Inside MAFS expert Mel Schilling’s unconventional wedding day

Inside MAFS expert Mel Schilling’s unconventional wedding day as she reveals the one aspect she borrowed from the show on her love journey with husband Gareth Brisbane

Mel Schilling has offered relationship guidance to newlyweds and seen plenty of faux weddings on Married At First Sight since 2016.

And now the no-nonsense expert has given details on her unconventional nuptials to long-term partner Gareth Brisbane on December 24, 2020.

The 49-year-old told Who magazine she not only ditched a white dress, but also chose to forgo vows at their intimate Melbourne ceremony.

Inside MAFS expert Mel Schilling’s unconventional wedding day: Mel wore a blue dress and didn’t exchange vows with husband Gareth Brisbane in December. Pictured on her wedding day with Gareth and daughter Madison, six.

Mel and Gareth had met online using eharmony’s matchmaking service almost 10 years ago, and share six-year-old daughter Madison.

The TV personality said she was overcome with emotion on the day, and shed teats of happiness.

‘It’s just the meaning of it all. I was a late bloomer in life, like, I didn’t meet my husband [Gareth, 48] until I was nearly 40 and then we had our daughter Madison, 6, when I was nearly 42, so to be finally saying our “I dos” was an emotional time. It was very special,’ she said.

The wedding was capped at six people in total, with the family of three joined by two witnesses and a celebrant.

Intimate: The Melbourne wedding was capped at six people in total, with the family of three joined by two witnesses and a celebrant

Intimate: The Melbourne wedding was capped at six people in total, with the family of three joined by two witnesses and a celebrant

Making it official: One reason their nuptials were a little less than traditional was because Mel and Garth had held a 'commitment ceremony' two years prior, where she wore white and exchanged vows

Making it official: One reason their nuptials were a little less than traditional was because Mel and Garth had held a ‘commitment ceremony’ two years prior, where she wore white and exchanged vows 

One reason their nuptials were a little less than traditional was because Mel and Garth had held a ‘commitment ceremony’ two years prior.

Much like on MAFS’ commitment ceremonies, at Mel and Gareth’s Bali commitment ceremony in 2018 she wore a white frock and the pair exchanged vows. 

‘Our commitment ceremony in Bali felt more like a wedding and our actual wedding felt more like a commitment ceremony, but that’s OK. We decided to make things official because Gareth and I were so keen to finish 2020 off on a positive note.

'Our commitment ceremony in Bali felt more like a wedding and our actual wedding felt more like a commitment ceremony, but that’s OK': Mel said she was overcome with emotion when making things official in December. Pictured at her hen's party in 2018

‘Our commitment ceremony in Bali felt more like a wedding and our actual wedding felt more like a commitment ceremony, but that’s OK’: Mel said she was overcome with emotion when making things official in December. Pictured at her hen’s party in 2018

Mel had been separated from Gareth and her daughter Maddie for three months while filming MAFS in Sydney in 2020, and felt it was time to make things official with her man. 

Due to already sharing vows at their commitment ceremony, the celebrant in December turned some music up loud so the couple could whisper sweet nothings.  

Married At First Sight continues on Sunday from 7pm on Nine

Tune in: Married At First Sight continues on Sunday from 7pm on Nine

Tune in: Married At First Sight continues on Sunday from 7pm on Nine