In the span of just a few weeks, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On Season 3 cast experience a lifetime of drama.
This season, six new couples choose to tempt fate by splitting up temporarily and entering into trial marriages after one person in the relationship issues an ultimatum. But is the grass really greener on the other side of the breakup? The newly formed couples learn the hard way after moving in together and testing their fledgling relationships — while their exes do the same just a few doors down.
For some, the Ultimatum experiment gets way too real. Two couples decide to abruptly end their trial marriages after only a few days, leaving the remaining trial partners reeling. And when the original couples reunite for the changeover, even more chaos ensues. But when Ultimatum Day finally arrives, everyone is faced with a life-changing decision in order to learn (no shade to Nick’s tattoo journey) whether love conquers all.
Keep on reading to find out who gets engaged in the finale, who’s still together today, and everything that’s gone down since the reunion.
“[Seeing myself go through the experiment] gave me insight into how I react, and I’m just trying to grow and learn,” Nick tells Tudum. Focusing on his mental health and not dwelling on negativity has been key to Nick’s healing journey since splitting with Sandy. Plus, he’s been able to channel his emotions into his art, which is “not as chaotic or thrashing” these days. Nick has been dating someone new — but for now, he’s keeping things private. He’s happy to report that there’s “lots of laughter, empathy, and clear communication” in his new relationship. “I am in awe of her strength through this time. At the end of the day, our relationship is based on friendship and kindness,” he says. “That’s been so valuable to have through this experience, so I’m very grateful.”
Looking back on his relationship with Sandy, Nick says it all came down to timing. “She was further along in the process of being done with our relationship. I hadn’t quite gotten there, so we just arrived at the same place at different times — and unfortunately for me, my arrival was caught on camera,” he says. While he wishes Sandy nothing but the best, Nick still believes she was “a bit reckless” in her relationship with J.R. “I don’t think what she did was wrong, but it still doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It felt like she was moving quickly,” he notes. One thing is now clear: The two just weren’t meant to be, despite the deep love they shared. “I was captivated by our connection to the point where I romanticized a future that probably wasn’t really what she desired,” he says.
As for his connection with Vanessa, Nick says he “still doesn’t have a lot of clarity” about her abrupt exit. The two texted a few times after her departure in a way that “seemed amicable,” but clearly something has shifted since. “I don’t think she quite realized how intense the experience was going to be,” he says. “I hope that she understands that I had nothing but care and gratitude for meeting her.” And while he’s leaving the experiment with some regrets, his much-discussed tattoo isn’t one of them. “I had no idea J.R. had that same tattoo. If I did, obviously that would’ve been ridiculous for me to get it,” he says. “It’s just comical and at the end of the day, J.R. and I clearly do share a lot in common.”
Seeing the “dark parts” of her relationship along with the rest of the world has been a painful experience for Sandy. “Those are real emotions and real-life mistakes,” she tells Tudum. “I’ve learned things that I love and respect about myself, and things I significantly want to improve.” That’s why entering into a new relationship isn’t a priority — or even a desire at this point. Instead, Sandy has been focusing on herself — be it therapy, inner spiritual shadow work, or the launch of her own swimwear line.
As part of her healing journey, Sandy has reflected on how she could’ve been “more mindful of Nick’s feelings” during the experiment. For starters, diving into her trial marriage with J.R. so quickly is a decision she regrets, adding that their flirtation “could’ve been taken down several notches” out of respect. “I could not understand what was going on outside my experience, but I genuinely tried my best in a really difficult situation,” she says. According to her, she and Nick were in the “worst position” in their relationship heading into the experiment and facing “very, very deep, heavy-rooted challenges” that informed her actions during the trial marriage. When J.R. came into the picture, Sandy was “genuinely committed” to exploring their connection, which ran much deeper than just physical attraction. “We spent hours and hours having really deep conversations about spirituality, family, morals, goals, and ambitions, and life,” she says. Fun fact: The two went to the same college and both majored in labor employment relations.
