Rachel and Steven's Final Vows
Despite their struggles, Rachel and Steven's relationship blossomed into one of laughter and light.
Intimacy Week was the hardest challenge in the experiment for the pair, when Steven's brutal rejection saw Rachel's heartbreaking nightmare come to life.
Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here.
But over time, Steven let his walls down and the two developed a deep emotional connection.
Their biggest challenge now? The 900 kilometres keeping them apart...
Ahead of their big decision, Rachel and Steven went their separate ways, back to separate states.
The bride from Victoria broke down in tears as she hugged Steven goodbye.
"Long distance is one of our biggest challenges," said the groom from NSW.
"I'm going to have some serious thinking to do."
"I feel really united with Steven," Rachel reflected ahead of Final Vows. "We have grown so much and we have both been vulnerable."
Rachel admitted she's never had a deeply connected relationship before. While she's found one with Steven, one thing concerns her most.
"Steven can't leave Sydney because of his business… Moving out of the bubble and into the real world scares me."
She feared their relationship would become a "burden" on him, that when he goes back to his normal life he will see "it's actually easier without me and his decision could be 'no thank you'.
"I will be heartbroken," Rachel admitted.
"Being away from Rachel I realise that I do have deep feelings for her," Steven admitted.
"But at the same time my biggest fear is that I will not meet Rachel's expectations in the relationship in the real world."
He's worried that Rachel will regret moving to Sydney for him.
"I'm nervous," said the groom on the morning of Final Vows. "We've had a few hiccups in the experiment and I haven't been the greatest husband either.
"There is that thought in the back of my head that long distance, potential career changes, I've got these concerns polluting my head."
Rachel stepped out in a breathtaking sleeveless white gown. She felt she found something "rare" in Steven as a partner.
The pair met on the stunning grounds of Centennial Park, Sydney for their Final Vows.
Rachel's Final Vows:
"Oh my god, wow," grinned Steven as he laid eyes on his bride. "Look at you, you look beautiful, you look nervous."
The pair got straight into it, with Rachel going first with her final vows.
"Dear Steven, showing up to this experiment, I had experienced hurt in the dating world. Never been the chosen one, and always left wondering why I wasn't enough...
Rachel's Final Vows:
"I came in knowing I'm not always easy. I'm strong, independent and sometimes emotional, which meant I also had some learning to do but I was willing to do the work.
"I showed up with an open heart and a deep hope that I might find real love and have my very own rom-com ending with a new leading man.
"Our journey hasn't been smooth sailing. During our honeymoon, I questioned your humour, some jokes made me feel bad about myself. I started questioning my self-worth, ultimately, I started to question our marriage.
Rachel's Final Vows:
"Affection was a big struggle, Intimacy Week was one of the hardest moments in the experiment for us. I bravely opened my heart in such a vulnerable way, I felt exposed and rejected when you pulled away and didn't kiss me.
"Then at Retreat, when I was excited about our progress, everything came crashing down and because of that I became emotionally raw and unravelling in front of you.
"But despite that, you stuck around, you supported me. You didn't try to fix it, you didn't walk away. You simply stayed with me. In that moment, my feelings for you deepened.
