Why Bethenny Frankel Has No Plans To Marry Her Fiancé Paul Bernon

There's one contract that Bethenny Frankel won't be signing — when it comes to marriage, the successful entrepreneur isn't open to negotiation. Although Frankel is engaged, she doesn't actually see herself marrying her fiancé Paul Bernon at any point in the future. To recap, Frankel and Bernon began dating in 2018 after connecting through a dating app, per Us Weekly. In October 2020, the couple broke it off but remained amicable. Just a few months after their split, however, they were seen holding hands in Miami. From that point on, things moved pretty quickly. In March 2021, news broke that Bernon and Frankel were engaged.

In June, Frankel took to Instagram to share details about the heartwarming proposal. She wrote, "We went to dinner and he walked me to a beautiful private table on the beach as private and romantic as a fantasy date on "The Bachelor..." She added, "Bryn and I and Biggy Smallz are so lucky to have Paul in our lives. He is a loving, beautiful, generous, kind, funny, and smart good man who we love with all of our hearts." Despite her adoration for Bernon, Frankel isn't keen on saying "I do" this time around, and her reasoning has a lot to do with her past experiences.

Bethenny Frankel's marriage to Jason Hoppy turned into a toxic mess. The couple got married in 2010 and split only two years later. However, their divorce wasn't finalized until 2021, a full eight years after they separated. In an episode of her Just B podcast, she said, "I have spent millions of dollars, millions of tears. I have had a horrific, hall of fame, nightmare divorce." Frankel and Hoppy found themselves in a nasty, drawn-out custody battle over their daughter Bryn. As their divorce was being finalized, Hoppy was charged with harassing and stalking Frankel, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Frankel's lawyer stated, "Ms. Frankel's decision to report Mr. Hoppy's abusive behavior followed years of systematic bullying, harassment, stalking, and torment on an almost daily basis."

Frankel's rough divorce undoubtedly soured her views on the institution of marriage. In a 2015 appearance on "Watch What Happens Live" (via ABC News), she told Andy Cohen that she would "never get legally married again." She clarified by saying that while she would be happy to enter into a long-term relationship with the right person and that she still believed in love, it was the act of marriage that she planned to avoid. "Marriage is the Hotel California. You can check out any time, but you can never leave," she added.

Bethenny Frankel may have a ring on it, but she's still not set on marriage. In a June 2023 interview on Today, she gave some insight into her relationship with fiancé Paul Bernon. When asked if she plans on ever tying the knot, she replied, "I don't know. I'm never going to plan a wedding." She said that they love each other and that their relationship is in a great place, and that's what they were focused on at the moment. In a conversation with E! News, Frankel explained that she doesn't need a marital contract to seal the deal on her love. Frankel is certainly one to march her own beat, and her stance on marriage is no exception. She shared, "I like doing what you want, not what society wants you to do."

Although Frankel has reservations about marriage, the "RHONY" alum does not appear to have doubts about her relationship with Bernon. In a July Instagram post, she gushed about her beau, writing, "What a ride it has been....and all on our own terms...the modern fairytale starting with a Prince. who exists online... you are kind. you are smart. you are funny and you are loved. Xoxo."