But no matter what anybody might say, her primary focus throughout it all was Nick. “I care about that man more than I’ve ever cared for anyone,” she says. That’s part of the reason she and J.R. currently don’t have a relationship. “That wasn’t something that I was looking for,” she explains. “I do think that it got a bit clouded by our attraction to each other, but my whole intention throughout this process was to really explore my relationship with Nick, and that is what I did. We do genuinely have an underlying care and love for one another, regardless if we’re together in a partnership or not.” Despite the highs and lows, the experiment gave Sandy the gift of clarity. “There were a lot of elements to the relationship with Nick that were unhealthy, and I was not happy,” she says. Sandy is still hopeful that the right man will come into her life some day, but she’s in no rush. “I want a life partner,” she says. “I want a family, but for me, there’s never been a timeline because I know that the person that you marry is way more important than when you marry.”
Sandy’s search for that person continues with Perfect Match Season 3, which streaming now. She’s joining 21 other single reality stars — including her former trial husband, J.R. — to couple up and compete in cheeky compatibility challenges in hopes of finding love.
“I would go through this experience a million times over to get to where I’m at now emotionally, spiritually, and physically,” Zaina tells Tudum. “I’m just so grateful for the woman who came out on the other side.” After not getting engaged in the finale, Zaina and J.R. continued to explore their relationship until he ghosted her, pushing her into a “season of healing without closure.” With so many unanswered questions and the trust between them shattered beyond repair, Zaina chose to pour back into herself. “Leaving the experience, going back into the world, and then just being shut out was very painful,” she says. “J.R. wasn’t giving me what I needed in a partner, so [I had to ask myself] what can I actually control? My mind.”
Since their split, Zaina has dedicated time to taking care of her soul, getting back to her routines, and even developing a forthcoming guided journal for people going through their own difficult breakup. Reflecting on her relationship with J.R., Zaina describes herself as “delusionally in love” with a man who she says still hasn’t taken any accountability or given her a genuine apology about how things ended. “For a long time I was just protecting our relationship,” she says. “I made a lot of excuses for things that weren’t making me happy or fulfilled.” It’s safe to say that the two aren’t exactly on good terms, as J.R. blocked Zaina on socials after their heated exchange at the reunion. “At the very least from a human decency standpoint, I thought he would show up and apologize, so when I didn’t receive that, I had to grieve the relationship I thought I had,” she adds.
Thankfully, Zaina landed in a far better place with her former trial husband, Scotty — despite how their time together in the experiment ended. “We honestly did have a genuine bond, and it was very easy talking to him. We had a lot of fun before everything crashed and burned,” she says. “I’m cool with everyone.” But the two are keeping things strictly platonic. “There wasn’t any romantic connection to that point where I would’ve further explored.” Zaina, who is currently single, has gone on a few dates, but she’s seeking love and connection through a brand-new lens after the experiment. “I’m not just jumping to the first person [who] gave me attention,” she says. “If it doesn’t feel right, I’m not wasting time. I’m really OK just being the single auntie right now and the godparent to my godkids, but we’ll see what happens.”
“I’ve taken this time to do some journeying for myself, and I’ve gotten into therapy,” J.R. says at the reunion. “I’m working on some demons that I had in the past. I’m in a good spot right now.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t last long, as J.R. finds himself in the hot seat on the reunion couches.. While he claims that he and his ex Zainagenuinely didn’t pursue a relationship after it seemed that they split during the finale, Zaina shares a different version of events that leaves him rattled. “I took the experience for what it was, and I told her after that decision that we are really broken up, and she did not want to take that at face value,” he says.
After a heated back-and-forth (and some QR code receipts from Zaina), the two can’t agree about a version of events regarding their (second) breakup. Her biggest sticking point is that she never received adequate closure after a three-year relationship. J.R., however, shares that he’s still hurting, too. “There [wasn’t a] time when I shut her out and was like, ‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ ” he says. “I haven’t given her closure, because I’m still processing things … I’m not at a place where I can speak on our relationship. I still need time.” While the two don’t end up seeing eye to eye, J.R. says he has nothing but love for Zaina, sharing that, heading into the reunion, he was open to possibly reconnecting. “She was the best girlfriend I’ve ever had,” he adds. “To this day, I have a lot of love for her.”
As for his current relationship status, J.R. took a break from dating after the experiment. But now, he’s returning to romance in Perfect Match Season 3, where he’ll face his former trial wife Sandy for the first time since the Ultimatum experiment. Could a rekindled connection be in the cards or will their complicated history cause trouble in paradise?
