Joey Graziadei Shares What He's Been 'So Shocked' to Learn About Kelsey Anderson Since His Bachelor Finale tram

Just over one year ago, Joey Graziadei proposed to Kelsey Anderson during the season 28 finale of The Bachelor, and they finally got to start living publicly as a couple.

One of the first things they did together involved heading to the 2024 Stagecoach music festival with Patrón.

“We owe them a lot for that, because it was really just such a fun way to really get that opportunity to finally go and be normal and do things that we've always wanted to do,” Graziadei, 29, tells PEOPLE. “I remember holding the mini Patrón bottle, sitting there with Kelsey this first time we've been out in public, being able to have so much fun. That was a core memory that'll always be along with Patrón.”

The former Bachelor will head to another festival with Patrón on Friday, April 11, when he joins the Patrón Familia at Coachella Weekend 1, where the brand will debut its new Patrón El Alto Mins.  

“I like having more of a tequila soda. I'm simple with it. But this year they actually are having the El Alto minis, which I'm excited to have as a ‘bring with you on the go when you're at the festival,’” Graziadei, who appeared on Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette, says. “And having that easy access to it add it into a soda, or honestly, I'm never against a nice tequila shot.”

The Dancing with the Stars winner will be pairing his Patrón with some new outfits. “I went into Abercrombie and grabbed as many festival-looking things as I could, stuff that was simple but also flowy,” Graziadei says. “I got a round of applause from Kelsey that I was able to go and get stuff on my own. I got a bunch of baggy pants. I've never been a baggy pants guy. Apparently, that's in now. So I'm just trying new things, and we'll see if the fits hit.”

Graziadei and Anderson, 26, traveled to Jalisco, Mexico to visit Hacienda Patrón earlier this year, when the couple got to experience some quality time with quality tequila.

“We were just sitting around the fire having a nice cocktail and having stimulating conversation, talking about how crazy this last year has been,” he shares. “You have a song, or you have a drink, these types of things that bring you back to memories, and Patrón has been a huge point of my last year. They've been there for big celebrations, all the way from Dancing with the Stars to my first festival experience of going to Stagecoach. They've always been there.”

The reality star says he “learned so much” over the last year since his Bachelor season came to an end.

“I would say, especially with Dancing with the Stars, if you put your mind to something, anything's possible,” he continues. “And I know it's so cliche, but I would've called you crazy if you told me that I was going to end up winning Dancing with the Stars. The only way I knew I was able to do it and why I was so grateful for it is because I really gave everything to that process for two and a half months and had a supporting partner of Kelsey who allowed me to do that.”

Graziadei also watched his relationship with Anderson grow over the last year. “The level of comfort that we have grown over this last year is what I've noticed most, both of us being able to be more open with one another,” he says. “Kelsey's goofy side has grown so much as she's gotten more comfortable with me, and it's one of a kind. It's something that makes her so unique and makes me even more sure that I picked the right person.”

The tennis coach has seen Anderson drop her guard over the last year, “and I've tried to do the same with her,” he says. “Over the year, I've been so shocked to learn so much more about who she is. We're building the relationship in such a different way than most people do, but we're learning more about each other every day. I'm going to keep trying to put in the effort I can to make her feel special and loved every day.”

That includes prioritizing date nights amid their busy schedules. “It just makes sense to have that extra little amount of time to put the phone down and be together and catch up and make sure that we're still on the same page,” Graziadei says. “It's getting harder as we get busier, but we don't want to lose sight of that.”

Looking ahead, the couple plans to stay in Los Angeles, despite Anderson’s initial hopes of moving to New York City. “New York City was definitely something she's always dreamed of and something she wanted to do,” Graziadei says. “When we came to L.A. for Dancing with the Stars, she wanted to give it a chance. She's understood, ‘Hey, New York's always going to be there,’ and I actually enjoy the idea of visiting there and like the idea of being here in L.A. So we've been kind of surprised how much we've appreciated L.A., because we didn't think that was somewhere we wanted to be. So, I still see us being here in this next year.”

Graziadei hopes to continue pursuing TV opportunities, although, “I'd rather not be on the reality side for a little bit,” he says. “I don't want to do another competition show. I'm looking into doing something with hosting, with broadcasting, and see where doors can open.”

The next year will include some wedding planning for Graziadei and Anderson as well.

“We've met with a wedding planner,” Graziadei reveals. “We're excited about trying to figure out when that date is going to be. That's the start of the process. We've started talking through things. We're still open, but it's fun to start having those conversations. That's kind of the idea of this year, is trying to get that figured out first, and when we have that, I'm sure everyone will find out.”