As fans know, Married At First Sight features total strangers who enter into a legally binding marriage but know very little about each other before meeting for the first time when they exchange vows.
While several of the couples don’t see a spark past the honeymoon, a handful have defied the odds and the skeptics by staying together. By the start of Season 13, eleven couples had stayed together. Many of the happily married pairs now appear on the Married at First Sight: Couples Couch episodes, where they provide commentary while watching the current episodes unfold.
Here are the couples who are in it for the long haul.
Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner (Season 1)
Jamie and Doug married during the first season of the series. The pair welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2017 and their first son in May 2020. In addition to their own spinoff series, they also appeared on Married at First Sight: The First Year.
Ashley Petta & Anthony Damico (Season 5)
Ashley Petta and Anthony Damico felt an instant connection when they met and got married in August 2016. The couple quickly decided to remain married on Decision Day, and things have been smooth sailing for them since. Like Jamie and Doug, Ashley and Anthony have two children: Mila and Vaeda. Besides appearing on Married At First Sight: Happily Ever After, Ashley frequently posts pictures and videos of her husband and children.
Jephte Pierre and Shawniece Jackson (Season 6)
Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre chose to stay married on Decision Day in Season 6 of Married at First Sight. Though the couple admitted they weren’t in love with each other, they chose to see the marriage through. Fans may remember Jackson and Pierre getting off to a rough start: After all, for weeks, Pierre refused to sleep in the same bed as his wife.
Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd (Season 7)
Perhaps the least surprising entry on this list, Danielle and Bobby are most memorable for their lack of drama or conflict. He was not featured in a single fight during his season. They were so harmonious that some onlookers were skeptical, speculating on social media that one or both of them were being a little too friendly, perhaps trying to avoid any embarrassing moments on camera. Even some experts on the show expressed concern that Bobby resists standing up for himself and often gives up to avoid conflict.
Stephanie Sersen and AJ Vollmoeller (Season 8)
They had their ups and downs, but they both agreed that their chemistry was sizzling from day one. The couple started a joint Instagram together (though they each have their own as well) and they seem more in love than ever. Stephanie shared in June 2019, “Looking back on our first trip together to Costa Rica for our honeymoon! Only 1 week in, we knew we had something special.”
Kristine Killingsworth and Keith Dewar (Season 8)
Kristine Killingsworth and Keith Dewar were fan favorites on MAFS Season 8, and it was impressive to watch the two overcome initial doubts and obstacles as they enjoy marriage beyond Judgment Day. Kristine was seen to be concerned whether Keith was mature enough to handle the level of commitment he wanted. However, Keith’s father fails to visit Christine, bringing the couple closer. Since saying “I do” in 2019, Christine and Keith have been working on a number of endeavors together, such as MAFS: Exploring their relationship on Couples Cam.
Deonna McNeill and Gregory Okotie (Season 9)
Still going strong! In Season 9 of Married At First Sight, fans meet Dionna McNeil and Gregory Okoti. While the couple struggled to communicate mostly due to McNeil’s hesitance to be vulnerable, they eventually developed feelings for each other and admitted that they were falling in love. Before Okotie, McNeil hadn’t been in a relationship for 10 years, so it took a while for the couple to get to where they are today.
Austin Hurd and Jessica Studer (Season 10)
Despite the tumultuous nature of the other MAFS Season 10 couples, Austin Herd and Jessica Studder always seemed to do well together. Even when there were minor issues between the pair, they resolved their issues before they became a big deal. The only real problem between Austin and Jessica was Austin’s work schedule, but they overcame that obstacle. Happily, Jessica and Austin welcomed a son, Westin, in 2021.
Woody Randall and Amani Aliyya (Season 11)
During Season 11 of MAFS, we were shocked to see two couples join Woody and Amani when they met at the altar. Woody, known as a playboy among his friends, quickly sheds his bachelor persona when he first meets Amani. Although the couple faced the challenges of marrying a stranger and living with them during a pandemic, the passion between the newlyweds only grew during their extended time together.
Miles Williams and Karen Landry (Season 11)
Karen Landry and Miles Williams were an unexpected match on MAFS, as it was believed they wouldn’t make it past Decision Day. The two lacked intimacy, particularly from Karen, but Miles later admitted that he almost said “no” at the time. However, he ultimately changed his mind. While many were convinced Karen and Miles parted ways after staying relatively silent throughout 2021, this couple is still married. In February 2022, Karen also posted a clip of the two discussing dependency in marriage on Black Love, a documentary series hosted on OWN.
Briana Myles and Vincent Morales (Season 12)
Briana and Vincent Morales said ‘I do’ on Season 12 of MAFS. The Atlanta couple hasn’t looked back since then, and have gone on to celebrate their one year anniversary. Brianna and Vincent have a few fights over Vincent’s strong bond with Brianna’s puppy Cookie. The two learned how to share the dog’s attention and Brianna was able to make Cookie two favorites in the house instead of one.
