The Bachelor Finale Recap: Sean Lowe Proposes to Catherine Giudici

USMagazine, Monday, March 11, 2013, 8:00pm (PDT)

And then there was one. Sean Lowe closed out this season of The Bachelor the same way he opened it -- with family, prayer, and plenty of dramatic voiceovers. The finale picked up right where it left off after Sean last narrowed down his bevy of beauties to the final two: Lindsay Yenter and Catherine Giudici.

And in the end, the hunky 29-year-old entrepreneur decided that he just couldn't say goodbye anymore to 26-year-old Seattle graphic designer Catherine, whom he ultimately dropped down on one knee and proposed to.

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But not without some classic Bachelor drama, of course! Before Sean could pop the question to an excited Catherine, he had to let go of his relationship with fellow finalist Lindsay Yenter, 24, who seemed convinced that she would be the one for Sean in the end.

"Today is the best day of my life," she said with gusto as she prepared to meet Sean for the last time. "Today is the day I'm gonna get engaged. I'm feeling really calm but I'm getting really excited."

Once the petite substitute teacher made her way across the bridge to the floating platform where Sean awaited her, however, she was met with bad news.

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"You have been such a surprise," Sean began. "I didn't see our relationship coming."

After praising Lindsay for a few more heartbreaking minutes, he took a deep breath and broke the bad news -- and her heart.

"Lindsay, this is the toughest thing I've ever had to do," he said as her face fell. "I've been so confused and I've been searching for clarity and praying for clarity and I think I've finally gotten it. I have to say goodbye to you."

An emotional Lindsay begged him to stop and the pair finally walked off together, her heels in her hand.

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"Good luck," she whispered as she slipped into the exit van.

Then, a letter from Catherine, delivered by Chris Harrison himself, just as Sean had thought he'd had all the emotional turmoil he could handle for the day. 

In it, Catherine revealed her feelings for him, and told him that he'd changed her life forever.

The giddy graphic designer looked solemn as she crossed the bridge and approached Sean. He began his piece after a few breaths.

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"I knew from the beginning that you were someone I wanted to be around," he began. "I just had no idea my feelings would turn into what they did. I think the world of you and I miss you every time we have to say goodbye. I miss you. I don't want to say goodbye anymore."

And with that, Sean dropped down on his knee and asked her the question she'd been dying to hear.

"Catherine, will you marry me?"

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Cue sunset, an elephant, and a giddy couple riding off into the jungle.

"As a young kid, I always imagined myself riding away on an elephant," Sean laughed.

"This is the coolest day of my life!" Catherine added.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: The Bachelor Finale Recap: Sean Lowe Proposes to Catherine Giudici