Joan Vassos’ season of “The Golden Bachelorette” kicked off in a very special way on Wednesday night.

The 61-year-old school principal, mother and grandmother, and the first-ever “Golden Bachelorette,” met her suitors vying for her heart and bonded with them over shared interests, experiences and a love of pickleball.

Before meeting the men, Vassos spoke candidly about her first love, her late husband John Vassos, who died of pancreatic cancer. Vassos said she first met him in 1983 when she was 20 and called him a “special man” who “made me feel special and safe every day of my life.”

“No one is going to replace John,” she said. “He lives in a place in my heart and in my thoughts that is his alone. But I have a big heart and there is room for someone else.”

“I don’t know if you can have two great loves in one life, but I hope so,” Vassos added.

How did some men impress Vassos when they met her?

At the mansion, Vassos was introduced to the men as they stepped out of the limousines. The first gentleman she was introduced to was Pascal, 69, a salon owner from Chicago, Illinois, whose French accent she found charming.

Others who impressed Vassos during their first meeting were Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas, who arrived with a glass jar full of chicken soup, Jack, 68, a caterer from Chicago, Illinois, who sang Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” to Vassos, and David, 68, a rancher from Austin, Texas, who arrived looking like Prince Charming on horseback.

Christopher, 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York, had Vassos sip prune juice during their first meeting in hopes that “things would go well,” while RJ, 66, a financial advisor from Irvine, California, charmed her with a witty one-liner: “I hear you’re looking for a man in finance, with a retirement account, 6-foot-5, blue eyes,” and CK, a wealth manager from Rancho Palos Verdes, California, wowed Vassos with a few push-ups to show off his physical prowess.

All the men were impressed by Vassos’ grace and elegance and commented on how beautiful she looked.

“I already have admiration for these men and they are brave,” said Vassos.

Who got the 1st impression rose?

After getting to know the men better at the mansion, during fun one-on-one moments and a chaotic impromptu pickleball tournament with some of the guys, Vassos hit it off with Keith, 62, a father of one from San Jose, California, who arrived at the mansion in a station wagon.

The duo played cornhole and became friends over their love of the beach. Vassos said she could see herself with him and had fun with him.

“Keith makes me feel safe,” said Vassos, who also shared her first kiss with Keith. “And that’s something I haven’t felt since Jon passed. I feel like I’m floating there and he just has a really warm and easygoing manner. He’s quick to laugh and also very genuine and he makes me feel comfortable.”

Keith also spoke about how special their bond was, saying that the conversation they had was just “natural.” “There’s something we can maybe build on,” he said.

What special surprise did Vassos have for the men?

Before the rose ceremony, Vassos joined the men at the mansion for a sweet surprise. Host Jesse Palmer brought a television into the living room and a video played with sweet messages from each man’s loved ones.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as the men watched their loved ones offer encouragement, advice and more as they searched for love.

“That was a powerful moment,” said Gary, 65, a retired financial executive from Palm Desert, Calif., after watching the video message from his daughter and grandson. “It was really special to see them, knowing that they are with me in spirit on this journey.”

What moved Vassos at this moment was the way the men supported each other.

“I feel so honored that you’re here to make this journey,” Vassos told the men. “I see what you’ve left behind. I know you have heart. You’re brave enough to come here and you have a sense of adventure, and that’s what I’m looking for.”

What happened during the rose ceremony?

During the rose ceremony, Vassos walked away feeling overwhelmed and told Palmer it was “not easy” to send some of the men home. But by the end of the night, Vassos said goodbye to five men.

See whose journey continues on the show below:

Dan, 64, a private investor from Naples, Florida
Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa
Mark, 67, a war veteran from Leesville, Louisiana
Guy, 66, an ER doctor from Reno, Nevada
Charles K., 62, a wealth manager from Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Gil, 60, a teacher from Mission Viejo, California
Gary, 65, a retired financial executive from Palm Desert, California
Pascal, 69, salon owner from Chicago, Illinois
Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas
Kim, 69, a retired Navy captain from Seattle, Washington
Christopher, 64, a contractor from West Babylon, New York
Gregg, 64, a retired university VP from Longboat Key, Florida
Charles L., 66, a retired financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jordan, 61, a sales manager from Chicago, Illinois
Bob, 66, a chiropractor from Marina Del Rey, California
Michael, 65, a retired bank CEO from Denver, North Carolina
Jack, 68, a caterer from Chicago, Illinois