Jake Pavelka Voted Off 'Dancing With the Stars,' No Wedding Date Yet

The Bachelor voted off "DWTS" says, "I'm going to go romance my bride."

ByABC News via logo
March 30, 2010, 11:40 AM

April 28, 2010— -- Jake Pavelka won the girl of his dreams on "The Bachelor," but last night on "Dancing With the Stars" he lost the chance to take home the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

Pavelka and professional partner Chelsie Hightower were sent home on the show's fifth elimination, and he choked up when he got the news.

"I didn't really expect that; that's kind of just how I felt," Pavelka said today on "Good Morning America." "It really meant something to me. I'm so grateful to have been able to dance with Chelsie for six episodes. ... I still am really sad to say goodbye to the 'Dancing With the Stars' family.'"

The airline pilot and reality TV star said that he and fiance Vienna Girardi haven't set a wedding date yet, but he praised her for her support throughout the show.

"Vienna has been amazing," he said. "I owe her big. She put her life on hold for me to do this, so I'm going to go romance my bride."

Hightower said she wasn't surprised that the pair was sent home.

"We came out and we did our best and unfortunately didn't get enough votes," she said, adding that she was impressed by her partner's attitude, especially his willingness to dance in his underwear for a "Risky Business" dance on the show's Movie Night.

"He was willing to throw himself into anything," she said.

"I thought, well, shoot, what the heck?" Pavelka said, calling it a "once in a lifetime opportunity. ... Seize the moment."

For now, Pavelka is looking forward to spending time with his fiancé and expects to return to flying.

"Flying, no matter what happens, will always be a huge part of my life," he said. "You never know what doors God's going to open, but right now the plan is to fly airplanes."

Pavelka's departure comes a week after fellow reality TV star Kate Gosselin was voted off "Dancing With the Stars."