Erwin native gets her man, $190K in BIP finale

Like a Disney princess, Erwin native Jess Edwards overcame challenges and doubts and accepted a proposal to ultimately ride off into the sunset with her prince, fellow "Bachelor in Paradise" cast member Spencer Conley.Edwards concluded her stay in a Costa Rican resort on season 10 of "Bachelor in Paradise" with an engagement to Conley that came at the very end of the episode.The road to romance in this episode was far from easy as the remaining couples had a final rose ceremony that gave Edwards one last opportunity to present another rose to Conley. In addition, the remaining couples gathered to vote for two women to be eliminated, which left three couples still in the mix after ballots were cast.Edwards and Conley made it past this final elimination."You amaze me every single day," Edwards told Conley during the final rose ceremony.Conley, in turn, gave a hint to his intentions when he revealed that he saw the Erwin native as his future wife.The next day, the couple took part in another relationship test called "weight of the world." The couples were strapped into harnesses over a swimming pool and had to hold weights, which were increased every few minutes. If needed, they could hold their partner's weights to give the other one a rest.Edwards and Conley came in second and did not receive immunity from possible eviction from paradise. Later in the episode the two are seen having a talk while walking on the beach."Spencer is perfect in every way possible," Edwards remarked when commenting on the beach walk.Host Jesse Palmer had a sit-down moment with Conley to provide a choice of some engagement rings for him to present to Edwards.In another shocking twist, the eliminated couples returned and voted to give one of the remaining couples a shot at $250,000, and to join Andrew Spencer and Alexe Godin, the winners of the weight challenge. The eliminated cast members voted to allow Edwards and Conley to stay and have a shot at the prize money.Palmer then presented the final challenge to the two remaining couples, who would be separated for the first time with a decision to make: love or money. Palmer informed the finalists that they could choose the $250,000 or love, but not both.In the end, both couples chose love over cash. Conley had to wait to see what Edwards chose. He showed his relief when she arrived by asking her to marry him. Edwards joyfully accepted the proposal and confessed to Palmer that she knew when she came to Costa Rica, she had wanted to meet Conley all along after learning the veteran of the 21st season of ABC's "The Bachelorette" would be part of the cast.Palmer commented on how Edwards and Conley appeared to be a perfect match and wished them all happiness before giving them an opportunity to still win money.The couple had to pick one envelope, They both reasoned that since they are both left-handed they would choose the envelope on the left side of a serving tray.That envelope contained $190,000.In a recorded aside, Edwards said, "Everything felt perfect. I have never been so happy."She also declared she had the best guy on the face of the earth.Her mother, Erwin resident Kristie Ledford, spoke about her daughter's triumphant conclusion on the series."I am absolutely thrilled about Spencer and Jessica's engagement," Ledford said. "I have known since Memorial Day and had to keep quiet!"Ledford said that her future son-in-law actually used FaceTime on their phones to get her blessing before he proposed to her daughter."He showed me the ring he picked out for her wanting to make sure she would love it," Ledford said.Ledford said that her daughter's father, Will Edwards, also got FaceTime with Conley in order to also give his blessing ahead of the proposal.Ledford said the FaceTime session with Conley was filmed but did not make the final cut for footage used in the finale.Friends and family of Edwards, as well as believers in true love, could celebrate the happy-ever-after ending to the Costa Rican adventure.Fans of "The Bachelor" franchise will have the opportunity to sail on the first-ever "Bachelor Nation Vacation at Sea," a theme cruise. Edwards, Conley and other cast members from "The Bachelor" franchise will be aboard ship for the scheduled sailing from Nov. 16 to Nov. 20. The cruise will depart Miami for Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. For more information visit bachelornationvacationatsea.com.A "Bachelor in Paradise" season 10 reunion, titled "Bachelor in Paradise Unplugged, a two-part podcast hosted by Wells Adams, will air its first episode on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and its second part on Friday, Sept. 5. The full reunion will be available to watch on the Bachelor Nation YouTube channel on Saturday, Sept. 6.