Breaking Down Nikki & Shawn's Wedding Day on Married at First Sight Season 20
The oldest couple of Married at First Sight's newest season set in Seattle had some awkward first moments.
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Key Takeaways
- Nikki Jefferson and Shawn Best were matched on Married at First Sight Season 20 because experts believed their shared ambition, intelligence, and career success could make them a strong “power couple,” though concerns about attraction and ego remained.
- The couple’s wedding day started awkwardly, with Nikki unsure about her physical attraction to Shawn and some of Shawn’s jokes missing the mark, but they still exchanged thoughtful vows and bonded over shared intellectual interests.
- Nikki described herself as sapiosexual, meaning she values intelligence over appearance in attraction, and while she was not immediately romantically drawn to Shawn, she expressed openness to their connection growing over time.
Whether it's an awkward first kiss or a disagreement over how the laundry gets done, Married at First Sight gives fans a unique look inside a very unique relationship landscape. As Season 20's couples met for the very first time on their wedding day after being matched by a team of experts, all eyes have been on Nikki Jefferson, 46, and Shawn Best, 47.
Despite being seemingly tailor-made for each other in their matchmaking sessions, the oldest couple of Married at First Sight Season 20 got off to a bit of a rocky start, with Nikki expressing that she was not initially physically attracted to Shawn and Shawn cracking jokes that did not land with his new bride.
As Season 20 episodes continue to drop on Peacock, let's take a look back at Nikki and Shawn's journey on Married at First Sight so far.
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The Married at First Sight experts predict Nikki and Shawn could be a "power couple"
In the eyes of expert matchmakers Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz, the pairing of Nikki and Shawn had all the makings of a great relationship, save for maybe an issue with mutual attraction. Nikki, an HR leader for a tech company, and Shawn, an educator and executive coach with a PhD, are both equally ambitious and successful in their careers, leading the experts to find some common alignment.
"Shawn is going to be attracted to Nikki," Brunson said confidently, shortly after confirming the couple's pairing. "Is Nikki going to be attracted to Shawn?"
"Box for box, they match all the things that we're looking for to create alignment," Dr. Paz said, adding that while she had some concerns, she could also see them coming out of this as a "power couple."
"I worry about ego getting in the way here," Dr. Paz said. "This can be a real quintessential power couple. It's either going to explode in the worst way or explode in the most beautiful way."
Episode 2 ended with Nikki walking down the aisle and not realizing that the man standing in front of her was her soon-to-be-husband, Shawn.
"What am I supposed to do? Stand here and wait for my groom?" Nikki said nervously and then whispered to someone off camera, "I'm ready!"
"Hi, Nikki," Shawn said with a smile after the officiant introduced him as her soon-to-be husband. "Nikki with the dimples. You're breathing?"
While their Married at First Sight journey had an awkward start, the couple's vows to each other in Episode 3 were thoughtful and kind. Nikki vowed to "always show up and try" in their relationship and Shawn touted the "power of hard work and commitment to make a relationship work."
"He seems like an awesome person. Like, my first impression is that he has kind eyes and a nice smile," Nikki told cameras after they got married. "I always say I'm a sapiosexual, so I look forward to experiencing more of that."
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What is the meaning of sapiosexual?
On Married at First Sight, Nikki described herself as a sapiosexual, which is a person who is romantically attracted to someone based on their intelligence, not their appearance.
Considering the fact that Shawn earned his doctorate and is currently a college VP of administration and on his way to becoming to president, will this lead to Nikki and Shawn developing a lasting bond?
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Shawn and Nikki's wedding night on Married at First Sight did not lead to romance
While their chemistry seemed to be clicking immediately after saying "I do" — bonding over their love of neuroscience, for example — the reception peeled back the curtain a bit more. From Shawn biting off Nikki's garter with his teeth to Nikki telling her friends she wanted to "take things slow," their compatibility seems like it'll be put to the test.
Episode 3 ended with Nikki and Shawn experiencing their first night alone in the same bed together after their wedding. In a solo moment with the cameras, Nikki shared, "I don't necessarily feel attracted to him yet, but I do feel like it could grow."
Not long after, Shawn's attempt at a risqué joke led to Nikki quickly shutting down any thoughts about intimacy for the night. And while Nikki declined Shawn's request for a kiss in their hotel room, she let him sleep in the same bed with her.
"I think she feels a little awkward, I probably feel more comfortable than she does," Shawn told cameras by himself. "But I have no expectations of anything happening, so I hope she understands that."
How to watch Married at First Sight Season 20
Keep up with Nikki and Shawn's relationship by watching new episodes of Married at First Sight Season 20 on Thursdays, only on Peacock.
