It was a rocky romance that ultimately ended in heartbreak for the pair.

When audiences were first introduced to Carina and Paul on Married At First Sight, it was clear the pair couldn’t be more different!

While this was undoubtedly a key reason why they were paired together by the experts, the Perth locals were both united by their common goal of leaving the experiment having found “the one.”

Sadly their relationship came to an end at Final Vows, with Paul wanting to work on things and Carina making the difficult decision to walk away.

Scroll on to read every high and low from their time on MAFS.
The former couple certainly had very different perspectives on their time together when confronted by the experts at the reunion. (Credit: Channel Nine)

A difficult reunion

While when audiences last saw Paul he was heartbroken to be dumped by Carina, a month later at the reunion his perspective had shifted entirely.

“When I heard Carina’s decision to not continue the relationship I did feel betrayed by Carina at that point. I had suspicions that she obviously had a lot of insecurities and that she had crazy jealousy tendencies and she proved my point at final vows. We all have insecurities that’s fine, but don’t project all your insecurities on me – that’s not fair,” he told producers in an on-camera confessional.

“There’s no hope at all for me and Carina, she’s a big snob. The rejection didn’t sit well with me,” he added.

For Carina, as she watched back footage filmed from their time together she said it only “reaffirmed” her decision to end things with Paul.

“I wanted the fairytale ending and I didn’t get it. It’s disappointing,” she admitted sadly.

While Carina couldn’t get through to her ex-husband, expert John Aiken did, telling the groom to “stop playing the victim.”

“I know I’m not perfect and there’s a lot of work that I need to do on myself,” Paul said in response.
Carina and Paul had an emotionally charged Final Vows (Credit: Channel Nine)

“I was yours, you had me and you ruined it”

Paul looked hopeful at Final Vows and spent time talking to Carina about the highs and lows of their time during the experiment.

The groom said the feelings he developed for her were “stronger than he anticipated” and with those feelings came fear. He then spoke about their first ‘challenge’.

“I cried for days, consumed by disappointment over handling things so poorly. But even in that dark moment you stood by me, and I will never forget that.”

Paul also mentioned his “foolish decision” to go to the final task and that he knew how much it had hurt her.

“Carina, what it showed me was that I had already found what I was looking for.”

When it was time for her vows, Carina spoke about her feelings regarding the challenges they faced, but also the positives.

“We had the best homestays in Perth and my parents gave you the seal of approval which means everything to me,” she said.

However, she mentioned being blindsided by his honesty letter and also his decision to go on a date with another woman. For Carina, choosing to go on the date was the final straw.

“A few weeks ago this decision would have been easy for me, I would have stayed for you. But you threw it all away in a selfish act, you were given a test which you failed.”

“Paul I was yours, you had me, and you ruined it.”

Following Carina’s decision, Paul revealed to producers he was heartbroken.

“I can’t believe it’s over. Literally no inkling [things would go like this],” he said.

“I would like to think she’ll regret her decision. If she does, I’ll be here with open arms.”
Despite believing her husband wouldn’t participate in the final task, Carina was left heartbroken when he did. (Credit: Channel Nine)

An epic betrayal and confronting final task

With just one week to go in the experiment, each couple was given the opportunity to participate in a final task where each bride and groom could meet with the singles the experts ALMOST matched them with.

Designed to give each bride and groom the opportunity to see if the grass could’ve been greener with someone else, the task was designed to help the participants realise whether or not they were truly happy with the partner they WERE matched with.

Carina quickly labels the task as “borderline cheating” and refused to participate, but for Paul, it was an entirely different story as he opted into meeting the woman whom he almost married instead of Carina.

“I like Carina so much, we are in such a good place. But I do have a few seeds of doubt, I guess we could call them. They’re not huge doubts but there’s still a few things here and there,” he told producers.

As he met with his almost bride Hannah, even she was confused as to why they were spending time together if his relationship with Carina was going so well.

