The Complete Story of Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes' Love Life
Experience the ups and downs of Bachelor Nation's Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes' relationship as we take you through their timeline from June 2019 to December 2022
Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes, known as a Bachelor success story, initially faced challenges in their relationship. Unglert joined Bachelor in Paradise for the second time during the summer of 2019 after being involved in a complicated love triangle the previous season. It was during this stint on the show that he crossed paths with Miller-Keyes, who was also embroiled in the drama of that summer.
During the early stages of our relationship, I was disappointed and upset to learn about Caelynn's dating history, confessed Unglert to his partner on the "Help! I Suck at Dating" podcast in November 2020. After some reflection, he realized that if the roles were reversed, he would be viewed in a much worse light. As such, he chose not to be hypocritical and upset about something that he himself had done, if not to an even greater extent.
Miller-Keyes and Horstmann were involved in a romantic encounter prior to the filming of season 6 of BiP, which was later brought to light by Miller-Keyes on the show. She disclosed that Horstmann had slept with her and Schulman during the Stagecoach music festival. In an attempt to clear his name, Horstmann shared the text messages exchanged between him and Miller-Keyes. During the airing of the show, Unglert publicly supported Miller-Keyes.
It's not fair to hold your partner responsible for actions they took before they even knew you, according to the podcast speaker. He advised against dwelling on the past and getting upset over something that can't be changed. Miller-Keyes concurred, saying that she doesn't concern herself with things that happened before her relationship began.
Unglert and Miller-Keyes are still together after a tumultuous summer and confirmed their engagement in October 2022. Here's a look at their relationship timeline.
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Bachelor Nation’s Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes’ Relationship Timeline
Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes have been dubbed a Bachelor success story, but their relationship got off to a rocky start.
During his return to Bachelor in Paradise for season 6 in the summer of 2019, Unglert found himself caught up in a complicated love triangle from the previous season. It was during this second appearance on the show that he crossed paths with Miller-Keyes, who had also been involved in the drama that summer. In a November 2020 episode of his “Help! I Suck at Dating” podcast, Unglert reflected on his initial reservations about Miller-Keyes, admitting that he was disappointed and upset to learn about her dating history. However, he also acknowledged that if the roles were reversed and he was in her position, he would look even worse.
"I won't be a hypocrite and get upset about something she may or may not have done, especially when I've done the same, if not worse, multiple times myself," he stated. In season 6 of BiP, it was revealed that Miller-Keyes had a previous hookup with Blake Horstmann at Stagecoach prior to filming. During the show, she called him out for also sleeping with their co-star Kristina Schulman at the music festival. Horstmann attempted to clear his name by sharing his text messages with Miller-Keyes.
"It's unfair to hold your significant other responsible for their actions before they met you," Unglert stated on the podcast. "Dwelling on it will only make you angry for no reason. What can you do about something that happened before they even knew you existed?"
Miller-Keyes concurred, expressing that she doesn't dwell on the past, saying, "I don't care about what happened before I came along, it's not relevant to me." Despite a tumultuous summer, Unglert and Miller-Keyes have remained committed to each other and their relationship has only grown stronger. In fact, after being together for three years, the couple announced their engagement in October 2022.
Scroll through for their timeline:
Credit: ABC (2)
June 2019
Unglert and Miller-Keyes hit it off when he joined during week 2 of Bachelor in Paradise season 6.
Credit: ABC/Paul Hebert
June 2019
A few episodes in to BiP, Unglert left the beach, leaving Miller-Keyes heartbroken on her birthday.
During the show, he expressed that their lifestyles might not align after the show ends and he didn't want to give her something that wouldn't bring her happiness. He also stated that she deserved someone better than him. In week 5, the alum returned and asked Miller-Keyes to leave the beach with him, and despite going on a date with Connor Saeli, the former pageant queen ultimately chose Unglert.
Credit: Courtesy Dean Unglert/Instagram
October 2019
Unglert and Miller-Keyes proved skeptics wrong as she embraced his lifestyle of living in a van.
Credit: Sara Jaye Weiss/Shutterstock
December 2019
A month after Miller-Keyes told We that marriage could be in their future, Unglert told Us in December 2019 that he never wants to tie the knot.
"We often joke about getting married, but I always make it clear that it's not in the cards for us," he shared with Us. "I have a non-traditional approach to relationships, while she leans towards more conventional beliefs. It's all in good fun though, and we try not to set any unrealistic expectations. As I said on the show, it's better to underpromise and overdeliver."
Credit: Courtesy Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
February 2020
Unglert’s recent appearance with a band on his finger sparked speculation about his marriage plans. Even their close friends, Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon, were unsure if the couple had already tied the knot in secret.
According to Haibon, although Dean had a reputation for not wanting to commit to a relationship, he genuinely cares for Caelynn. The ring he gave her is a symbol of his commitment to her and his desire to be with only her. He wants to show her that he is there for her and that he only wants to be with her.
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
June 2020
In June 2020, Unglert and Miller-Keyes marked their one-year anniversary, which also happened to be the anniversary of him breaking up with her on her birthday. They later disclosed the reason behind the jewelry they were wearing on their ring fingers.
"I have been wearing this ring for the past six months as a symbol of my commitment to Caelynn and only her," he shared on an episode of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever! "It's a way for us to publicly show our devotion to each other. Seeing the ring on her finger each day brings a sense of comfort, knowing that we are both fully invested in our relationship and dedicated to making it work."
