In a random turn of events, the Married At First Sight experts paired 34-year-old Rhi Disljenkovic with former flame Jeff Gobbels.
While the match was made without awareness of their former relationship, it’s clear when the couple met again at the altar that they were open to rekindling their past relationship.
Much to the delight of fans across the country, the embers of love soon emerged between the two, and they ultimately decided to stay together after Final Vows.
Scroll on to read about every high and low the couple shared together in their marriage on MAFS.
A new relationship milestone
Jeff and Rhi have gone from strength to strength since they left the MAFS experiment, and have revealed some exciting relationship news.
While they lived together before they were matched, and then were under the same roof during filming, they have now officially moved in together as a couple.
“I know we did live together in the experiment, but [moving in outside] really just cemented our strong relationship,” Rhi told 9 Entertainment, and Jeff added that it was a “big step”.
“It was just really cool being able to pick out the stuff you want for your own apartment and really build a home together,” he said. “We moved into a new place that neither of us had lived in before, so it was starting fresh. I think we probably undervalue how important that moment was, how big that moment was for our relationship.”
As they have ticked this milestone off their relationship bucket list, they are yet to do one thing – have their first argument. They have also enjoyed travelling together as a couple.
Meant to be
It likely comes as no surprise that Jeff and Rhi opted to stay together after final vows.
“I haven’t been this happy for a long time,” a besotted Jeff admitted in an on-camera confessional before putting his heart on the line to Rhi.
“I can say with my whole heart that I’m thankful we gave ourselves to this experiment. This has hands down been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, but with high risk comes high reward…and the reward for it all is you, Rhi.
“I can confidently say, Rhi, I am falling in love with you. Rhi, you’re it for me. I choose you and I hope this is forever,” he said to his visibly emotional ‘wife’.
For Rhi, her feelings were equally strong, with the brunette beauty telling producers before she read her own Final Vows to Jeff that she felt like their second chance together was “meant to be.”
“I can confidently say you are worth every day, every week, every month it takes to discover our happily ever after,” she shared with him, a smile on her face.
“You tick every single box. You are consistent, generous, and kind. Life with you is just lighter, and I’m so lucky to be able to hang out with my best friend every day.
“Jeff, I have never been in love before, but there’s something different here. Right now, I can say I’m falling in love with you,” she concluded.
A month later at the reunion, the pair were stronger than ever, with Jeff confirming that they’d only spent “one or two days apart since leaving the experiment.”
“All the things we loved doing in the experiment translated beautifully into the real world,” she shared.
Rhi chimed in, revealing, “Jeff just makes me calm all the time. That’s why it has been so easy outside the experiment and in as well.”
In front of the experts, the besotted couple then said those three little words to each other for the first time, much to the delight of their fellow brides and grooms.
A new chapter
In their first Commitment Ceremony as a couple, the pair was quick to admit to the experts that they were still taking things slow in their marriage and were hopeful that the sparks of love would form with time.
After their past romance fizzled out, they were committed to avoiding a repeat of history.
Their physical attraction to each other finally reached fever pitch during intimacy week ,where they shared a steamy kiss and both chose to stay in the experiment for another week.
Despite the drama of week three with Jacqui messaging Jeff behind Rhi’s back, the couple was stronger than ever at the third Commitment Ceremony of the season.
“I feel really heard and I feel really grateful that we are in such a great place,” Rhi shared with the experts, also admitting that she and Jeff had finally been intimate.
“I think we’re in a really great spot at the moment,” Jeff added, the pair both writing ‘stay’ once more, a decision they repeated a week later at Commitment Ceremony number four.
They reaffirmed their commitment to one another the following week when Rhi admitted that she could “see herself falling in love” and Jeff admitted that his feelings were “getting a lot deeper.”
“I’m optimistic about it,” he added.
Following Feedback Week, it was clear that the couple were the strongest of the season, with Rhi admitting to the experts that she thought Jeff could be her “forever person” and Jeff revealing that he could see a future with his bride.
“Our relationship is becoming very special for me, I’m keen to see what the future holds,” he said before the pair both wrote stay once more.
During Homestays, their connection grew even stronger, with both confirming to the experts that they were both on the same page about life outside the expert and were well on their way to falling in love.
With Jeff also gifting Rhi a key to his apartment, it came as no surprise to anyone that this golden couple both wrote stay.
An awkward reunion at the altar
Speaking with producers shortly after their wedding, the duo revealed that they had previously but parted ways amicably as they were both fresh out of relationships at the time and not ready for something serious.
“It’s just pure shock. Bizarre. The last thing I expected today,” Jeff shared with producers on the day.
Despite an initial awkward interaction where Rhi admitted she knew her new husband “well” and the bridal parties swapped stories about how the pair used to “work out” together, the bride and groom chose to see the funny side of the situation.
“It’s just pure shock,” said Rhi, revealing the pair had connected through mutual friends at the gym and had even previously run a marathon together before breaking up in 2023.
Both are open in their desire to find a long-lasting loving relationship, would love to have a family, and are critical of modern dating, and their dedication on MAFS paid off.
“I’m sick of being single and tired of the modern dating scene,” Rhi said ahead of her big day.
“I want to be a mum. I’m just at that point in my life where I see my friends and my family having children,n and I see that for my future.”
“I’m putting my faith in the experts because clearly I’ve had no luck finding love by myself. I don’t think I’ve ever truly been in love.”
Describing her future husband as someone who is “caring, genuine” and lives a healthy and active lifestyle, the account manager from Victoria was describing Jeff without realising it!
The 39-year-old electrician (also from Victoria) ticks all these boxes, and is also looking for a relationship that “feels natural.”
“I hope she’s caring and has a good personality,” he shared with the experts before re-meeting his wife on their wedding day.
While at the end of their wedding day, the newlyweds said they felt like their relationship was purely platonic, they were both open to seeing if the experiment would be able to help them form a deeper romantic connection over time.
And luckily for them, that happened!
Start your journey to find love for FREE today, with eHarmony.
