Is there anything more fun than a dating auction? If you're an audience member, probably not. For participants, however, it can be a nerve-wracking experience riddled with insecurity.
Luckily, the five men and five women who graciously volunteered to get on the auction block at The Mohawk last night had nothing to fear. After a dose or two of liquid courage courtesy of Absolut, each jumped onstage in the hopes of inciting a bidding war — or at least having a good time.
John Chapman of Austin Facial Hair Club fame served as auctioneer and general master of ceremonies. Jerry Lopez, Sarah Yost, Brittany Martin and Sawyer Stoltz were a few of the brave and sexy souls who offered up their dating services to the rowdy crowd. Among those who came out to bid and show support were Carrie Beitzel, Jessica Mosqueda, Rachael Jordan, Madison Pope, Matt Williamson, Joyce Fee, Jenn Deising and Ken Aponte.
Winners won a date with each participant, donated by local businesses. Both the highest bidder and the participant who reeled in the most cash won weekend passes to the 2013 Fun Fun Fun Fest. All proceeds benefited Austin Pets Alive!, a no-kill nonprofit dedicated to finding homes for dogs and cats in need.
Julie Yost is auctioned off in the Austin Pet's Alive Dating Auction at The Mohawk.
Photo by Jon Shapley
Julie Yost is auctioned off in the Austin Pet's Alive Dating Auction at The Mohawk.
Photo by Katherine Larson (@k.larsonphotography and @sarahrobertscreative)
Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar of "The Bachelor" got married May 23, 2025 in Austin.
Zach Shallcross is a bachelor no more. The Austin-based star of ABC's The Bachelor has quietly married Kaity Biggar, to whom he got engaged on the finale of the show in March 2023. The couple tied the knot May 23, 2025 at Dulcinea Chapel, a wedding venue 20 minutes southwest of downtown Austin.
TMZ was the first to report the news, on June 11, based on Travis County court documents; the couple confirmed their nuptials via podcast the same day.
Shallcross and Biggar initially announced they'd marry in October 2025, then they teased it would be "at some point" during the year. They changed course and successfully kept the actual date and details under wraps, quite a feat for a "Bachelor Nation" wedding.
The ceremony at the outdoor Austin chapel was intimate and romantic — exactly as they'd wanted it, Biggar told The Bachelor Happy Hour podcast on June 11. "We just did like a cute little chapel celebration with our closest loved ones, our family," she said, as retold by E! News.
They had been planning a larger, more lavish, more expensive wedding, she said, before the bride-to-be experienced a lightbulb moment that's relatable to brides everywhere.
"I just took a step back and was like, 'I don't know if we need this,'" she said on the podcast. "The whole point of a wedding is just staying true to the love and the connection of both of us, and I felt like I was honing in on too many details, like, 'Oh, my mom would like this but these people would like that.' I think I was getting caught up in details and losing the whole premise of it."
Photo by Katherine Larson (@k.larsonphotography and @sarahrobertscreative)
Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar of "The Bachelor" got married May 23, 2025 in Austin.
Biggar's aunt, the "virtual matchmaker" who encouraged her to go on The Bachelor, found Dulcinea Chapel, "and it was like 500 bucks," the bride said. The venue sits high on a hill on the campus of the Wizard Academy, described on the website as "a nontraditional business school."
According to official franchise website Bachelor Nation, the bride wore a strapless Pronovias gown with a sweetheart neckline, lace slingback heels by Betsey Johnson, and earrings from Kendra Scott.
The groom wore a classic black tuxedo from State and Liberty. Biggar changed into a short, sparkly party dress by Sherri Hill for the reception.
At the ceremony, the couple exchanged personal vows, captured and set over a beautiful video montage of their love story by filmmaker by Nicholas DeRose (@visualrosefilms) for Bachelor Nation.
They shared their first dance as husband and wife to “Simply the Best” by Noah Reid, from the show Schitt’s Creek — "a nod to the first song they listened to after getting engaged on The Bachelor," Bachelor Nation says.
At their reception dinner, they and their guests dined on steak, fish, and pasta. The wedding cake was topped with personalized Funko POP! Yourself figures.
Shallcross and Biggar met and got engaged on season 27 of the ABC reality TV show in 2023. He proposed in the season finale in Thailand. Shallcross was born in Fullerton, California, but lived in Austin and worked for software company Oracle when he appeared on The Bachelor. Biggar is from Kingston, Ontario, Canada; she is a travel nurse.
The newlyweds live in Austin with their dog, Honey, and are reportedly planning a honeymoon to Italy in 2026.