After tying the knot during this year’s season of Married at First Sight, popular Victorian couple Belinda Vickers and Patrick Dwyer recently announced their shock split.
The pair shared the news on their respective Instagram Stories, saying “we do not want the same things in love and life”.
But now Belinda opens up exclusively to WHO about the real reasons they called time on their nine-month relationship, which began when they finished filming the social experiment at the end of 2020.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, that’s for sure,” the 29-year-old saleswoman reveals.
“I hadn’t been in a relationship before I got together with Pat but if something isn’t right, I realised that it’s better to make the call to end it sooner rather than later. It’s been an incredibly difficult time though.”
You and Patrick seemed perfect for each other. What went wrong?
Pat and I had always been a team together throughout our whole journey as a couple. When we began to realise that it wasn’t going to work out between us, we released a joint statement announcing we’d separated because we still care for one another and we wanted to respect the other person.
What were the main issues that came between you?
We got along really well and we had a wonderful relationship. But our perspectives on love and life goals ultimately didn’t align. As you move forward into the future, it’s pretty important to be heading in the same direction towards the shared future that you both want.
Did one of you want to move in together, get married and have children sooner than the other?
Pretty much, it was family goals especially and timings that we didn’t align on.
Did you have many discussions about taking your relationship to the next level?
Yes, you get to a point in the relationship where you really need to get serious and talk about what you want moving forward. Unfortunately, when we started having those chats, it became apparent that we didn’t have the same future goals. We tried to work through it and talk about what we could do about our differences, but it gets to a point when you realise you have to cut your losses. We had obviously clicked when we first met and so we didn’t give up on our relationship easily. We gave it a good go, but unfortunately our differences were just too big to overcome.
Who initiated the split?
It was a mutual decision.
You are both based in Melbourne. Will it be awkward if you see each other out and about?
Pat and I do care for each other still, we respect each other and we’re getting along OK at the moment. We’re still talking a bit and so if we do see each other out and about, we will talk and be friendly. But like any relationship ending, it’s painful and it will take some time to get over. I’m spending lots of time with my family and friends.
Have you had your heart broken?
It’s heartbreaking because I went on MAFS to find love and for awhile, it looked like I had found it with Pat. But I grew so much from doing that show and learned so much about myself and what I really want in a relationship. I don’t have any regrets about my time on the show or my time with Pat, but now I’ve got to do what’s right for me.
WATCH BELOW: MAFS’ Patrick and Belinda’s love story
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