Canberra public servant Mel Akbay has revealed that despite a tumultuous start to her televised marriage on Married at First Sight, she is determined not to "throw in the towel" prematurely. The 29-year-old communications specialist, who grew up in Narrabundah, watched her wedding episode surrounded by family and friends in her hometown, describing it as a "hard watch" but a meaningful experience.
A Rocky Beginning on National Television
Mel's wedding to Victorian farmer Luke Fourniotis was marred by several awkward moments that left viewers cringing. Luke arrived late to the ceremony, forcing Mel to walk down the aisle alone, and then chewed gum throughout her heartfelt vows. "I really wrote the vows from my heart, it took me two weeks," Mel explained. "In my vows, I said I really wanted someone I felt supported with, someone who listened to me and all I hear is 'scrunch, scrunch, scrunch'."
Canberra Roots and Support System
Born in Sydney but raised in Canberra from age three, Mel emphasizes her deep connection to the national capital. "Canberra's my home," she stated firmly. Her family settled in Narrabundah, where she attended Telopea High School and Narrabundah College. She maintains close friendships from her school days, with childhood friends attending both her wedding and the viewing party.
After studying communications at the University of Canberra and working at Hit 104.7, Mel now works as a communications specialist in the federal public service, splitting her time between Sydney and Canberra. "I love my team, they are so supportive of me, and I just love being around them," she said of her Canberra-based colleagues.
The Pressure of Reality Television
Mel admitted that the entire MAFS experience was intensely challenging. "It's a really high-pressure environment. Your personality kind of changes because I was feeling nervous and anxious all the time," she revealed. The wedding day was particularly stressful, with Mel describing her disappointment when she realized Luke wasn't waiting at the altar. "Immediately, I was like, 'I'm going to look like a joke'. It broke my heart because I thought my mum is going to see me all sad and nervous."
Commitment to Making It Work
Despite the inauspicious beginning, Mel insists she gave her relationship with Luke a genuine effort. "What I will say is I didn't go on there just to throw in the towel straight away and you'll see, I do try," she promised viewers. "I do give it a red hot go."
A romantic at heart, Mel applied for season 13 of MAFS after seeing a television advertisement, thinking "Why not? That could be a really fun experience." She acknowledges that traditional dating in either Canberra or Sydney hasn't been easy either, saying "Everyone's kind of the same. I'm not dating just to have fun. If you go on a date with someone it's like, 'Do I see a future with you? If not, see you'."
Maternal Advice and Moving Forward
The highlight of watching her wedding episode, according to Mel, was seeing the conversation with her mother, who encouraged her to persevere with Luke. "She gave me that pep talk and I was like, 'I love this woman! I needed to hear that!'" Mel recalled. This maternal support proved crucial in her decision to continue with the experiment.
As the fourth Canberran to appear on the controversial reality series, Mel represents a growing trend of locals participating in national television experiments. Her story highlights both the vulnerabilities and resilience required when private moments become public entertainment, all while maintaining strong ties to her Canberra community.