Reuniting with his wife at their apartment, Paul revealed that he only met with Hannah because he was “curious” – but Carina wasn’t having a bar of it.

“That’s like cheating, you actually just cheated. I’m actually so much better than this,” she yelled, demanding he leave their apartment.

“You were just thinking about yourself. I really didn’t think you were going to do it, we were doing it so well. I am so ready to go home without you,” she continued tearing into him.
Paul received an ice-cold reception when he arrived at the final Dinner Party of the season. (Credit: Channel Nine)
After not hearing from her husband for several days apart from a handful of texts, Carina then arrived at the final Dinner Party of the season alone where the other couples were quick to rush to her defence.

“A mistake repeated more than once is a decision. And he’s decided to make those choices again and again,” a supportive Rhi shared, her husband chiming in to tell Paul when he eventually arrived that if he was “truly happy” in his relationship with Carina he “wouldn’t have gone” on the date several days prior.

While Paul claimed he had “donkey brain” when he made his decision, he couldn’t understand why Carina couldn’t forgive him, and why she hadn’t reached out to him after their argument – actions that greatly upset his wife.

“I don’t think there’s any coming back from this. Everything that we have built together is out the window for me,” she exclaimed.

“Continuously apologising and saying sorry is not enough. All I wanted was your affection. You’ve made me feel so insecure, you’ve made me feel like I’m not worthy like I’m not good enough for you,” she then added.

To this, a solemn Paul responded: “I guess I got what I deserved.”
After some wisdom was imparted to them by Carina’s mother, embers of forgiveness grew in Carina’s heart. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Homestay week success

After a difficult week prior, Paul was determined to win over Carina by winning over her family in Perth during homestay week.

With Carina’s mother reminding them both that forgiveness was essential in any healthy relationship, the pair were left with a renewed sense of commitment to making their marriage work.

Meeting with the experts at the subsequent Commitment Ceremony, Paul admitted that he had “very, very, very, very strong feelings” and could even see himself falling in love with his wife.

While Carina admitted she was still working on falling in love, she did reveal that she had love for Paul, both writing stay once more.
Carina has questioned if she can trust Paul after what he wrote in his letter and said to Awhina. (Credit: Channel Nine)

A lack of trust

Still reeling from Paul’s admission and letter during Feedback Week and the Partner Swap, Carina said she felt nervous about going to the dinner party.

Despite being intimidated by Awhina and Adrian, she was determined to take “full accountability” for her comments and apologise.

Following palpable tensions at the cocktail party, Carina pulled Awhina aside to discuss it and explain her side of the story. After they spoke privately, Awhina accepted her apology.

Despite this, tensions continued in a one-on-one conversation with Paul, and the pair did not see eye to eye.

“No one had to know about that but you and me,” Carina said, challenging Paul who said she “escalated” the letter and could not move on from her betrayal.

He, on the other hand, felt like his perspective was not being heard, and said he stood by his decision to share it.

Still betrayed by this, Carina told him she felt like she couldn’t trust him anymore and was now unsure as to whether or not they were truly compatible as a couple.

Fast forward to the following Commitment Ceremony Carina opened up about these newfound feelings to the experts, with Alessandra responding that there seemed to be a “sensitivity chip” missing in Paul.

“You’re lacking emotional intelligence. You’re not reading the room,” John echoed.

Ultimately Paul apologised and recognised that he had things he needed to work on. As a result, both he and Carina decided to stay in the experiment for another week.
Paul has revealed that the passion in his marriage may have blinded him to some red flags. (Credit: Channel Nine)

Confronting some ugly truths

While the couple was formerly one of the strongest in the experiment, Feedback Week and the controversial Partner Swap challenge seemed to completely upend the foundations of their marriage.

With Awhina moving into their apartment at the beginning of week six, and Carina into the apartment Teejay shared with his wife Beth, Paul took the challenge as an opportunity to confront some hard truths about his feelings towards Carina – in particular her red flags.

