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.
Jimmy Nicholson and Holly Kingston
The Bachelor, Season Nine, 2021
When pilot Jimmy Nicholson walked on the scene for The Bachelor in 2021, we probably didn’t realise that he’d be tying the knot in just a few years.
On the program Nicholson met Holly Kingston, who was 27 at the time and a marketing manager, and the two fell madly in love.
Their love story only got more perfect when Nicholson proposed to Kingston while holidaying in Sorrento, Italy in 2022. Naturally, Holly said yes, and the post was captioned ‘FOREVER’.
The pair tied the knot in August 2023, at Jimmy’s parents’ home in Sydney’s Palm Beach, followed by a reception at nearby Northern Beaches restaurant Pasadena in Church Point. Nicholson cut a fine figure in a while suit jacket and black pants, while Kingston wore a white low-backed dress with thigh-high slit and square neckline, and her hair in an updo. She changed into a white mini dress for the reception. A big congrats to the happy couple!
Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight
Married At First Sight, Season Eight, 2021
It’s not often that couples from recent seasons of the matchmaking show last long term, but one couple that really went the distance was Johnny and Kerry. Sailing through the experiment with barely any hurdles or hiccups, it’s clear that this pair is a match made in heaven—and they think the same. On July 11, 2022, Johnny and Kerry both shared that they are now engaged, with Johnny getting down on one knee in a romantic proposal in Sydney harbour. “Forever,” he wrote, along with a video of the sweet proposal, sending all of our hearts into a tizzy. The pair finally tied the knot in 2023.
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 have four children, all daughters, Eve, Willow and Charlie, most recently welcoming Harper Jones Wood in December.
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 welcomed their first child in June 2019, a daughter named Marlie-Mae Rose Johnson. And by February 2021, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lola Ellis Johnson.
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 reality TV shows first couple to walk down the aisle. In November 2020, the couple also welcomed the birth of their first child together, a daughter named Elle.
Robards shared the news via a post to his Instagram, along with the caption: “I’ve fallen in love twice all over again with these two!!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE our little Elle Robards. How bloody amazing!!!! I never knew my wife was a superhero… What a woman!!”
Lee Elliot & Georgia Love
The Bachelorette, Season Two, 2016
Georgia Love fell head over heels for Lee Elliot 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 were planning a major wedding—which was cancelled twice due to COVID-19. They officially tied the knot on March 5, 2021.
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 the couple getting married 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 Michael Brunelli and Martha Kalifatidis. From loved up Instagram posts to YouTube videos, there was no doubt that the genetically blessed couple would become one of reality televisions most enduring pairs—so they sealed the deal. On December 5, 2021, Martha took to Instagram to announce that she and Michael were officially engaged. In 2023, they welcomed their first child, Lucius Brunelli.
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 final season. Conor entered the island as a “cleanskin”, having not previously appeared on a 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. On March 27, 2021, the pair revealed that they’d welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Summer Elizabeth Canning. And in July 2023, they announced that they’re expecting again.
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, 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.
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