Married At First Sight stars Rachel Gilmore and Steven Danyluk were one of the first couples of 2026 to say “I do” at the altar.

They have had a rocky journey on the Channel Nine show, with their intimacy struggles becoming a hot topic among the cast.

However, they have now turned over a new leaf, with Steven finally declaring his feelings to Rachel during Homestays on Monday, March 23.

They had a successful Homestays, with Steven taking Rachel out fishing as he began to picture exactly how she would fit into his life after the experiment.

And he didn’t shy away from telling her just that, having a rare moment of vulnerability which reduced Rachel to tears.
Steven has finally declared his feelings for Rachel on MAFS. (Credit: Channel Nine)
“I may not spell it out for you, verbally, but just seeing you yesterday on the boat, having a go, casting a rod, what I see is a wife outside the experiment,” he admitted.

“Speaking about feelings, I like where this relationship is going, and I like you. If it keeps going in the right direction, I can see myself falling in love with you one day.”

“I have caught up in my feelings for you,” he added, reassuring her amid her fears that he didn’t feel the same way about her.

Delighted, Rachel broke down in tears and leapt into his arms for a hug and a kiss as they appeared stronger than ever.

So, will their new loved-up union last? We will have to wait and see.

Read all about their journey on the show so far below.
They have finally put the couple’s retreat behind them. (Credit: Channel Nine)

What happened at the Couple’s Retreat?

Rachel and Steven’s hopes for a drama-free couples retreat came crashing down when Bec made a toast and joked about their “finger-banging”.

Despite apologising and insisting it wasn’t malicious, Rachel did not appreciate it.

The incident did initially bring her and Steven closer, but it turns out that the groom had made comments before the infamous speech.

The truth emerged on the Stan spin-off series, MAFS: After The Dinner Party, where Steven was seen joking with Bec about the most explicit details of his relationship with Rachel.

Steven appeared on the fourth episode of the series and said he wasn’t proud watching it back.
Rachel struggled during the couples retreat. (Credit: Channel Nine)
“Watching that back, I feel mortified. I’m even shaking just seeing that back,” he shared, adding that he felt “disgraced and ashamed”.

For Rachel, the comments about their relationship “all made sense”.

“I thought I was supported, and I thought my partner had my back,” she said, adding that it was difficult to watch back. “You essentially gave a green light to it.”

Despite push-back from co-host Brittany Hockley, Steven said he never permitted Bec to say it.

“No, but it gives someone the impression that we are joking about this and that it’s light-hearted,” co-host Laura Byrne said.

In a follow up interview the following day, Rachel told the Daily Mail she felt “singled out” and “really silly” after the ongoing saga. She told the publication she only opened up to the group about her and Steve’s “increase in intimacy” because of the strange environment they were in.
Rachel was blindsided by Steven’s comments during the unseen footage. (Credit: Stan)
“We’ve got to remember, this is not a normal social situation, right? We are in an experiment that is about relationships and sharing milestones around intimacy and where your relationship is at is really normal in that setting,” she said.

“I wanted to celebrate it. Because we have been a slower burn and I do think there were questions around mine and Steven’s intimacy.”

She then admitted that the incident had a huge impact on her relationship with Steve.

“Retreat in general impacted mine and Steven’s intimacy,’” she said.

 

“It very much put our relationship on ice and put us back because Steven also struggled to understand why it had upset me as well, even though I could clearly articulate why.

“I just feel like I spent retreat trying to explain myself. We all have feelings and people’s feelings get upset at different times by different things and I don’t feel like anyone should have to explain that. It should be respected.”

Rachel said, most of all, she regrets letting it escalate and not talking to Bec directly.

“With Gia and Juliette, when they were speaking to me, I genuinely thought that they were coming to me with empathy and sharing these things with me out of concern,” she said. “Looking back, there might have been a bit of like, if we can get Rachel on side, then that will instantly pull other girls across as well and isolate Bec. And I’m really glad that I was able to snap out of that.”
Steven has made his feelings known about Rachel. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Friends and Family Week

Even though they are getting along, intimacy and attraction have become ongoing topics for Rachel and Steven.

The pair were excited to meet with their loved ones and hear their perspectives about their relationship.

Throughout their catch-up, Rachel had her arm looped in her husband’s, which delighted his family. However, they became concerned about his lack of affection in return.

When asked about affection, Rachel admitted that it was a challenge for the pair.

“You should love that,” Steven’s mother, Anna, told her son.

When Rachel was pulled aside by her friends, his mother and brother Dylan said he needed to open up more.

After Rachel told her friends that she did not want to push him, her husband made a touching declaration in front of their loved ones.

“I do like Rachel,” he shared, adding that she meant a lot to him.
Rachel and Steven turned a corner during Intimacy Week. (Credit: Channel Nine)

What happened at the second Commitment Ceremony?

Even though they had a rough start to Intimacy Week, Rachel and Steven were a united front at the second Commitment Ceremony.

Steven explained that he hurt Rachel’s feelings, and took Alessandra’s advice on board, feeling more comfortable with Rachel.

“It’s a step forward for me, and it’s a massive step forward,” he shared with John, Mel and Alessandra.

Rachel then shared that she moved back into their apartment, where they became closer.

“I like Steven, the crush for me, the feelings grow,” she shared, admiring his efforts.

Both of them then wrote stay.
Rachel was left devastated on MAFS when Steven rejected her advances. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Intimacy week

On Monday, February 16, Rachel was left in floods of tears after Steven rejected her advances during an Intimacy Week challenge.

