Honeymooners CARINA and PAUL are in Vanuatu, savouring a second chance at love after the surprising discovery on their wedding day that they had met once before.
Back in Sydney, one of the experiment’s most demanding grooms, ELIOT, is waking up with a shock change of heart about his new bride, LAUREN, fearing she’s not matching up with his extensive list of non-negotiables.
With a question mark looming over ELIOT’S commitment, two more couples have been matched, KATIE and TIM, and JAMIE and DAVE. Firstly, we meet KATIE, a highly successful CEO seeking a soulmate. After ten years of being single, this brave bride is finally putting her heart on the line. The Experts have paired her with TIM, a primary school teacher who’s desperate for kids of his own and is looking for someone who just wants a nice guy with a big heart.
Next to enter the experiment is DAVE, but don’t judge a book by its cover. At a whopping 6ft 6” and covered in tattoos DAVE’s often misjudged as a bad boy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – he’s a big friendly giant. DAVE’s as shy and reserved as he is tall and he’s looking for a confident woman with a big personality that can bring him out of his shell. The Experts have found just that. JAMIE is an outgoing Greek pocket rocket who is looking for a guy that looks like a bad boy but is soft on the inside, “someone to have the babies with”.
Over to KATIE and she is taking the first exciting step… wedding dress shopping with her bridesmaids. Overcome with emotion, a vulnerable KATIE breaks down in tears, scared by the prospect of marrying a stranger at first sight.
As TIM stands at the altar, KATIE’s parents comment that TIM seems kind and genuine and when KATIE arrives to meet TIM and sees him for the first time, she wholeheartedly agrees – she’s happy.
TIM and KATIE’s vows almost perfectly mirror each other. They seem to align on almost everything they want in a partner but minutes later as TIM wipes their first kiss as husband and wife away, it’s clear he’s not into his bride.
Meanwhile, boisterous bride JAMIE is getting ready for her wedding with her sister Georgia. For groom DAVE, today is bittersweet as he prepares for the biggest day of his life without his father by his side, who’s battling cancer.
DAVE’s wish to be paired with an outgoing girl with a big personality is about to come true. JAMIE can barely contain her excitement as she walks down the aisle and spots DAVE’S neck tattoos. “Is that a neck tatt?” she screams, before DAVE has a chance to turn around. It’s fun banter and fireworks at first sight, with the pair clearly approving of each other.
The all-important wedding photoshoots get underway and it’s the first chance for the couples to learn more about each other. A talkative JAMIE outdoes herself, asking DAVE 37 questions. Meanwhile, new bride KATIE is unaware that her husband TIM has been having doubts about their match because he didn’t feel an initial spark. TIM is disappointed and deflated that he didn’t get matched with a short, blonde, petite woman. When KATIE tries to hug away the awkward, TIM recoils.
After an awkward photoshoot KATIE is hoping TIM will be more open and relaxed at the reception, and they’ll to get to know each other better, however TIM spends most of the reception avoiding her and when it comes time to cut the cake things take a turn for the worse, leaving KATIE humiliated in front of her friends and family and questioning whether TIM actually likes her.
At JAMIE and DAVE’S reception the couple seem very happy with their match, connecting on wanting kids and not driving hatchbacks. The bride and grooms’ mothers can’t believe the instant connection between the newlyweds and are excited about the future for JAMIE and DAVE.
There are tears over at the other wedding as DAVE makes a heartfelt speech about his dad and JAMIE is impressed by DAVE’s vulnerability. DAVE is happy about how JAMIE supported him.
As JAMIE and DAVE finish the night on a high full of hope, KATIE has pulled her husband TIM aside, concerned his awkward behaviour is a sign he doesn’t find her attractive. Despite KATIE laying it all out for TIM, and directly asking him how he feels, TIM is not honest with her. KATIE walks away from the conversation buoyed by the fact that her husband does not “find her hideous” and that his awkward behaviour was all in her head.
Later that night, TIM finally tells KATIE, he has not been feeling a spark all day and KATIE is left devastated and humiliated, wondering whether she should go on the honeymoon.
