MAFS star Mel Schilling shares sweet throwback photos with husband for seven-year anniversary... as filming for the 2026 season gets underway
The Married At First Sight relationship expert, 53, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a trio of photos highlighting hallmark moments in their relationship.
The first throwback photo showed the couple, 14 years ago, looking loved-up as they enjoyed a drink at a bar.
Mel explained in the caption that the photo was taken just prior to her introducing Gareth to her family for the first time.
The second, and equally romantic, throwback was taken on a pre-wedding date night just prior to the couple's 2018 nuptials in Bali.
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The post was rounded out with a more recent photo of the couple, taken this year, celebrating the launch of Mel's podcast How To Date.
'Happy anniversary to this guy. No 7 Year Itch here,' she said, referencing the classic Marilyn Monroe film.
'7 years married, 14 years as soul mates. I don't believe in luck, but we finally found the partners we both deserve.'
Mel continued: 'So grateful for you, my mate, my opposite, my rock, my motivator, my soft place to land, and my comedy partner. Love you, my one x.'
The romantic post was met with a flurry of congratulations from friends and followers.
'Happy Wedding Anniversary. Can't believe how fast 7 years has gone. Sending you guys so much love!!!' one offered.
Another chimed in with a similar: 'Happy 7th (Non-Itch) Anniversary to you both,' while a third echoed the sentiment with a sweet: 'Congratulations. A beautiful couple.'
Mel was single for 10 years throughout her thirties before meeting Gareth through dating website eHarmony.
The second, and equally romantic, throwback was taken on a pre-wedding date night just prior to the couple's 2018 nuptials in Bali
The post was rounded out with a more recent photo of the couple, taken this year, celebrating the launch of Mel's podcast How To Date
The couple went on to welcome their daughter Maddie, 10, and tied the knot in Bali in 2018 in a romantic commitment ceremony.
They said 'I do' again in an intimate ceremony in Melbourne, back in 2021.
Mel told Who magazine she was overcome with emotion on the day, and shed tears of happiness.
'It's just the meaning of it all. I was a late bloomer in life, like, I didn't meet my husband until I was nearly 40 and then we had our daughter Madison 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.
Filming for the 2026 season of Married At First Sight has officially commenced – but production insiders say the show is already in crisis behind the scenes.
Despite cameras now rolling, sources have revealed that several key roles in the cast are still not locked in, with last-minute dropouts and a strict new vetting process creating major headaches for producers.
'There's been some great talent who were deep in the process, but they suddenly got cold feet,' one insider told Daily Mail Australia.
'Others made it right to the final stages, only to be cut after background checks flagged issues. There's a mad scramble happening in real time to find replacements.'
Earlier this month, EndemolShine Australia put out a fresh casting call encouraging singles to apply – a clear indication that not every match is finalised, despite production being underway.
'Looking for love or know someone who is? DMs are OPEN,' read the casting post shared to the official MAFS Instagram last week.
'They're still scrambling for both brides and grooms,' a well-placed source said. 'There's definitely panic behind the scenes. The pressure is on to get it right after last season's controversies.'
The insider added that while Nine is determined to deliver explosive television, they're taking no chances when it comes to who gets cast.
'Network execs have enforced tough new vetting rules. No criminal records. No previous court appearances. If there's even a whiff of controversy in someone's past, they're out.'
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