Alissa and David's final vows
Alissa and David have been on a wild ride this season.
Their Married at First Sight journey started out so wholesome; they were one of the few couples who we had strong hopes from the beginning.
Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here.
David was one of the only husbands who defended his wife at chaotic dinner parties, and Alissa seemed smitten whenever she spoke about him.
But things started going downhill for them (and our hearts) as we neared the end of the experiment.
Fights, miscommunication, and a very well-documented wedding ring removal saga all plagued what formerly seemed like a perfect relationship.
David tried to save things when he confessed his love for Alissa, but she just couldn't say it back.
So, going into their Final Vows, we had no idea what way it would go.
After watching Tuesday's episode, though, all we can say is THIS is definitely not what we expected.
Keep scrolling to see Alissa and David's Final Vows in pictures.
Heading into final vows, the only word we have to describe David's vibe is exhausted.
"There's been so much pain that I've experienced in the last two weeks," he said, reflecting on his time in the experiment.
"Despite everything that's happened, I believed in our relationship, and I wanted to fight for it."
David was looking ready to cement his future, stepping out of the car in a crisp white tux.
"I came into this experiment to find love, and I found love," he said.
"I love Alissa. My feelings haven't changed for Alissa. Coming into this decision, it's just finding that balance between my head and my heart."
After their tumultuous evening at the final Dinner Party, Alissa said she woke up feeling "much more relaxed" in the final moments of the experiment.
"I came here for love, and I was falling in love with this person, and my feelings have changed because of the events that have unfolded this week," she said.
Ahead of her Final Vows, Alissa just couldn't get over the moment that David took off his wedding ring, saying that maybe if he hadn't done it she "would be in love right now".
"He's wanting this to work, but I am feeling the pressure of that," she said, clearly nervous to potentially hurt his feelings with her decision at final vows.
"David has made his intentions clear that he wants to make this work and that he does love me and he doesn't want to lose me," Alissa said.
She walked into the ceremony, vows in hand, in an embellished white strapless gown.
"I feel like he will be committed to the cause, and he will want to see this through into the real world. But today's gonna be tough for David."
As she prepared herself to let her husband down gently, Alissa explained that the issue with their relationship was that David was a "yes man".
"He told me he loved me," she said.
"The ball is in my court today. And it breaks my heart knowing that I'm going to be breaking his heart at the end of this."
Tensions were high as the couple came face-to-face, palm cards in hand.
David smiled as he gazed at Alissa, but behind her eyes, you could see the guilt about what she was about to do.
Thankfully, David got to go first.
David's Final Vows:
"Alissa, here we are. From the very beginning, our wedding day was something I'll never forget. The chemistry was instant, the banter, the laughs, the spark; it all felt effortless," David began.
He remembered their shocking first meeting, when Alissa refused to marry him at first.
"And of course, how could I forget the moment when you looked me dead in the eye and said, 'I don't think I can marry you until you get down on one knee'," he continued.
"What I saw wasn't just a bold woman making a big entrance, but someone who clearly wanted commitment, love, and something serious, the exact same things I came here for.
"You were strong, fiery, unapologetically yourself, and that energy instantly put my mind at ease.
David's Final Vows:
"We never backed away from the challenges, and our connection deepened, getting intimate and building trust, and week by week, it felt like we were just getting stronger and stronger," David read.
"You reminded me what it felt like to care again. You broke down walls I didn't even realise that I built. You made me laugh, challenged me, and you opened up my heart to love you.
"From the very beginning, you told me that the moment a man tries to control you, you run. So I listened.
"I did everything you said you wanted. I gave you space. I let you lead when you needed to, and I never tried to change you."
David's Final Vows:
Alissa smiled as David read his vows, reminiscing on their best moments.
But it's what he said next that she never saw coming ...
David's Final Vows:
"But it was the final Commitment Ceremony where everything changed," David said, changing the tone.
"I finally spoke up. I told you how, at times, I'd held back in this relationship, not because I didn't care, but because I was scared that being honest would push you further away.
"You accused me of blindsiding you, and in that moment, I realised something important. I was being hurt.
"You couldn't see that I wasn't attacking you. I was finally standing up for myself. It wasn't about proving a point. It was about finding my voice."
David's Final Vows:
Alissa listened as David finally spoke his truth, uninterrupted.
"Despite your frustrations, I still wanted to fight for us. I vowed to let my walls down, be vulnerable, and express how I truly felt," he shared.
"I told you that I loved you, something I'd wanted to say for a very long time.
"And although you couldn't say it back, I left feeling confident that there was still hope for us.
"Watching you back on the Final Test with our alternate matches, you flirted, made inappropriate jokes and spoke poorly about me behind my back. I felt betrayed and disrespected by what I saw."
