Married at First Sight started out in Denmark, where it went by the title Gift Ved Første Blik. Since then, several countries from all around the world have made their own adaptations of the show. No matter what country it aired in, there were two things that were always guaranteed: It would be a huge hit with the viewers, and it would cause massive controversy.
As we all know, controversy can sometimes be good for business, and in the case of Married at First Sight, it has led to 10 seasons with the 11th already in the making, as well as five different spin-offs. Who knew there was this much interest in a show featuring two strangers getting married and making a total mockery of marriage in the process? Did you tune in to watch the couples crash and burn or stand the test of time and prove that love conquers all?
15 All Couples Are Required To Sign A Prenuptial Agreement
If you're marrying a stranger, a prenup is definitely the way to go. The contestants had lives before Married At First Sight and some may have amassed some assets, which would need to be protected in case of a divorce. Show executive producer Chris Coelen told The Wrap in part, "There is a prenup that is built-in."
14 Participants Should Have No Prior Marriages Or Children
MAFS is extremely unconventional, as the premise of the show is for strangers to say I do and live together. Potential contestants can only apply if they are childfree and have never been married before - which is kinda confusing, since there is nothing traditional about the show, but children and an ex-spouse is where they draw the line?
13 There's A Limit Of Twenty Wedding Guests Per Participant
Participants don't have the option to choose the wedding they want, they get to pick from the available options on a PowerPoint presentation and if that's not bad enough, they are only allowed to invite 20 guests each. It's not a problem if you're into small and intimate weddings, but love being on TV.
12 Contestants Don't Make Much Money From Appearing On The Show
Reality TV can have its perks, and sometimes a substantial salary is one of them. Some reality shows guarantee a huge payday, however, if you're looking to get filthy rich then MAFS is simply not the show for you. According to Radar Online, the cast receives between $15,000 to $25,000 per season.
11 Constant Filming Affected The Couples' Interactions
Marrying a stranger has got to be hard enough and having camera's documenting every second of that train wreck waiting to happen has got to be nerve-wracking. MAFS alum Anthony D'Amico said, in part, in an interview with Mike Staff, "Ashley told me after filming one day that I was way more affectionate after the cameras were turned off."
10 Participants Are Required To Sign Non-Disclosure Agreements
The concept of the show is the same across all the different countries it's been adapted in, however the inner workings may differ slightly. For instance, the US Married At First Sight producers insist on making the cast sign non-disclosure agreements. It's quite understandable that production wants to keep certain parts of the show a mystery.
9 The Use Of Social Media Is Not Allowed
It takes an insane amount of bravery to sign up for MAFS. We bet anxiety sets in sometimes, & we imagine some contestants get curious and try to gather information on their spouse to be. That would be a colossal waste of time because production keeps the cast's social media accounts hidden.
8 Couples Are Required To Move In Together After The Honeymoon
Marry a complete stranger, check. Move-in with them, check. It must be scary and a tad awkward to start a life with a person you know nothing about. The MAFS couples are required to live together as husband and wife, of course, after the honeymoon. We bet a lot of patience and understanding is required to make that work.
7 The Wedding Is A Civil Ceremony
For the participants that dreamed of exchanging marriage vows in a church, MAFS is not the place for them because the weddings featured on the show are civil unions. This is owing to the fact that the conditions in which these nuptials occur are unconventional and would no doubt attract backlash from religious groups.
6 Couples Are Required To Be Together For Eight Weeks Before Deciding Whether To Split Or Stay
Breakups can be brutal at times and we can't imagine anything as bad as being contractually obligated to stay married to someone you don't want to be with anymore. Couples are required to stay married during the marital trial period of eight weeks, until Decision Day where they decide whether to stay married or call it quits.
5 The Marriages On The Show Are Real
Sometimes it's hard to fathom that MAFS is even real at all. The premise of the show is pretty mind-blowing ... marrying a stranger you know nothing about. The show is actually legit and so are the marriages. All the nuptials on the US version of MAFS are legally binding.
4 The Participants Are Filmed Ten Hours Daily For Eight Weeks
With most reality shows, hours upon hours of footage are taken on a daily basis and MAFS is no different. The cast is filmed for 10 hours daily during their eight-week marital trial. These eight weeks are the foundation of the marriage and sometimes emotions are high. Our guess is producers are banking on that.
3 There's No More Filming After The Eight Week Mark
After the stress of being surrounded by cameras for hours, the participants are free of them after Decision Day. Whether the duo decides to call it quits or remain married, the eight week trial period is over and they finally get some privacy. Surrendering your privacy for a chance at love has got to be worth it in the end.
2 Background Checks Are Conducted On All Participants
We reckon there are tons of people vying for a chance to appear on the show but producers are cautious about who gets a chance to participate. According to ET Online, Relationship Expert Rachel DeAlto explained in part, "Each candidate goes through a very thorough background check to determine if they have significant debts or any sort of criminal record."
1 Couples Must Sign Marriage Licenses Immediately After The Wedding Ceremony
To ensure that the matrimony is legally binding, the couple is required to sign a marriage license after the civil wedding. It's a huge leap of faith, considering one is marrying a stranger. Some couples have stood the test of time and seem to have found their happily ever after.