We’re addicted to reality television for an array of reasons: the high-octane drama, the explosive storylines and the personalities that can’t quite be tamed. But without a doubt, it’s the romance that has us tuning in every week without fail.
Matchmaking shows such as The Bachelor, Married At First Sight and Love Island has been the source of our guilty pleasures for years and have spawned some of the greatest romances in the history of reality television (ahem, Anna and Tim)
Nonetheless, given the abysmal success rate of modern-day reality romance programs, the prospect of finding long-lasting love on television can seem quite disheartening for most. But it isn’t all fauxmance and failure—and these couples are living proof. Below, all the couples who captured our hearts on national television and, better yet, are still going strong.
Sam Wood & Snezana Markoski: The Bachelor, Season Three, 2015
When personal trainer Sam Wood chose Snezana Markoski on the finale of The Bachelor, it was only the beginning of a heartfelt love story. Fast forward four years later and their relationship has only continued to blossom. Markoski and Wood tied the knot at the end of 2018. And the pair are currently parents of three. There’s Eve who was from Snezana’s previous relationship and they also welcomed Willow Wendy Wood in October 2017 and Charlie Lane Wood in July 2019.
Matthew Johnson & Laura Byrne: The Bachelor, Season Five, 2017
We all fell in love with Matty J on the second season of The Bachelorette but unfortunately for him, Georgia Love didn’t fall quite so hard. Matty had his second shot at love when he met his leading lady Laura Byrne on the fifth season of The Bachelor. The couple is now awaiting the arrival of their first child and has recently announced their engagement. In June 2019, the pair welcomed their daughter into the world—Marlie-Mae Rose Johnson—and most recently announced they were expecting their second child.
Tim Robards & Anna Heinrich: The Bachelor, Season One, 2013
Tim and Anna’s love story began on the Australian debut season of The Bachelor in 2013 and they certainly set the bar high! After four years of being together, the couple announced their engagement in May 2017 and married in a swoon-worthy ceremony in Italy. Robards and Heinrich are the reality TV show’s first couple to walk down the aisle. In November 2020, the couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Elle.
Lee Elliott & Georgia Love: The Bachelorette, Season Two, 2016
Georgia Love fell head over heels for Lee Elliott on the second season of the Australian Bachelorette and hasn’t looked back ever since. It’s been roughly four years since the journalist and tradesman went public with their relationship and the pair has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2019, the couple announced they were engaged and are currently planning a major wedding—which, since the COVID-19 pandemic—has been cancelled twice.
Erin Bateman & Bryce Mohr: Married At First Sight, Season Two, 2016
There aren’t many couples that are still together after seven seasons of MAFS, but Erin and Bryce seem to be going strong.
Remaining rather low-key during and post-show, the couple have reportedly moved house together. After all, no news is good news, right?
Rachael Finch & Michael Miziner: Dancing With The Stars, Season 10, 2010
We wouldn’t blame you for forgetting former Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch competed on Dancing With The Stars in 2010. However, in a rather adorable turn of events, Finch met and fell in love with her professional dancing partner, Michael Miziner, on the show. The couple married in 2013, and have two children, Violet and Dominic.
Cam Merchant & Jules Robinson: Married At First Sight, Season 6, 2019
Cam Merchant and Jules Robinson were one of the rare success stories to come out of Married At First Sight. Sure, the season they appeared on was rife with wife-swapping and deception but Cam and Jules found a way to escape the dreaded MAFS curse. The couple was keen to take their reality romance to the realms of the real world with Cam dropping to one knee and getting wed on May 18, 2020 (for real this time) and have even welcomed their first child, a son named Oliver.
Michael Brunelli & Martha Kalifatidis: Married At First Sight, Season 6, 2019
Despite the onslaught of breakup rumours questioning their relationship status, it’s still smooth sailing for Married At First Sight’s Michael Brunelli and Martha Kalifatidis. From loved-up Instagram posts to YouTube videos, the genetically blessed couple will likely be one of reality television’s most enduring pairs.
Josh Moss & Amelia Marni: Love Island, season 1, 2018
Since their season of Love Island hit the screens, the couple has gone from strength to strength. The pair even made their relationship official after the show, with Moss setting up a lavish surprise to ask Marni to be his girlfriend. About three years later, and the couple look to be stronger than ever as they spend quarantine together.
Mary Viturino & Conor Canning: Bachelor In Paradise, Season 3, 2020
Conor and Mary were one of the most unexpected couples to come out of Bachelor In Paradise’s most recent season. Conor entered the island as a “cleanskin”, having not previously appeared on the Bachelor franchise previously, while Mary had previously appeared on Matt Agnew’s season. After proclaiming their love at the finale, the couple revealed Mary and her six-year-old daughter Chanel had moved to Tasmania to live with Conor, and on November 2, 2020 the couple announced they were expecting their first child.
“I’m happy to finally be able to share the news that @conorjcanning and I are having a baby next year. #baby,” the reality star wrote.
Irena Srbinovska & Locky Gilbert: The Bachelor, Season 8, 2020
Following a whirlwind series, which included ‘Love In Lockdown’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Srbinovska and Gilbert announced their love for one another in the Bachelor finale. The pair confirmed they were still together, with the leading man telling Now To Love he was head-over-heels for Irena, saying: “I wake every morning and the love is stronger and stronger, I can see so far into the future [with her].”
Samantha Gash & Mark Wales: Australian Survivor, Season 4, 2017
Samantha Gash and Mark Wales met in 2017 after appearing on Channel 10’s fourth season of Survivor. The couple welcomed their son, Harry, in 2018 and wed in December of 2019. Fellow Survivor co-star Jacqui Patterson officiated the wedding, while Jarrad Seng was the photographer. AK Knight, Aimee Stanton, Jericho Malabonga, and Luke Toki also attended the wedding.
The couple later competed on the Prime Video series World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji as part of Team Aussie Rescue and finished the race in 26th place after 212 hours and 28 minutes.
This story originally appeared on our sister site Marie Claire
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