Warden Bates, known from Bringing Up Bates, has married Kaybrie Patterson in a private ceremony held on May 5, just days after their engagement announcement and months earlier than their original September wedding plans. The couple shared the news in a joint Instagram post on Thursday, May 28, revealing that the intimate ceremony was moved up so Patterson’s father could walk her down the aisle while he was still able to attend. Patterson, 19, said her father had been battling Stage IV colon cancer for three years and that the family made the decision to gather for a small ceremony as his health declined and hospice care became necessary.
In her message, Patterson reflected on finding joy amid grief, saying she is learning that sorrow and happiness can exist at the same time. She explained that while she and Bates, 22, had originally planned a larger wedding celebration for September, they could not imagine the day without her father present. The couple chose to hold a private ceremony with immediate family so he could take part in one of the most meaningful moments of her life.
Patterson described May 5 as a simple, emotional, and beautiful day. She wrote that her father walked her down the aisle and that the memory will stay with her forever. According to her post, he became unresponsive the next day and died three days later. Patterson said she takes comfort in knowing her father was able to be there for the wedding and will continue to be part of their lives in spirit.
The bride also confirmed that she and Bates still plan to hold a larger wedding celebration in September. She said the upcoming event will be a chance to celebrate with loved ones while keeping her father’s memory close. The couple first revealed their engagement on May 2, when they posted proposal photos on Instagram with the caption, “The easiest yes.” Patterson later shared additional images from the proposal and wrote that she could not wait to become Bates’ wife.
Warden Bates is one of the 19 children of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, the parents featured on Bringing Up Bates. After the engagement announcement, Gil and Kelly Jo expressed their happiness publicly, saying they were thrilled to see the smiles the couple brought to each other and that they already loved Patterson’s personality. They described her as sweet, fun, and enthusiastic, and said they felt blessed by the relationship.
The quick timeline from courtship to engagement to marriage has drawn attention, but Patterson’s announcement centered on her father’s final days and the decision to honor him by moving the wedding forward. For the couple, the small ceremony became both a marriage celebration and a deeply personal family moment shaped by love, loss, and the desire to include her father in the day she had long imagined.
