The only couple still together from this year’s series discuss their long-distance relationship and plans to move in together in the new year
Finding love can be a tricky business. Between navigating dating apps and complicated situationships, locating “the one.” can often feel like an uphill battle.
Some, like Welshman John Shepherd and his bride Abigail Chahwan, opt to hand over the reins to professional matchmakers.
The couple exchanged vows as strangers on this year’s series of Married at First Sight UK (MAFS), emerging as the only pair still together after the experiment.
Throughout the series, their bond grew stronger, and they are now planning their future away from the spotlight. We caught up with the duo to chat about their MAFS journey, relocating across the UK, and starting a family, reports Wales Online.
After their stint on the show, Abi resumed her role as a Veterinary Nurse in Bournemouth, while John returned to Flintshire to manage his marketing/social media business. They’re currently juggling full-time jobs, a long-distance relationship, and the exciting opportunities that have come their way since the series aired.
The most challenging aspect they’ve encountered since leaving the programme has been the approximately 300 miles separating them. Abi revealed: “Throughout the experiment we spent a lot of time together. You’re together 24/7, so we got to know each other really really well and built such a strong foundation and I think if anything that’s just helped us on the outside.
“It was different initially you know going out into the real world and having that distance between us where we didn’t have that at first, and of course it’s hard because you do want to spend all your time with each other and you know it wasn’t something that we were used to but we managed to kind of you know work through it.
“We made sure that we always had plans in place and knew when we would see each other, because I think that definitely helped.”
John continued: “It was gutting to leave the experiment because you know that you’re not going to be waking up with each other every day. Obviously I live in North Wales, Abi lives in Bournemouth and there’s 5 hours difference between us.
“But, everything that we wanted to happen exists outside of the experiment. So, you know, bringing Abi up to north Wales to see my family, and integrating Abi with my friends and family and that kind of stuff.
“Although we know that we’re not going to be waking up with each other every day, we know that exciting things live after the experiment. It was mixed emotions leaving to be fair, but I think we’ve managed it really well. “
Abi went on: “The thing is as well, the long distance will only be short term as well, like we know obviously there’s a point where we are going to move in together. So it’s just that’s another thing that we can look forward to. So this period isn’t forever.”
Although the geographical separation has proved challenging, it has never presented an insurmountable obstacle for John and Abi, particularly given that the groom operates his own enterprise and enjoys the flexibility of remote working. Nevertheless, they are arranging to cohabit in the new year and have exclusively disclosed their chosen location.
John will be relocating southward to Bournemouth to join Abi, which means she’ll need to reorganise substantial portions of her wardrobe to accommodate her new spouse – something she declares herself “more than happy to do.”
The bridegroom elaborated: “Obviously Wales is home and we’ll miss home of course, we’ll miss the people here and the beautiful scenery in North Wales. I mean I’ve spent a lot of time up here as well in the summer, but home will always be there.”
They disclosed that they harbour longer-term aspirations involving a return to Wales when they decide to establish a family. John revealed: “So, for the short term, I’ll be moving down to Bournemouth. Then the plan is that hopefully children will be on the horizon, let’s not put a timeline on it, but medium to long term, and we’ll be moving up to North Wales when that is the case.
“So, that’s the plan. Bournemouth for the short term and then North Wales later on.”
Abi added: “I get the best of both worlds. So, it’s a win.”
When applying for the show John said, “what’s the worst that can happen?”.
Fortunately, the 39 year old discovered his perfect match after questioning “what did I do wrong there?” following numerous casual relationships. He revealed at the time he was contemplating: “I hope that if I don’t find the love of my life which- obviously I have which is amazing- I’ll learn a lot about myself.
“I’ve found myself in little situationships for many, many years and they’d finish and you’d be like, ‘God, what did I do wrong there?’ Do you know what I mean? And like there’s no feedback form at the end of these kind of things.
“I’d be like, ‘I’m 39 and I’ve still got so many questions like why have things gone wrong? So maybe in going on Married at First Sight, I’d be able to find out a little bit more, get some help from the experts to go, ‘All right, okay, John. Well, maybe you shouldn’t have done that. Maybe you should have done this other thing here.'”.
“Obviously I got so much more than personal development. I got my wife.”
Abi added: “I went in wanting to meet the love of my life. I’ve been so unlucky in the past and I was like, ‘I’m just going to go for this’.
“I was so hopeful, and I know this might sound a bit unusual, but I had a good feeling. I do believe in faith, but I didn’t realise it would be this incredible. I’ve met John, he ticks all the boxes and many, many more that I could ever ask for in a partner.
“So, I think, you know, I was hopeful, but I didn’t realise how incredible this would be.”
The couple have faced scepticism on social media, with viewers struggling to accept that their romance was genuinely thriving.
They were forced to keep their relationship status under wraps for approximately five months, as filming took place earlier this year before the reunion programme broadcast on Friday, 14th November.
Now they’re able to be more candid about their partnership and demonstrate life beyond the cameras, supporters of the programme have responded more positively.
John explained: “I think people previously maybe couldn’t believe how good a relationship we’ve had. So like now it’s so nice to go ‘no look, it is real and it is normal as well.'”.
“Like we go through normal things like navigating five hours distance between us and stuff. They’re normal problems that we’re navigating, and I think that makes things a lot more real than, you know, just seeing us on TV like every evening telling each other how how much we love each other.
“But like we’re in love and we’re really really pleased that we’re in love, and being in love is a very new experience for both of us. So yeah, damn right we were happy.”