Miller-Keyes shared that Dean had started wearing a hair tie around his ring finger as a way to deter women from approaching him. She found the idea appealing and they eventually decided to get rings as a symbol of their strong and committed relationship. Dean preferred to avoid involving the government in their relationship, as Miller-Keyes revealed.
Credit: Courtesy Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
August 2020
After the show, it can be difficult to commit to dating someone you don't know well. It takes time to learn about each other and determine if the relationship has potential. However, once we got past that initial hurdle, things really improved for us. Of course, quarantine has presented its own challenges, but it's been a good test to see if our relationship is genuine.
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
April 2021
The reality stars took their relationship to another level when they moved into their brand new Las Vegas house in April 2021.
“We are officially homeowners!!! ,” Miller-Keyes wrote at the time, sharing photos of the couple embracing in their kitchen.
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April 2021
Unglert celebrated his birthday with an exhilarating skydiving experience, with a little assistance from Miller-Keyes. "Saying farewell to my 20s," Unglert wrote as the caption to an Instagram video that showed the couple sharing a kiss before Miller-Keyes pushed him off a mountain in April 2021.
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May 2021
Miller-Keyes shared on Instagram in May 2021 that Unglert surprised her with a thoughtful date, taking her back to the location where they had their first date two years prior.
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller Keyes/Instagram
September 2021
The pair jetted off to Greece for a romantic getaway, which included drinking wine at sunset, swimming in pools overlooking the ocean and wandering the streets.
Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin
October 2021
During an episode of his podcast, "Help! I Suck at Dating," Unglert shared that producers had suggested he propose to Miller-Keyes during their trip to Mexico for the finale of season 7 of BiP. He explained that the producers had pulled him aside and urged him to propose on the last day of the show. Unglert was surprised by the suggestion, especially since it was given to him the day before they were set to film the episode. He noted that the producers are known for pushing contestants to propose on the show.
Credit: Sara Jaye Weiss/Shutterstock
November 2021
On his “Help! I Suck at Dating” podcast, Unglert expressed his reluctance towards marriage. He clarified that he had no intentions of proposing and suggested that if his partner wanted to get married, she should be the one to propose. "I don't know if she's speaking for me or if she's saying that she's going to propose to me," he remarked, "so I think she's got something in the works for that."
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
February 2022
During an episode of his “Help! I Suck at Dating” podcast, Unglert hinted that he and Caelynn were open to marriage in the future. He shared that they had even discussed changing their last names to “Bell” in honor of his mother, who had passed away. The couple seemed to be in agreement about this decision, which would signify a new chapter in their lives together.
Credit: James Atoa/UPI/Shutterstock
April 2022
During a recent YouTube Q&A session, Miller-Keyes opened up about the possibility of proposing to Unglert. Initially, she was taken aback by the idea and assumed that her partner suggested it just to get a reaction. However, as she pondered on the thought, she began to grow fond of the idea.
As I pondered over it, my fondness for the idea grew stronger. In the conventional way, he would be the one to propose to me, and the thought of that had been a dream of mine for a long time. It's a day that's solely dedicated to him, and this special moment where he's the center of attention is something that he doesn't quite comprehend. That's when I realized that I truly love this idea," she shared.
Miller-Keyes further expressed, "I relish the thought of planning something that's centered solely around him, not necessarily something lavish because he prefers to stay out of the spotlight. But just a thoughtful gesture that makes him feel special. After giving it a lot of thought, I am genuinely enthusiastic about this."
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
June 2022
Unglert revealed that he and Miller-Keyes had begun looking for engagement rings but had "a bit of a scuffle" over the particulars.
The topic of finances in a relationship can be delicate, as pointed out by the University of Colorado graduate during an episode of his podcast "Help! I Suck at Dating." He expressed his frustration with having to spend money on something he doesn't necessarily want, while his partner makes significantly more money than him and is the one who wants to get married. Despite this, the couple already functions as if they are married, with a joint bank account that they both contribute to for household expenses, while still maintaining their individual accounts.
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
October 2022
During an episode of "Help! I Suck at Dating," Unglert playfully hinted that he and the former pageant queen would be engaged by the time the podcast aired. He even shared that he had to use a placeholder ring after losing the original one. Despite not planning on revealing this information, he jokingly confessed it to the show's listeners.
Following their engagement, Us confirmed that the couple had taken the next step in their relationship as seen in the episode. Unglert later shared the details of the proposal on his podcast, where he revealed that Miller-Keyes was not thrilled with him during the 11-hour hike that led up to the big moment. Despite the challenging terrain and Miller-Keyes' numerous requests to turn back, she persevered and eventually said yes to Unglert's proposal.
Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock
December 2022
The engaged couple hit the red carpet before rocking out at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Los Angeles.
Credit: Courtesy of Caelynn Miller-Keyes/Instagram
December 2022
“Dean and I are now officially engaged!” Miller-Keyes announced on her Instagram post dated December 14. “We had an agreement that we would both propose to each other, and while I had my own ideas on how I would pop the question, I was inspired by Dean’s efforts to help me conquer my fear of heights before proposing. So, I thought it would be fitting for him to conquer his own fear of horses before he proposed to me. I’m looking forward to a lifetime of challenging each other beyond our comfort zones.”
