A couple who were set up by Married At First Sight experts, but never made it down the aisle, have tied the knot four years after their initial wedding was called off.
Paul, 36, and Ally Todd, 39, were due to appear on series five of the Channel 4 show and their wedding date was set for 22 March 2020. But their big day was cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The pair had undergone a five-month-long process, including psychoanalytical tests and six weeks of filming – plus stag and hen nights and picking out dresses and suits – before the whole thing was cancelled. And they were left devastated at the prospect of never meeting their perfect match.
Paul and Ally Todd met after their both applied to be on Married At First Sight
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
Speaking exclusively to OK!, Ally tells us, “We were all fearful about Covid at the time and, on top of that, anxious about marrying a stranger – this chosen person for you; your perfect match. Then all of a sudden, it’s not happening. It was emotional.”
Neither of them could bear the thought of not meeting their soulmate. Eventually, Channel 4 agreed the eager couple could meet via Skype, and one 90-minute video call sealed the deal for both of them.
Gushing about seeing her match for the first time, Ally says, “He was exactly what I asked for looks-wise, so I really fancied him. I’d never believed in love at first sight, because I think you need to get to know a person to fall in love, but we did fall in love pretty quickly after that.”
Eliminating the element of surprise, as they were no longer strangers – which is fundamental to the hit show – Ally and Paul were axed from the series, much to Ally’s relief.
After Covid meant that their TV wedding was called off, the pair met via a 90-minute video call
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
“When Channel 4 said they weren’t going to put us on the programme any more, I was actually thrilled because I was never doing it to be on telly,” she confesses. “I was really worried about online trolling too, so I actually jumped for joy when I heard.”
After weeks of speaking on the phone for hours every day, Worthing-based Ally boldly packed her bags and moved in with Paul 150 miles away in Weston-super-Mare. “I packed enough for two weeks thinking, ‘We’ll just see how it goes.’ But I never moved back home,” Ally laughs.
Then seven months later, in October 2020, much to the couple’s delight, they found out they were expecting a baby. “It was a happy blessing.”
When Ally was seven months pregnant, Paul decided to make things official and got down on one knee on a visit to the beach. “I was so consumed by all things relating to pregnancy that I was surprised when he popped the question,” says Ally. “When he got down on one knee I think I asked if he was joking, and started crying happy tears.”
They welcomed their daughter, Penelope, in July 2021, making them the first MAFS UK couple to have a baby together.
MAFS expert Genevieve Gresset attended the pair’s big day
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
The pair eventually tied the knot this summer on 8 June at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, before partying into the night at a nearby seaside hotel with around 60 guests – including some familiar famous faces.
Ally and Paul couldn’t imagine themselves marrying without two of the Married At First Sight matchmakers who they will be forever indebted to – Geneviève Gresset and Celebs Go Dating star Paul Carrick Brunson, who attended with his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Liam and Kingston.
“The experts are a huge support in our life and that’s why we invited them all to the wedding. Without them, we wouldn’t have our daughter, or our love,” explains Ally.
It was an emotional day for the couple – Paul in particular. “Paul won’t admit this, but he had tears in his eyes during our vows. He is not one of those teary kind of guys, so that was beautiful,” says Ally, who wore a stunning tulle dress from Asos to tie the knot.
“I was going to wear my original Married At First Sight dress, but because I had a baby, even though I’ve lost a lot of weight recently, it was still too tight. So I just got a cheap one off Asos. My new husband keeps telling me, ‘Darling, you looked lovely.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I looked alright.’”
“We feel more connected,” says Ally, speaking about married life
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
Ever since their wedding, the couple say there’s been a shift in their relationship. “We feel more connected. There hasn’t been a huge change to our everyday lives but we do feel more of a union. More committed and more loved,” Ally tells us.
Looking back on their special day, Ally adds it was a relief to have been able to wed away from the interference of TV producers.
“I didn’t really get on very well with our producer. Unfortunately, I think he kept trying to put words into my mouth. He wanted me to be some sort of Bridget Jones – hopeless in love, never going to find someone.
“We are friends with a couple who did get married on the show, and they were saying that the producers were telling them when they could speak to each other on their wedding day. Whereas, obviously, we didn’t have any of the, ‘Can you say this to the camera right now?’ which was really nice.”
It was after years of being unlucky in love, that both Ally and Paul bravely decided to apply for the dating show.
“I’d been online dating for about three or four years, and I had such burnout from it,” says Ally. “I just couldn’t stand it any more.
Paul Carrick Brunson was also in attendance
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
“I was watching Gogglebox one night with my dad and they showed a bit of MAFS. I immediately thought, ‘I can’t find the right person, so I’ll let some experts find them for me.’
“It’s so strange but I just had this knowing feeling it was going to work out for me.
“A lot of people doubted me and said I was making a big mistake, but I just so strongly knew that it was going to work. Obviously, I was right, which is very lucky, because I know that’s not always the case.”
Meanwhile, Paul applied for the show after coming out of a “toxic” long-term relationship. All the stars aligned when he saw an advert for casting on Facebook.
“I kept getting through at each stage of the application process and I was in disbelief every time. When I ended up getting a match, I was completely in shock. I never expected it to get that far. “
His best pal thought he was crazy, signing up to marry a stranger, and dubbed the affair “the Dr Pepper wedding”. “As in, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’” he laughs.
Paul and Ally said ‘I do’ in a stunning ceremony at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion
(Image: Harper & Wolf)
“It was going to work or it wasn’t. And, luckily, it’s definitely worked out for the best.”
The couple’s honeymoon has been put on hold until later in the year, as Penelope is their priority. Being parents meant they were forced to quickly face reality after an epic wedding party – despite a few sore heads.
“We woke up on Sunday, both pretty hungover. We had to pack up, then go and pick Penelope up, tidy up at the venue and get home. It was very much like, ‘Right, we’re married, now let’s go home,’” Paul explains.
The lovebirds, who admit it would have been “nice to have gone straight on honeymoon” are planning a honeymoon week in Marrakech in September.
And Ally says, “We’re most looking forward to relaxing and exploring the Atlas Mountains – some alone time as a couple without parental responsibilities, that’s the real bliss!”
Keep up to date with Ally and Paul’s journey on Instagram @unseen_couple
Shop the look: You can buy Ally’s exact wedding dress for £145 here from ASOS. For other high-street wedding dresses for brides on a budget, see our round-up of the best styles for 2024 here.
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