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Married at First Sight

Married at First Sight has set up a lot of couples over the years and have changed its process and experts along the way. But one thing that has never changed is that every couple has involved a man and a woman. Why hasn’t the show matched same-sex couples? Here is everything you need to know.

Men and women are separated at the beginning of the process, which wouldn’t work for same-sex couples

Will and Jasmine on Married at First Sight
Will and Jasmine on Married at First Sight | Lifetime

How the show sets up potential couples is the reason why viewers don’t see a same-sex couple set up on Married at First Sight. Kinetic Content CEO, the company that helps set up the couples for the show, Chris Coelen explained this to The Wrap.

“It’s a casting thing,” said Coelen. “We’d love to but it’s very difficult.” He then continued, “Because we have to put all the women and all the men in the same room (by gender) in workshops [during the casting process], there is a chance they could see each other [before meeting at the altar]. If we could figure out logistically how do it, we’d love to do it.”

The blind portion of the process seems to also hit close to home for Coelen since he met his wife on a blind date.

The workshops explain the process to potential candidates

Doug Hehner (L) and Jamie Otis of Married At First Sight,
Doug Hehner (L) and Jamie Otis | Mike Coppola/Getty Images for FYI Network

So what exactly goes on during these matching workshops that are held separately for the men and women? Well, they pretty much go over what the potential candidates can expect.

“I personally attend this and help run it,” Coelen told E! News. “In groups of 20 to 30 people, we explain how this whole things works. We’re extremely transparent with them, and we do that with the people who are in-the-know that it’s Married at First Sight and who aren’t familiar with it.”

It’s also the time when the candidates go through their psychological and background evaluations. A lot of things are being considered during this time.

“Each candidate goes through a very thorough background check to determine if they have significant debts or any sort of criminal record,” relationship expert Rachel DeAlto told Entertainment Tonight.

Pastor Calvin Roberson also revealed what they look for in a psychological evaluation. “We’re looking at things like their psychological testing, their core values,” he said. “These are legally binding marriages. Annulment is not an option.”

The Australian version of the show set up a same-sex couple first

Although the American version of the show has yet to figure things out, other countries have incorporated same-sex couples into their seasons. Australia’s version of the show set up Craig Roach and Andy John. The two didn’t make it, like many other couples who tried the show.

In 2021, the UK version of the show featured gay couple Matt and Daniel. Since then, they’ve introduced the show’s first-ever lesbian couple, Zoe and Jenna.

So Married at First Sight currently relies on sex to separate potential couples. The CEO of the company in charge of matchmaking for the show said if they can figure out another way that would be inclusive then they’ll do it.

Read more: ‘Married at First Sight’: What Are Red Flags the Experts Look for in Casting?

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