel personal, not performative.