Suvechha Sarkar
Season 4 of Netflix’s ‘The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On’ didn’t shy away from putting love to the test, which became evident from Monica Payne and Luke Wesselhoff’s connection. They had known each other since they were 14 years old, and she had initially friend-zoned him, but he was persistent. Years later, they reconnected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their friendship gradually transformed into a romance. Despite five years together, Monica felt that they still needed to achieve certain financial milestones before getting married. However, Luke believed they could achieve those goals as married partners, prompting him to issue the ultimatum.
Monica Payne and Luke Wesselhoff Experienced Personal Growth During Their Time Apart
Monica Payne initially felt that Luke Wesselhoff wasn’t ambitious enough to lead the lifestyle she envisioned, but he felt they didn’t need to figure everything out before marriage. As the couple parted ways and the dating phase began, she found herself drawn to David because they understood each other’s entrepreneurial ambitions. Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend developed an effortless bond with David’s ex-partner, Casey Douglass. During the Choice, Luke decided to enter a trial marriage with Casey, while Monica picked David. Once the trial marriages finally began, Luke realized he had put his ex-girlfriend on a pedestal without recognizing that she, too, needed reassurance.
Luke further learned that he needed to be more confident and expressive in his relationship. On the other hand, Monica acknowledged that she didn’t always have to be in control. She began to appreciate how emotionally vulnerable he was with her. When the pair began living together after the Changeover, they approached their connection with a renewed perspective. Luke reassured her that she didn’t have to be perfect all the time, and Monica confessed that she needed him to recognize her weak moments without her always having to ask for support. She further appreciated how he had completely immersed himself in the experience.
Monica and Luke’s renewed commitment became more evident when they met her parents, Tom and Dani Payne. During their visit, he confidently told her father that he was ready to marry her. Luke also reassured Tom that if his daughter accepted his proposal, he would always take care of her. On the day of the final decision, he once again said he didn’t want Monica to be a perfect person and added that she had filled his life with love and laughter. She also confessed that she could now see a future with him because they could achieve everything together. Ultimately, as Luke went down on one knee and asked her to marry him, she never doubted her decision before saying yes.
Monica and Luke Are Happily Engaged and Looking Forward to Their Wedding
When Monica and Luke returned to the reunion, they revealed that they were happily engaged. It turned out that he had proposed to her again on their 5-year anniversary, further professing his love for her. They further disclosed that they had been traveling for the past year and had celebrated their one-year engagement in Santa Barbara, California. During their trip, they checked out several venues there and are planning to have their dream wedding close to home. Luke felt that the experience helped them to break down their walls and better understand each other.
Since then, Monica and Luke have also been expressing themselves on Instagram. Their personal pages feature their heartwarming photos and videos of special moments together, including trips to Disney World and heartfelt birthday celebrations. Most of them are old, but the fact that they are still on their profiles rather than having been archived or deleted makes it clear just how much they mean to each other. There have been no recent public interactions between them, yet they may now be choosing to keep their personal lives out of prying eyes. From what we can tell, Monica and Luke appear to be immersed in their wedding planning, which they have seemingly decided to do privately.
Monica Payne Balances Her Roles as a Personal Trainer and Director of Operations and Retail
Monica Payne has steadily built a career that reflects her passion for fitness. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and earned her Personal Trainer Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine in June 2023. Monica initially served as a Panhellenic Delegate for the Alpha Phi International Fraternity in December 2015. There, she gradually climbed the ranks to become Director of Formal Recruitment and President before moving on in December 2017. In the following years, she developed her skills across various roles before serving as a Fitness Coach at Orangetheory Fitness from June to December 2023.
Determined to create something of her own, Monica launched her venture, Move with Moni, in December 2024, where she worked as a Personal Trainer. Since May 2025, she has also been working as a Director of Operations and Retail at Monday Swimwear. In her free time, Monica is an avid traveler and visited the beautiful beaches of Maui, Hawaii, in August 2025. Most recently, she witnessed the breathtaking landscapes in Ireland. Above all, she shares a close relationship with her parents, Tom and Dani, who are also among her biggest cheerleaders. Apart from that, Monica enjoys staying active through regular workouts and snowboarding down snow-capped mountains.
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Luke Wesselhoff is a Restaurant Manager and an Aspiring Firefighter
Luke Wesselhoff originally began his journey by completing his higher education at College of the Canyons in June 2018. He had always aspired to serve the community as a firefighter, which led him to attend the Verdugo Fire Academy, where he graduated in January 2019. On the show, he revealed that he had scored 90% on his Firefighter examination and was awaiting the physical examination. In addition to preparing to become a firefighter, Luke has established himself as a Restaurant Manager and earned certifications to be a Lineman. Away from his work, he enjoys adventurous activities like snowboarding and diving into the ocean.
Luke’s wanderlust spirit has often taken him to several picturesque destinations, such as Big Bear Lake, California, in January 2019. It was followed by his memorable journey to the sunny beaches of the Exumas Islands in the Bahamas in October 2022. He is equally devoted to the people closest to him and shares a particularly tight bond with his father, Scott, and his mother. Furthermore, Luke is incredibly fond of his grandmother, whom he often describes as a “best friend.” In his downtime, he loves playing golf with his friends and creating memories with them.
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