'Bachelorette' Desiree Hartsock: Life after the final rose

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- She found love as the 'Bachelorette' in Season 9. Now Desiree Hartsock has turned her fairy-tale ending into a career helping brides plan their dream weddings.

"The emotion of brides buying dresses or going through the wedding process is just really unique and it's special, and I think I just really love the whole intricacies -- the meaning behind a whole wedding," said Hartsock.

You could say Desiree is a "wedding wizard." She offers advice to brides like she did at this year's Bridal Extravaganza Show in Houston.

"'The Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' are great stepping stones into what I want to do because it is based around relationships and based on finding the one," said Hartsock.

Desiree's background in fashion design has helped in her new career. She is a bridal jewelry designer for KVBijou and has her own line. In addition, she also designs wedding gowns for Maggie Sottero, like the one she wore at her wedding last year to Chris Siegfried.

"Like we just hit it off. We were able to talk about the silliest stuff and he really was like my best friend," said Hartsock.

Having been on both the 'Bachelor' and the 'Bachelorette,' Hartsock believes women are better when it comes to choosing a mate.

"A lot of times the guys will go on and they are just really excited about 25 women. They're like great, let's just date and have some fun and you know go on these extravagant dates," said Hartsock. "But a woman like the 'Bachelorette,' she is there to find out if someone is right for her."

Hartsock admits drama keeps viewers tuned in to the shows week after week, but deep down they all hope for a happy ending.

"I feel very lucky and very blessed that I was able to be on that show to meet my husband and for that to just carry on to what I want to do for life," she said.

Besides her work as a wedding consultant and designer, she is also an author. She has a book coming out in May, called "My Fairytale Wedding: Planning your Dream Wedding Without Breaking the Bank."