Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and his girlfriend, Kaybrie Patterson, are engaged after a whirlwind courtship.
“The easiest yes 🤍💍,” the couple captioned joint proposal photos via Instagram on Saturday, May 2.
Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love you more than words.”
After Bates got down on one knee and Patterson accepted his proposal, he presented his bride-to-be with a cushion-cut diamond ring and a bouquet of red roses.
“After the proposal, our friends and family surprised us with the sweetest engagement party,” Patterson revealed via her Instagram Stories. “Thank you mom, Jennifer and Kylie. It was amazing.”
Warden, 22, is one of the 19 children of Bringing Up Bates couple Gil and Kelly Jo Bates.
“So incredibly thankful for this special day to celebrate Warden’s & Kaybrie’s engagement,” the proud parents wrote via Instagram. “We’re beyond thrilled to see the smiles they’ve brought each other, & we’ve already all fallen in love with Kaybrie’s sweet, fun, enthusiastic personality! Couldn’t feel more blessed!”
Gil, 61, and Kelly Jo, 59, were also present at Warden and Patterson’s engagement party.
“[Kelly Jo], you are amazing!” Patterson gushed via her Stories. “Cannot wait to have you as my mother-in-law!”
Kelly Jo reposted Patterson’s upload onto her page, adding that her future daughter-in-law is “such a sweetheart.”
Several of Warden’s siblings also celebrated the occasion.
“So happy for you guys 😍🤍,” Katie Bates commented on Saturday, while Josie Bates added, “AHHHHHH 😍😍😍😍 SO EXCITED. Congratulations! Love you guys so much !! 💕💕💕.”
Warden and Patterson debuted their relationship nearly two months before getting engaged.
“You + me + Charleston,” Patterson wrote via Instagram in March, sharing pics of the couple holding hands in South Carolina.
Most of the Bates siblings have followed in their parents’ courtship tradition.
“Courtship is basically getting to know someone with the intent of marriage,” Warden’s sister Michael “Michaela” Bates said on a 2015 episode of Bringing Up Bates. “[It’s] taking out the step of dating around for fun that can get you into trouble.”
Michaela, 36, added that following certain rules allows couples to “really get to know” each other’s hearts “on a deeper level.”
“[Courtships have] the intent of keeping Christ first and purity, and with the intent of marriage,” she noted at the time.
The Bates family starred on 2012’s United Bates of America, later returning to TV on UpTV’s Bringing Up Bates in 2015. The show was canceled in 2022 after 10 seasons.
