Yahoo Lifestyle 
MAFS groom reveals how much influence producers really have on final vows
Layton Mills has revealed how much sway MAFS producers really have over the final outcome of relationships.
Former MAFS groom Layton Mills has shared some insight as to what filming final vows on Married At First Sight is really like.
Layton, who was paired with Melinda Willis on the show, made it through final vows but revealed he and Mel had a huge argument before they left Skye Suites which resulted in them not spending their final night or day together, saying that he wasn't 100% sure what their decision would be when it came to final vows.
"Mel and I had a pretty emotional final vows, no one really saw this but after the last dinner party we had a huge fight and they separated us, then getting to final vows I think we both kind of forgot about a lot of the rubbish and focused on what we liked about each other, so it ended up being really beautiful," he told Yahoo Lifestyle's podcast Behind The Edit, saying the former couple had the producers crying behind the scenes.
Because of the uncertainty Layton and Mel faced, he said producers didn't have a huge say over where his final vows were going — mainly because he wasn't sure himself.
MAFS cast's final vows have to be approved by production
Layton confirmed while final vows "had to be approved by production" the period where he and Mel weren't talking meant to couple didn't chat about their final decision at all — but he said that wouldn't be the same for all couples.
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"I feel like when I watch this season, you kind of know what's going to happen for every couple... for Mel and I, it could have gone either way. I don't know what happened with other couples, but there was no [confirming final vows] with Mel and I," Layton said. "There was no co-ordinating or, 'hey what are you saying?'"
Layton then said the only advice he got from producers when it came to his final vows was to make sure he didn't speak too quickly. "They didn't have to do any corrections, you've got to get it approved, and for the wedding vows I had some back and forth with producers, but the final vows there was no [feedback].
"She [the producer] said, 'Look Layton, if you guys don't stay together, I want you to put your all into saying why you guys don't want to stay together," he said. "She was like, 'we want to feel, right? We need to feel why you aren't together and if you are staying, we want to feel that.'"
On 2024's final vows
Though his experience was different, Layton speculated there may have been some pushing on producers' ends for "dramatic effect" for some of the 2024 final vows, like Jack Dunkley's questionable speech to Tori Adams.
"For ours, I didn't think there was any pushing, but I also think Mel and I had a very authentic journey," Layton continued. "I feel like for others, when it becomes a clear narrative, there's probably some pushing into 'we need more of this narrative'.
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"I reckon there was probably some pushing [this season], for dramatic effect."
On what happens post-final vows
"They put Mel up in a hotel, so we had dinner that night, ordered UberEats, had some wine," Layton said. "After the final vows it was just film your voxxies, and 'thanks, good luck!'"
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