Shortly after the reunion, Mariah and Caleb experienced a loss that put their Ultimatum experience in perspective. “My mom passed away a few days after the reunion, so I'm in a different place mentally. Honestly, none of the show is really hitting me,” Mariah tells Tudum. As the only couple who found their way back to each other after the experiment, the pair have been leaning on each other through the difficult time. “We've been honing in on what’s directly in front of us instead of getting too caught up in what we aspire to be,” says Caleb. “We have everything we need at this moment, and I’m grateful.” Plus, their plates have also been full after moving into a new apartment, making career pivots, reconnecting with family, and planning their future nuptials. “We’re hoping spring or summer of 2026 in Hawaii, but there’s been so many changes lately, so we’re really trying to get our grip on everything,” says Mariah.
While the experiment tested their relationship like never before, both are walking away with valuable lessons. For Mariah, learning how to effectively express her feelings has been key. “I was so communicative and wanting to address things [that I wasn’t] giving him the space to actually speak,” she says. Once the two returned home, they put their new communication skills to the test, in order to unpack the ramifications of Caleb’s trial marriage with Aria. Vulnerable conversations over many weeks in and out of therapy gave the couple a chance to strengthen their bond and understand the “level of honesty that’s required in a healthy relationship.” From Caleb’s POV, being a “poor boundary setter and people pleaser” led him to not fully disclose his feelings for Aria. “It’s naive, but I was thinking, ‘OK, if I don't pursue Aria physically, then an emotional connection is only going as deep as a friendship.’ Of course, watching it back, there’s clearly chemistry,” he says. “But there was nothing for Mariah to worry about because as soon as it was over, it would never be something that could affect us again. Not that I didn't enjoy Aria, but I was really just trying to get through those three weeks.”
Now that the experiment is fully behind them, both Caleb and Mariah are moving forward in gratitude — even despite having cast members come for them at the reunion. “There’s not any hard feelings. It’s all just inner work and growth that we need to do,” he says. “We’re all on a similar journey, so we should rely a little more on each other and not speak so negatively about each other.” And after a year of incredible change and hardship, the couple isn’t taking a single second for granted. “Ever since my mom passed, I want to live this life with so much peace and joy,” Mariah says. “I just want to experience it in the purest form. So moving forward, that’s just my mentality.”
Calling The Ultimatum a “crash course of therapy,” Aria is walking away from the experiment with something that she’s long been seeking: clarity. “I got so many answers in such a short amount of time that I wouldn’t have figured it out for another two years,” she tells Tudum. “Now I understand the things that I need and want in a relationship and what I’m willing to compromise on.” Her biggest takeaway? Effective conflict resolution is a top priority going forward. After a tumultuous end to her love story with Scotty, Aria is content to stay single for the time being. “I am truly happy by myself right now, making my non-negotiable list, and going on that kind of journey,” she says. “I haven’t been single in so long. When I do start dating, it’s going to be very intentional because I’m dating to marry.”
After calling off their engagement shortly after Scotty proposed, Aria says the two aren’t in communication — apart from supportive social media comments here and there. But she wants to make her feelings for her ex abundantly clear. “Scotty is truly not a bad person. He is such a genuine human being. Individually, we have a lot of things to work on, and I don't think he was going to do that if I stayed by his side,” she says. “In an ideal world, I wish he could’ve given me the things that I need in a relationship because this man truly loves me.” Luckily, Aria has a few new (and surprising) friends to support her during this time: Sandy and Zaina. “We laugh about it now because we definitely had some crossovers,” she says. “It’s been nice to have people in your corner who’ve also gone through this experience.”
One person she can’t count on these days? Caleb. While the two formed a deep connection during their trial marriage, Aria can’t get over how he treated his now fiancée, Mariah. “What I was so disappointed [to see at the reunion] is how he gaslit Mariah for a whole year [about us not having an emotional connection],” she says. “That is so messed up and really shifted the way I saw him. I don’t think he’s a bad person, but I just know that she was asking so many questions about our connection, and he lied.” For Aria, it was important to take full accountability with Scotty about any feelings that developed for Caleb during the experiment — and she simply wished Caleb would do the same. “It really seemed like he shifted the narrative to only be about [my feelings], and that bugged me. I wasn’t upset because he didn’t tell me he liked me. I wasn’t going to run off into the sunset with him,” she says. “To me, it was very unfair that Caleb did not want to even tackle that with Mariah.”
