In Jason Tartick’s perspective, there was one part of his sweet proposal to Kathryn Hurley in particular that had his heart racing.
“We were going on a boat. For the boat ride, I had some wine and stuff in there. I think that she was starting to catch on a little bit. She’s like, ‘What is this bag for?’” Tartick, 37, exclusively recalled to Us, while promoting his partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital. “She was just inquisitive [about] the bag. So I mean, I [was like], ‘Oh, we don’t even need the bag.’ I just dropped the bag, went to the bathroom, threw [the ring] in my pocket and was just terrified I was going to drop or lose it.”
He continued, “I just had the ring in there without the ring box, that I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ I was terrified. We did it by the water, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, just don’t drop this, just don’t drop this.’”
Despite his fears, Tartick did not drop the ring in the water — and successfully got down on one knee to pop the question to Hurley during their vacation in Lake Como, Italy.
“I was just beyond excited,” Tartick gushed. “I was just so, so excited. I just wanted her to be surprised, and she was. Truly, truly, it was the best.”
As Tartick and Hurley prepare to say “I do,” the Bachelor Nation alum told Us the pair “haven’t touched the surface of the wedding planning” yet. The couple are currently searching for the perfect location for their nuptials and have a general timeframe in mind.
“I think we will get married in 2027. That’s what we’re targeting for, and we haven’t sort of shared that,” he said. “We’re just so excited. It’s gonna be a fun wedding, though.”
While their relationship hasn’t been public for long, Tartick knew Hurley was The One early on.
“We shared that we were dating in December and had been dating several months before going public,” he said. “I said to her, ‘Now that I’ve had you in my life the way I have every day, I just can’t imagine a world without you in my life and I just never want to have to imagine that.’ That’s [what] I said when we were dating and then [when I] proposed, I said, ‘And now we never will.’ When we started dating, I just knew. … She’s just it.”
Tartick, who rose to fame as a contestant on season 14 of The Bachelorette, met Hurley through Wags & Walks Nashville — where he adopted his golden retriever, Teddy. Now, Tartick is teaming up with Banfield Pet Hospital to help pet owners plan more predictable costs associated with their furry friends.
“I’m a big rescue guy. Kathryn’s [the] founder of Wags & Walks Nashville. … Also, being in finance, one of the interesting things is there’s been a drop in vet visits. This is over the last few years, and cost is pretty much the largest barrier to that. What’s really cool with Banfield is they now have an Optimum Wellness Plan, and it guarantees you’re staying ahead of your preventive care,” Tartick explained.
With Banfield’s personalized preventative care, the Optimum Wellness Plans customize the care a pet receives based on age, lifestyle and health. Pet owners can also now add specialized services — which may include advanced dermatology testing and anti-nausea treatments — to wellness plans, where they can save at least 30 percent on preventitive veterinary services compared to standard retail prices.
“For me, [having a dog is] the most rewarding thing, and rescuing is just the absolute best. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, rescues will rescue [you] more than you’ll even ever rescue them,” he said. “To have pups in my life has been the biggest blessing.”