MAFS fans were left devastated after Rachel broke down crying when Steven admitted there wasn’t yet a romantic “spark” between them.

Rachel had been hoping to build some added intimacy after revealing that she and Steven had barely kissed since their wedding day.

“Since the wedding, I’ve only had two goodnight kisses, like pecks, it’s like how you kiss your mum,” she confessed.

In a bid to advance their relationship, an “excited” Rachel devised a Love Actually-inspired exercise, where she stood blindfolded and held out cards to Steven.

She first asked Steven what her best qualities were, to which he replied that he likes her “caring, selfless nature”.

Rachel’s cards then asked Steven, “Will you kiss me now in this moment? The kind of kiss that makes me feel something.”

However, Steven left Rachel devastated when he denied her request, and replied, “I can kiss you, Rachel, but I’m not too sure if it’s going to make you feel something.”

Sitting her down to explain, Steven told Rachel that he couldn’t give her a passionate kiss because he didn’t yet feel any romantic spark between them.

“We feel like roommates, and I feel like it is friendly,” he shared.

“For me to kiss you and make you feel something, I’d need to feel that romantic connection, and unfortunately, I haven’t felt that romantic connection as of yet.”
Rachel requested a passionate kiss from Steven, but he declined. (Credit: Channel Nine)
Rachel described his “rejection” as a “slap in the face” and argued that she didn’t think he wanted to kiss her at all.

“Do you have any physical attraction to me at all?” she then asked.

However, Steven said it wasn’t as simple as a yes or no answer and once again said that he hadn’t yet built up any romantic spark.

“I think we need some space right now, I’m feeling really rejected over a kiss,” Rachel said after breaking down in tears.

However, they worked through it, with Steve gifting her 12 long-stemmed roses and initiating a kiss.

Rachel then decided to move back in.
Will they make it over the difficulties and stay together? (Credit: Channel Nine)

What happened at the first Commitment Ceremony?

The latest drama was a shocking U-turn from the commitment ceremony, where they appeared happily beside each other on the couch.

Happily reminiscing about their wedding day, they said Revelations Week brought them together, connecting about their body image issues.

When asked how she felt, she said, “I really like Steven.”

“And I think you’re really handsome, and you are amazing the way that you are, and I will tell you every freaking day if I have to,” she said to him.

Steven was quick to say that she is the most selfless person he’s met, and she was special.

“You are so special, and I really hope we can move in the right direction, and I hope we are going to get there,” he continued to share.

They both then said they planned to stay for another week.
Rachel and Steven hope to make their relationship work. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Revelations Week

The couple made progress during Revelations Week, after Rachel watched Steven’s audition tape.

She was shocked when he revealed the extreme lengths he went to try to conform to a certain male physicality.

However, during the final task, while he praised her kindness, Steven did worry that their humour might not align after a misunderstanding during their honeymoon.

During their getaway after the wedding, after hearing Rachel was an AFL supporter, Steven asked if she became less ladylike when she got frustrated at a game.

While she laughed at first, she said she did not appreciate the humour.

Despite both apologising for how they handled things and acknowledging the misunderstanding, Steven was still unsure.
Rachel and Steven were one of the first couples to get married on the show. (Credit: Channel Nine)

What happened at Rachel and Steven’s wedding?

The couple made their reality TV debut on Monday, February 2, when they committed to marrying one another at first sight.

Speaking to the camera, they both revealed they have been single for more than 10 years and struggle with modern dating, aligning in their hopes of finding love on the show.

“I find modern dating very difficult on the apps,” Steven, 34, candidly shared.

“I feel defeated, I don’t want to pretend to be someone else to get my foot in the door, that’s why I’m here, I want to find a partner and love.”

Rachel, 35, also spoke about how she has been left feeling insecure and lacking in confidence after dealing with “situationships” for many years.

“I’ve never been told, by a partner, that I’m beautiful. I’ve never received compliments like that,” she heartbreakingly revealed.

Both looking for deep and lasting love, it appeared to be a match made in heaven for the pair.

However, things hit a rocky patch on their wedding day when Rachel was left upset over Steven not paying her a compliment at the altar.
Fans are rooting for them to work out after their sweet wedding day. (Credit: Channel Nine)
“That has stung a little bit because there’s not that compliment back to your bride,” she confessed.

But she decided to confront the issue head-on at their reception, leading to a heartwarming conversation between the newlyweds.

“I’m really sorry you felt that way,” Steven said.

“You do look gorgeous today, you look fantastic, and I’m really sorry I didn’t say it when it mattered.”

“I know what it’s like being looked at and feeling like ‘am I not good enough?’,” he added.

Appreciative of his honesty, Rachel said, “What I really like right now, in this moment, is that you’re owning it and you’ve apologised.”

Rachel then sounded hopeful about their union as they bonded over their similar humour and “goofiness” at their nuptials.

“I feel like we’re both as goofy as each other, so it’s really nice,” Rachel added.
Is Rachel the woman for Steven? We will have to wait and see. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Are Rachel and Steven still together?

There are no signs about whether Rachel and Steven are still together.

Neither party has confirmed whether they are still together; however, one podcast has claimed that they were hardly seen together after moving into their apartment.

“I saw the couples all one by one, going to Woollies, going to the beach, going to whatever. And did I see these two once? Nah, literally, not at all,” Josh Fox said on the MAFS Funny podcast.

“So I’m just going to call it now and say I’m fairly sure they are one of, if not the first couple to leave.”

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