Married At First Sight bride Alissa Fay has spoken out to defend the dramatic altar moment that left Australian viewers sharply divided. In an exclusive interview, the 33-year-old nurse and influencer insisted her actions were not intended to embarrass husband David Momoh but stemmed from a deep need for commitment before saying "I do".
The Surreal Wedding Moment That Stopped The Ceremony
Monday night's episode featured Alissa, who proudly describes herself as a 'slay queen', immediately commanding attention at her wedding when she halted proceedings entirely. The Adelaide-based social media manager demanded David drop to one knee and propose properly, creating what she now describes as a "surreal" moment to revisit.
"It was such a surreal moment last night, rewatching it," Alissa revealed. "Obviously, seeing David for the first time, and when I saw my dad and the waterworks started, it was just all the emotions."
Why The Controversial Proposal Demand Happened
According to Alissa, the idea wasn't producer-driven or discussed with anyone beforehand. "I didn't tell anyone," she explained. "I was in the limo on the way in and I started to freak out. I was thinking, 'What am I doing? Is this actually happening?'"
In that anxious moment, Alissa said she realised she needed proof her new husband would fully commit to both the experiment and to her from day one. "I do want commitment. I wanted to give this experiment my all," she stated firmly. "I need something from my husband. If this guy isn't going to get on his knee and commit to giving this thing a real crack with me, then I don't want to waste any more time."
Past heartbreak shaped her resolve, with Alissa refusing to "marry someone who's going to be here just to waste my time". She added: "We've all been hurt and we've had our hearts broken in the past."
The Fifteen-Minute Standoff That Felt Like Forever
While experts had paired Alissa's fiery personality with David's calm demeanour, their first meeting nearly ended disastrously when David hesitated at her demand. Guests squirmed as the standoff continued, with Alissa admitting she didn't expect it to last so long.
"I didn't expect us to have a 15-minute standoff. It was very awkward," she confessed. "I swear we were standing at the altar having a standoff for forever. Until Christmas."
As David delayed, Alissa said her mind spiralled into panic. "I just couldn't believe it, because I was thinking, 'He's not going to get down on his knee. He doesn't want to commit to this'," she recalled.
The Runaway Bride Moment Viewers Didn't See
Alissa revealed that what fans didn't witness was her own indecision and the genuine possibility she might have become a runaway bride. "I might as well just bend over, tie up my shoelaces, and be the runaway bride," she laughed, reflecting on the tension of the moment.
The incident sparked fierce online reactions, with some viewers branding Alissa demanding and "too much", while others applauded her for knowing her worth. However, Alissa insists she has avoided reading comments. "I'm not looking at the comments or anything," she said. "I'm kind of just riding this journey, remembering those special moments. People are always going to have their opinions."
Post-Ceremony Reflection And Apology
After the ceremony, Alissa reflected on whether she might have pushed David too hard. "I will apologise when I think maybe I did push it too far, and I will always take accountability," she stated. Her apology focused on ensuring David understood she never intended to belittle him.
"I didn't want to belittle you or anything at the aisle," she told him. "I just really needed that from you, and I thank you for getting down on your knee." Alissa conceded the moment may have bruised David's ego slightly. "I feel like it did bruise his ego a little bit. I won't lie," she admitted. "Maybe it was just because of my abrasiveness. Maybe I was a little bit too harsh."
The Specific Need Behind The Demand
Alissa clarified she needed certainty on one particular point. "I needed to know that this guy's not a f**kboy," she said bluntly. "I'm over the f boys. I need someone that's gonna be all in."
Despite the rocky beginning, Alissa reported instant chemistry with David from their first meeting at the altar. "I definitely like tall, dark and handsome. The big biceps… a beautiful smile and kind, gentle eyes," she described. "There was definitely chemistry."
She added that while she had never dated an African man before, she found David immediately attractive. "I've never had an African partner, so it was something new to me," she said. "But obviously, so, so beautiful. Like, so attracted to him."
Life Changes And Future Hopes
The bride revealed she has spent most of her adult life in long-term relationships and joined the show because she feels time is ticking to start a family. "I'm 33. I want to settle down. I want to have a family," she explained. "I've been out of a relationship for seven months, and I'm at that age where I want to start thinking about children next year or two."
Even though Alissa is already established as an influencer and businesswoman in Adelaide, she insisted she wasn't concerned about risking her brand on MAFS. "I'm confident in myself," she declared. "People will always have their opinion about you, but I'm very true to myself, and I'm not scared at all."
Alissa said she approached the show with the same philosophy she applies throughout her life. "The biggest things in life that you will get is from taking big risks," she stated. "The dating pool's dry, so I'm just going to risk it all and throw myself in and give it my best crack."
Trusting The Process And Looking Ahead
She praised the matchmaking process, insisting the extensive questionnaires helped her understand what she truly wants in a partner. "The process they made you go through with all the questions… it made me understand what I want in a man and in a relationship," she said. "I learned so much about myself, and I really did trust in the process."
When she received the call confirming her match, Alissa couldn't believe how quickly her life transformed. "I've got three weeks to pack up my life and move to Sydney. It was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life," she recalled. But she insisted she was ready to go "all in", stating: "My heart is ready. I'm ready to give it my all… let's just go. All in."
Season Teasers And Personal Reflections
Alissa hinted that while her first episode focused heavily on the altar moment, viewers will soon see her form strong friendships with other brides and face "interesting behaviour" behind the scenes. "I actually copped a lot of interesting behaviour towards me from other members in the group," she revealed. "I copped probably a bit too much bullshit this season… but I can't give away too much."
When asked what viewers can expect from her relationship with David, Alissa made a bold claim sure to raise eyebrows as the season progresses. "We are a united couple," she asserted. "We show up together. We're strong. We don't tolerate that behaviour. We have each other's back." Then she delivered her biggest tease: "I will say, we are one of the strongest couples, for sure."
Final Self-Description For Viewers
As for what she wants Australia to know about her beyond the headlines, Alissa insisted viewers should reserve judgement until they see more. "I'm very open, honest, very direct," she described herself. "All the things people might have an idea about me… you just wait until you get to know me this season."
She summarised herself in one final line: "She's got a loud personality, but she's bright, and she just loves people with her whole heart. She's just a hype gal."