Since the reunion, Scotty says he’s been asking himself some tough questions: “ ‘How can I be a better individual? How can I take what I’ve seen, learned, and experienced and make that transformative in some way?’ ” Taking accountability for his actions is what’s been preoccupying him during this new chapter as a single man. The heart-shattering end of his relationship with Aria, who abruptly called off their engagement following the finale, kicked off a therapy journey that led to some powerful takeaways. “There was a personal stigma that I had with therapy that I let go of for the sake of myself, needing to be a better person, and continuing on my healing journey,” he says. He’s been paying special attention to how he reacts in challenging situations after seeing disagreements play out on screen with Aria and his trial wife, Zaina. “I want to make sure that I am better at handling conflict, especially when I feel like I’m attacked,” Scotty says.
However, going forward, he believes it’s imperative that he’s not the only one working on himself in a relationship. “For a large part of the experience, I was fighting this idea of someone telling me, ‘Hey, if you just do these few things I’ll be ready,’ he says. “That’s where you saw some of the real genuine frustration, because it has to be mutual.” These days, Scotty and Aria have very limited contact. While he’s “always hopeful [about] what may happen in the future” between the two of them, maintaining healthy boundaries is what feels best right now. Plus, he’s still feeling the sting of Aria’s stronger-than-anticipated connection to her trial husband, Caleb. “Aria wasn’t able to zoom out and recognize [how her] emotional connection with Caleb could hurt [me],” Scotty says. “I wish there was more trust and forgiveness in our process. If we had those two things, then I think we’dbe in a very different place right now.”
As for his relationship with Zaina, Scotty believes there’s an “energy we had from the beginning that didn’t die.” Despite the difficulties of their trial marriage, Zaina always sought to find a a resolution and provide sincere emotional support, and that left a lasting impact on him. “She gave me a lot of validation that I am relationship oriented and able to critically solve problems,” he says. “We had a connection that meant more than just us being forced to live with each other for three weeks.”
No matter what the future holds (and who might be in it), Scotty is looking at life and love with a whole new lens. “I am trying to take more space for myself and lean into the idea of finding a partner who’s willing to grow through life’s changes and challenges,” he says. “I’m going to let a lot of things — experiences, opportunities, and dating new people — come to me now, instead of actively seeking them out.”
Life hasn’t slowed down for Dave and Vanessa since leaving the experiment early. The couple, now engaged, have purchased a home together, made major career moves, and most importantly, “fell even deeper in love” with each other. “One of the biggest takeaways from the experiment was the clarity we got from having frequent heavy and emotional conversations,” Dave and Vanessa tell Tudum. “These deep conversations were challenging, but ultimately made our relationship stronger because we became more aligned on what we both wanted.”
As for how their exits went down, the couple aren’t holding onto any regrets. Vanessa, for one, makes it clear that living together with Nick was no longer a viable option after she says he displayed “volatile, manipulative, and other concerning behavior.” Plus, she claims Nick was well aware of her decision to leave, describing his “gobsmacked” reaction to her departure as “unwarranted.” Ultimately, the pair believe they made the correct move, even if it did ruffle some feathers with the rest of the other couples along the way. “We truly chose us and our love for one another over everything,” they say, adding that they “didn’t know any of the other cast members beyond brief interactions.”
Days into the trial marriage phase of the experiment, Chanel and Micah abruptly make an exit — without telling their trial partners — after secretly meeting off-camera. The couple have continued to stay private, choosing not to attend the reunion along with the rest of the cast. As for where they stand today, the couple appear to still be very much in love, sharing photos of each other on Instagram.
Mariah, who entered into a trial marriage with Micah, says she hasn’t heard from him since his exit. “No calls, no texts, no nothing. Not even social media,” she says. “I’ve just attempted to check in and see how they were doing, but I can’t even find them. I want to respect that because this experience is very intense and if you just need to pull out, I get that.” Dave and Vanessa, however, have stayed in close contact with Chanel and Micah. “They have become our close friends,” the couple shared. “We’re grateful for that.”
