What really happens on luxurious £5k MAFS UK honeymoons

Inside luxurious £661-a-night Married At First Sight honeymoon

Married At First Sight UK (Channel 4 screengrab)
What happens behind the scenes of a MAFS UK honeymoon? (Channel 4 screengrab)

The MAFS UK honeymoons are one of the major make-or-break stages in the E4 dating show.

Having just married a stranger, the bride and grooms jet off on their honeymoons in the hope of creating a bond that lasts. Cameras are rolling as the brides and grooms finally get the chance to really know who they have married.

The brides and grooms don't get to choose where they are heading off on their honeymoon and this part of the experiment is kept as a surprise from the couple until they open the envelope telling them where they are going.

Organised by Married At First Sight bosses, this year a whole range of exotic and exciting locations have been chosen for the E4 dating show including: Thailand, The Gambia, Jamaica, Mexico, Barbados, The Dolomites, Mauritius and the Maldives.

Married At First Sight UK (Channel 4 screengrab)
Married At First Sight UK (Channel 4 screengrab)

This week the late arrivals headed off on their honeymoons before joining the rest of the couples at the next dinner party.

We have found out more about what happens behind the scenes of the picture-perfect Married At First Sight UK honeymoons. It's clear that off camera, there is a lot of planning that goes into the honeymoon phase of the experiment.

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Among this year's couples, passionate couple Holly and Alex headed off on their honeymoon to five-star Kandima Maldives in January for a week-long stay. Their glamorous all-inclusive break played out on our screens earlier this season in September on Married At First Sight UK.

Here we take a look at behind the scenes of Holly and Alex's honeymoon...

Married At First Sight UK (Channel 4 screengrab)
Married At First Sight UK (Channel 4 screengrab)

Sparks flew when Holly and Alex met at the altar but their fiery natures have seem them row with each other on a number of occasions throughout the series so far.

Their first big explosive argument unfolded in front of the cameras on their honeymoon in The Maldives on their private balcony, although both of them said on camera that they were happy to see their relationship could survive their first fight.

Holly got irritated with Alex because he wanted to sleep off the long-haul flight from the UK while she wanted to get up and go explore the island as soon as they landed. In a bid to win over the bride's affections, the groom wanted to plan a romantic surprise.

Alex enlisted the help of the resort to come up with a dreamy way to spend one of the nights of their honeymoon dining under the stars in a teepee. Fairy lights in the shape of a heart were set up around their dinner table which was set up on the beach, looking out to the ocean.

From behind the scenes, a Kandima representative told Yahoo: "The resort assisted Alex in planning a magical romantic destination dining under the stars, ensuring it was a memorable surprise amidst the vibrant and tropical backdrop of the Indian Ocean on their honeymoon."

Alex and Holly had tied the knot on Married At First Sight. (E4)
Alex and Holly had tied the knot on Married At First Sight. (E4)

It was noted by the Kandima staff that the couple had a "genuine" connection and they were "charmed" by the pair's "fun-loving spirits". "Holly and Alex had a natural chemistry that was truly infectious. Their romance flourished," a representative for the resort added.

"While Holly and Alex cherished their moments together, they also embraced the lively atmosphere of Kandima and mingled with other holidaymakers, sharing laughter and experiences that made their stay even more memorable. Their friendly demeanour made them popular with both the team and other guests."

Newly-weds Holly and Alex spent a week enjoying each other's company in the Maldives, where they were followed around by a camera crew who captured many of the moments which were brought to our screens on Married At First Sight.

MAFS UK's Holly raised a glass of wine while on her honeymoon.
MAFS UK's Holly raised a glass of wine while on her honeymoon. (Channel 4 screengrab)

"Having cameras around added an exciting dynamic to their experience," the representative added. "The crew blended well into the resort’s lively environment, capturing both the planned moments and spontaneous fun over several days of filming."

It was a romantic atmosphere, with the couple put up in the £661-a-night Aqua Villa with Swirl Pool which is one of the resorts "top tier secluded and romantic offerings" in January. Their villa boasted of breathtaking views of Dhaalu Atoll and they were able to step into the Indian Ocean from their private deck, where they could swim and enjoy the sunset views.

Married At First Sight UK's Alex and Holly kayaking. (Channel 4 screengrab)
Married At First Sight UK's Alex and Holly kayaking. (Channel 4 screengrab)

The daily honeymoon itinerary is put together by the resort and the couple got to throw themselves into island life. "Holly and Alex dove into an array of activities that were specially curated and crafted at Kandima Maldives," a representative for Kandima said.

Only an envy-inducing glimpse of the couple's honeymoon could be shown on-screen, including their experience of kayaking in the glass bottom kayaks.

Off-camera the lovers got to enjoy a number of activities throughout the week including: paddleboarding, turtle snorkelling, dolphin spotting to parasailing over the Dhaalu Atoll and a massage at the resort's EsKape Spa, a private boat trip and dinners under the starry skies.

In the evenings, they dined out at the a-la-carte restaurants including: Sea Dragon for Asian cuisine, Smoked beachfront grill house and Azure Mediterranean dining.

Taking time to wind down from filming, the newly-weds also were spied enjoying lazy afternoons on the beach.

It will be interesting to see how their relationship unfolds on screen over the rest of the series.