Here's hoping Ben Higgins didn't return that tuxedo he wore to the Bachelor in Paradise wedding just yet because it sounds like he might need it very soon.
First comes the televised proposal, then comes the endless buzz about when the wedding is—that's the new reality for The Bachelor star and winner Lauren Bushnell after they got engaged on the season 20 finale on Monday night, and when the happy couple sat down exclusively with E! News this morning, they revealed they are already in the early stages of wedding planning.
"I would love to set a date and start the planning and start getting excited about that," Lauren tells us, with Ben even going so far as to reveal their ideal timeline.
"We talked this morning on the plane, I would love to do 2016, early 2017," he says. "I don't want to rush is to the point where it's stressful, but I also don't want to wait too long."
While Bachelor in Paradise's Jade and Tanner swapped vows in front of ABC's cameras earlier this year, they aren't the first couple from the franchise to televise their special day. Original Bachelorette Trista Sutter said "I do" to Ryan Sutter in a 2003 special, while fan-favorite Bachelor couples Sean and Catherine Lowe, and Jason and Molly Mesnick also wed in front of Bachelor Nation.
So are Ben and Lauren considering inviting ABC's cameras to their big day?
"That's an opportunity we'd have to look into," Ben carefully says. "We are returning to the stage of life now where we can be public as an engaged couple. And now whatever opportunities come up and whatever conversations happen, we'll listen. If it's something that seems to be best for us and also for the people who have now watched our love story for the last couple of months then great. If not, we'll definitely celebrate privately with friends and family still."
But when host Chris Harrison put the couple on the spot to get married during the live After the Final Rose ceremony on Monday night, even going so far as to fly in Ben's pastor from his hometown, one member of the couple admits they did really consider it for a second. Yes, really. Press play on our interview with Ben and Lauren above to hear more wedding scoop, as well as why the Bachelor turned down a change to be on Dancing With the Stars. And tune into E! News tonight at 7 and 11 p.m. for even more from our exclusive sitdown with the happy couple.
—reporting by James Chairman