Can two ambitious, high-achieving individuals find love when they both refuse to settle? That was the big question when Married at First Sight introduced Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly—two self-described “high-value” singles with sky-high expectations.
Jacqui, a former Miss New Zealand and a career-driven consultant came into the experiment looking for a masculine, take-charge husband who could match her success. Meanwhile, Ryan, a strong-willed project manager with a “warrior mindset,” was determined to find a woman who met his EPIC criteria—Energy, Physicality, Intellect, and Confidence.
From the moment they met at the altar, it was clear sparks were flying—but were they the right kind? Here’s how their journey unfolded.

Who are Jacqui and Ryan?
At 29, Jacqui has built an impressive career in law and finance, but her success hasn’t translated into love. She describes herself as a confident woman who often intimidates men, and she’s tired of dating guys who can’t handle her ambition. She wants a husband who will take the lead, make her feel protected, and ideally have blonde hair to match the children she envisions.
Ryan, 36, sees himself as a modern warrior. Once bullied in school, he transformed himself through fitness and discipline, developing a strong physique and an even stronger sense of self. Despite his impressive resume, his relationships rarely last beyond three months. He’s looking for a woman who can match his energy and intellect—while still embracing her feminine side.
The experts saw potential in their shared ambition, but they also predicted a rollercoaster ride. And they weren’t wrong.
Inside their wedding day
From the get-go, Jacqui had some concerns. When she saw Ryan at the altar, her first thought was that he wasn’t blonde and hadn’t even shaved for his wedding day—a detail that irked her. Meanwhile, Ryan was immediately smitten, convinced he had hit the jackpot.
The couple exchanged heartfelt vows, but cracks began to show almost immediately. Jacqui expected Ryan to take charge, but when he failed to offer his jacket as she shivered through their wedding photoshoot, her disappointment was evident. Ryan, oblivious to the issue, believed everything was going great.
Then came the reception—where things took a dramatic turn. Just as Jacqui started warming up to Ryan, thanks to his heartfelt speech and shared life experiences, disaster struck. During their first dance, Ryan attempted to dip Jacqui but miscalculated, stepped on her dress, and dropped her to the ground in front of all their guests. Mortified, Ryan begged for the moment to be cut from the episode, fearing he’d be remembered as “that guy.”

Are Jacqui and Ryan still together?
Despite the rocky start, Jacqui and Ryan had moments of genuine connection. Their shared drive, ambition, and resilience hinted at potential—but chemistry alone wasn’t enough. While Ryan remained optimistic about their future, Jacqui couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t truly compatible.
With Jacqui’s high standards and Ryan’s struggle to meet them, their relationship was put to the test during the experiment. So, will they manage to push through the challenges, or was the wedding day fall a sign of things to come? Only time will tell…but Confessions Week already highlighted the couple’s lack of compatibility.
Jacqui and Ryan’s move-in week was anything but smooth sailing, with tensions bubbling over almost immediately. The drama kicked off during the Photo Ranking Challenge, where Ryan—determined to be “100% honest” (his words, repeatedly)—ranked Jacqui third, admitting she’d actually be fourth if another contestant wasn’t so tall. As he nervously laughed his way through justifications like “Sierah has a more attractive face” and “Corinna has that European look I’m into,” Jacqui’s frustration grew. “Ultimately, everyone knows you should put your wife first,” she vented to producers, through tears, later adding, “I deserve someone who makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, and that’s not Ryan.”
Still fuming, Jacqui entered the new Ex-Files Task with one goal: revenge. When asked to describe her ex, she gleefully painted a picture of a “6’4”, blonde, blue-eyed, god-like” man, clearly enjoying the reaction from Ryan. His response? Visible discomfort, followed by an exasperated, “Maybe you should fly over there and catch up with him.” The tension was thick, and by the end of the exercise, it was clear these two were on a fast track to disaster. “She has some growing to do regarding my feelings,” Ryan mused, but Jacqui had no regrets. “Today, I wanted to piss Ryan off a little bit,” she admitted with a smirk. “I wanted to get under his skin.”
In the episodes since, it hasn’t really gotten better for these two – and now, Jacqui has taken to Instagram to share her thoughts on the experience.

“I agree – my character makes no sense,” she wrote on her jewellery company’s Instagram stories. “That’s not my fault – blame the editors!”
The lengthy stories also saw Jacqui confirm she was now “currently in a relationship with a person who was exactly what I asked for – someone kind, considerate, a great man, and intelligent.”
“Sometimes miracles happen because today I am in fact in a happy and loving long-term relationship,” she continued, before clarifying she wasn’t “here to throw dirt on Ryan.”
Jacqui also took time to speak on those “crazy eye” remarks from Jake during a heated Commitment Ceremony, telling fans: “Jake was almost in tears and genuinely full of remorse. I felt really bad for him and felt like there was more to the story that we didn’t hear.”
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