Maximilien is one of the few participants in the story of "Married at First Sight" to have to seduce both his wife and her father. If it is better to please his in-laws to live more serenely his life as a couple, in the case of this marriage with the beautiful Estelle, the 31-year-old Perpignan has had to deal with a stepfather of the most protective. For the first time, at the request of Estelle's father, the production of the M6 romance program agreed that each groom's family meet before the ceremony.
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Reassured, Bulent agreed to let his daughter take part in this very special wedding in Gibraltar but, on two occasions, he asked to speak one-on-one with Maximilian: once before the exchange of consents and a second time during the banquet. An omnipresence that the sports coach accepted with great respect and psychology.
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LE FIGARO. - What was the trigger for your registration for "Married at First Sight"?
Maximilian. - I had a long relationship of seven years with the mother of my daughter, we put an end to it for the well-being of everyone. I have often been in a relationship and invested in my spouse but, after this breakup, I felt the need to take a break to find myself. I remained single, in alternate custody of my daughter with the concern to enjoy my moments with her and to find our rhythm. My priorities were my daughter and my reconstruction. This went on for more than a year. Once my balance was restored, I wanted to invest in a new relationship and I came across a casting announcement of "Married at First Sight". I applied without believing too much but with the will to give 100% if I were called.
Did you take into account the television dimension?
The production quickly makes us realize that by taking part in this experience, we agree to lay ourselves naked in front of millions of viewers. I weighed the pros and cons, I found that I had more to gain than to lose. I have a fairly calm life, I am a calm person and I had nothing to fear. I don't care what people think of me, I know myself, I know who I am, what I'm worth and what my values are.
How did you carry out your personal reconstruction after your separation from your daughter's mother?
The first step was to think back to myself and take the time to do things I enjoy. I discovered a passion for skydiving, this activity was a trigger for my reconstruction. Every other week, I had my daughter with me and I devoted myself fully to her. We are very fusional. When I was alone, my job kept me busy all week and skydiving was my weekend outlet. You experience such strong sensations in this discipline and it reconnects you to everything.
In "Married at First Sight", you say you had three important relationships...
When I commit, it's because I believe in it and I want it to last. I've spent more time as a couple in my life than single. I haven't had many relationships but I've had long relationships. I was fully invested in each of them. The last one, before "Married at First Sight", with my daughter's mother is the one that counted the most.
"I would have reacted the same way Bulent did with my own daughter"
Maximilian from season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
Like the other parents of this season 7 of "Married at First Sight", you have made the choice to preserve your daughter...
I participate in this experience first and foremost for myself. I explained to her that I was going to take part in it to find a lover, that it might work but maybe not. Because of this risk, I preferred to leave her out of all this and she did not follow my marriage. I do all this for her too, to provide her with a family environment. But not to replace his mom because his mom will always remain his mom. My parents have been together for 40 years, I have always known this family setting at home. I told myself that my daughter would lack something if she did not have this family model that is dear to me.
How did you imagine Estelle before meeting her in Gibraltar?
During tests and workshops, I said that I did not stop at a physique, I had no preference for blondes or brunettes... I wanted to meet a woman who was feminine, authentic and natural. I didn't want someone superficial. Beyond the physical, I was looking for someone who would match me in terms of personality, family values and who wanted to invest in a life together.
Like you, Estelle is very close to her family. How did you experience his father's first request to meet yours before you got married?
Estelle Dossin came to explain it to us when I was in Paris for the fittings of my costume. I found this request totally legitimate and it reassured me. I put myself in Bulent's shoes. As a father, I would have reacted the same way he did with my own daughter. He loves his daughter, he is protective with her and he wants her good. I wish I could have met him myself that day and defended myself to show him who I was.
Was it an extra pressure to meet Bulent on your wedding day?
Before the ceremony, I was very focused on the events that were going to take place, I knew we were going to meet just before I discovered Estelle. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted to put on a good face in front of him and reassure him. I wanted to find the right words, to show him that I was not intimidated and that I had the stature to marry his daughter. When he arrived, I tried to create a connection with him by talking to him. I felt stressed but not closed.
"I preferred this little kiss on the neck, this gesture of tenderness, as a sign of respect and commitment"
Maximilian from season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
Did you expect Bulent to ask to speak to you one-on-one before the marriage consent exchange?
I knew that sooner or later this discussion was going to take place, but I didn't expect it to happen at that time. It was an extra stress during the ceremony just before saying yes or no. I dealt with a very protective dad who needed reassurance and who expressed things in his words. He played his role as a dad, he warned me and I answered him with the conviction of being a good person for his daughter. I had been preparing for this meeting for months with the sincere desire to make it work. I told her that I would take care of Estelle as my own daughter but that it would take time for me to prove it.
Estelle told us that her greatest anguish at this wedding was the first kiss in the presence of her father...
We immediately had a great complicity, everything was fluid between us. I really wanted to kiss him but I also wanted to show his father that I was a respectful person and that I understood his message. Rather than seal this marriage with a kiss on the mouth, I preferred this little kiss on the neck, this gesture of tenderness, as a sign of respect and commitment.
You had the right to a second tête-à-tête with Bulent during the banquet on the question of your geographical distance from Estelle...
He wanted to talk to me again to evoke this distance between Alès and Perpignan. I experienced this discussion as a little bit of pressure. Estelle is the mother of an 8-year-old girl on one side and I of a 6-year-old girl on the other, he wanted us to make a choice when we have only known each other for a few hours. For me, it was too early to talk about this, this conversation had no place that day. I was unable to know if I was going to come and settle in Alès or if Estelle was going to come to Perpignan. I didn't want to lie to him, we had to give ourselves time to build our life together. I was disturbed that he did not put himself in my shoes and that he did not sufficiently consider my position as a father in alternating custody in Perpignan who has been working for ten years in the same place. I can't leave home like that, I have very strong ties.
"Estelle's real face was the one I saw off camera"
Maximilian from season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
Estelle is concerned about the images that her father will be led to discover in "Married at First Sight", has this not slowed down your development as a couple?
I was respectful of Estelle's situation and modesty. But the more days passed, the less time we had to enjoy this experience. I hoped that she would free herself more from her father's instructions and enjoy her life. She is 30 years old, she is a mother and she has the will to live a beautiful relationship. I was waiting for her to show me her desire to invest in our story before the end of the experience. Either she was stuck on her father's feelings when he discovered the images on television and it was going to be very complicated. Either she decided to open up. I was afraid it would ruin everything.
Once the cameras were turned off and the production teams left, were you able to enjoy more of your privacy?
I actually had two Estelle in front of me: one on the reserve and blocked in front of the cameras and a much more natural one off camera. During the wedding night, for example, we had talked a lot and slept very little. We had talked about our lives and I felt that she wanted to get involved. Estelle's real face was the one I saw off camera. The moments of filming were difficult to live, Estelle advanced with the handbrake. As filming progressed, she finally let go. But it was slow.
Nevertheless, since your meeting, you seem to like each other...
From the first look and our first words, there is an incredible feeling between us. During the ceremony, time stood still and we were alone in the world. The whole day was very fluid and the magic continued the next day for our honeymoon in Menorca. All the lights were green.
