Leslie Fhima felt a bit uneasy when Costa Rica was mentioned during Gerry and Theresa’s wedding. Leslie, 65, shared her discomfort on the “Almost Famous” podcast, which aired a few days after ABC’s special episode of The Golden Wedding. Leslie had made it to the final two on The Golden Bachelor, but was ultimately eliminated during the finale in Costa Rica after meeting Gerry’s family.
Fortunately, Leslie was able to brush off the awkwardness of the reference during the wedding. She explained, “That was probably the only time I felt uncomfortable. But seeing Theresa so happy helped me move past it.”
During the ceremony, the officiant and co-star Susan Noles mentioned Gerry and Theresa’s time in Costa Rica, emphasizing how their relationship deepened during the overnight dates. Gerry even mentioned drinking “Costa Rican coffee” with Theresa in his vows.
Leslie’s elimination from The Golden Bachelor came as a surprise to viewers and even to Leslie herself. During the After the Final Rose special, she confronted Gerry for blindsiding her with his decision. “You made it seem like you chose me,” she expressed during their onscreen reunion. “You led me on and then left me hanging.”
During a December 2023 episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast, Leslie disclosed that Gerry had made promises to her regarding their future while they were on their fantasy suite date in Costa Rica. She recalled him saying things like, “Save the date, this is our plan. I can’t wait for our life together. In just two more days, we’ll be finished with this and can start our journey.” Surprisingly, Gerry ultimately got engaged to Theresa by the end of the season.
Leslie’s decision to attend the couple’s televised wedding left many Bachelor Nation fans puzzled. However, she explained on the podcast that she was invited by Theresa herself. She admitted that it took some time for her to process her heartbreak, but eventually realized that Gerry and Theresa might be a perfect match. Leslie expressed her genuine happiness for Theresa finding love, as finding love was the ultimate goal for everyone involved in the show.
The celebration of the Golden Wedding provided Leslie with an opportunity to reconnect with her former companions from the Golden Bachelor competition. A considerable number of members from Bachelor Nation attended the event, surpassing 50 in total.
Leslie expressed her delight, stating, “It has truly been an incredible experience… I genuinely missed them. We do communicate regularly, on a daily basis, but being physically present with them is incomparable.” Speaking to cohosts Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti, she continued, “During my time on the show, I deeply longed for my friends back home and, of course, my family. However, the bond I share with these women is beyond comprehension for others.”
Leslie couldn’t contain her happiness at the glamorous event, apart from mentioning her recent trip to Costa Rica. One of the highlights of the evening was when she hit the dance floor with Higgins, who is 34 years old. However, Higgins revealed that this moment was not as spontaneous as it seemed on television.
During a podcast, Higgins shared that they were asked to kickstart the dance party when the reception began. It was a planned arrangement that both of them enthusiastically agreed to. They eagerly stepped onto the dance floor, ready to get the crowd moving, only to find out that there was no music playing.
Leslie humorously recalled her confusion, as Higgins thanked her right after they started dancing. She wondered if he was simply warming up or if they were actually beginning their performance.