“I feel like she is a bit of a snob sometimes and can come across as very judgey, and I’ll be honest with you this is giving me the ick,” Paul candidly confessed to Awhina.

He also made the shocking revelation that Carina had made disparaging remarks about Awhina’s twin sister Cleo (whom Adrian had previously casually dated).

“Because of all these comments she’s been making to me here and there I have a feeling that we might not be as compatible as we think we are and not going to lie.”

“I’m very scared about how she will react if I bring those things up,” he concluded.

Things went from bad to worse as Paul was then forced to repeat what he had shared with Awhina about Carina to Carina’s face, leaving her stunned.

While she admitted she shouldn’t have commented negatively about Cleo, the bride was still upset with Paul for calling her a “snob” and sharing such personal details about his feelings towards his wife with Awhina.

“I feel brutally embarrassed because the comment I made about Awhina’s sister was heat of the moment,” she said.
Carina and Paul have plenty to work on in their marriage. (Credit: Channel Nine)

A fairytale first few weeks

At their first Commitment Ceremony, it was clear the couple’s connection had only grown stronger, the experts complimenting them on the progress they had made together so early on in the experiment.

After sharing a romantic honeymoon in Vanuatu which Carina described as like “walking on a romantic love bubble,” and Paul described as “amazing,” it came as no surprise to anyone that they both opted to stay for another week – especially after they took their relationship to the next level and became more intimate!

This chemistry continued to grow between them during intimacy week (especially after Carina poured chocolate on Paul’s nipples), with the lovebirds choosing to stay once more at their second Commitment Ceremony of the season.

The following week, the self-described “blossoming” couple revealed to the experts that they had continued to enjoy their time together and had even begun planning for the future, both writing ‘stay’.

But their relationship was put to the test in week four after Paul let his emotions get the best of him and punched a door. While Carina did forgive her husband, he was heavily criticised by the experts and fellow couples in the experiment over his behaviour.

“This is toxic, inappropriate, and unacceptable behaviour,” John told him and Carina.

Despite everything, the pair decided to stay in the experiment for another week. Read more about that situation here.

The couple also opted to write ‘stay’ again in week five.
Carina was initially disappointed when she saw her groom and realised she had met him before. (Credit: Channel Nine) (Credit: Channel Nine)

An awkward second meeting at the altar

For 31-year-old Carina, she has no qualms about speaking her mind and making sure her voice is heard having hailed from a large Italian family where she is the youngest of four siblings.

In an on-camera confessional prior to her wedding, she revealed she was looking for a romantic “gentleman” who held old-school values, was “tall, dark and handsome,” and preferably European.

Then entered Paul, a 30-year-old Wellness Advisor who seemingly ticked all her boxes!

After arriving down under 11 years ago, unable to speak a lick of English, the charming Frenchman seemed like the perfect husband for Carina with his signature good looks and charming nature.

Fast forward to their wedding day, it’s clear sparks were flying between the pair who were instantly attracted to one another.
In an interview on Today Extra on January 27, Carina said her match would have to work hard to “redeem himself.” (Credit: Channel Nine)
But in a shocking twist after their ceremony, the newlyweds both revealed separately to the camera that they actually met in person roughly eight months prior – Paul ghosting Carina after just one date where they went on a hike together.

“He ghosted me. Knowing that we have literally crossed paths, not gonna lie, I’m just so disappointed,” Carina shared at the time.

“Perth is just freaking small.”

While Carina said that her new husband had “making up to do” to win her trust again, Paul was all in, eager to have a second chance with the one who got away.

“It feels like the universe is giving us, giving me, this second chance,” he told producers.

He later explained to Carina’s parents that after their first meeting, he wasn’t in a headspace conducive to being in a serious relationship, winning them over with his honesty, and softening Carina’s heart.

As they shared a moment away from their friends and family prior to their first dance, the lovebirds then shared a sweet kiss, sealing the deal.