MAFS Groom Eliot Donovans Shocking Connection to Sam Stanton

Veteran Married At First Sight groom Eliot Donovan has revealed he has a surprising history with incoming intruder Sam Stanton.

Taking to , the MAFS alum shared a throwback photo of the pair together at a bustling bar in Saint Martin back in 2014 - long before either of them signed up for .

In the image, a fresh-faced Eliot and Sam are seen sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in sleeveless tank tops, each clutching a beer as they grin at the camera.

Eliot, sporting dark tousled hair and a muscular build, flashes a relaxed hand sign while Sam beams broadly, his arm draped casually around his now fellow MAFS groom.

The tropical backdrop and crowded bar setting suggest a carefree working holiday vibe - a far cry from the high-pressure dinner parties of the experiment.

'So I actually know the new masked villain that's coming on, this guy,' Eliot began in the clip, before quickly laughing. 'I'm just kidding, he's not a villain.'

Eliot explained the pair met more than a decade ago while working as personal trainers.

'We met back in 2014 though, there's a photo of us together at a bar in Saint Martin,' he said.

'I took over a ship that he was working on. I'll never forget, everyone on the ship was obsessed with this guy. They were like, 'Oh my God, he's so amazing.'

Eliot admitted he was intrigued by Sam's popularity at the time.

'I remember I messaged him and I was like, 'Dude, what the f*** did you do to this cast because it's like they're obsessed with you.'

Despite the hype, Eliot insisted Sam was the real deal.

'We ended up meeting up later on and he is just a really genuine, sweet guy.'

The pair eventually lost touch over the years and have not spoken since.

Viewers watched sparks fly between the pair during their wedding in Episode 14, but Sam admitted the chemistry was not instant. 'I wouldn't say it was instant connection,' he said