Is ‘Married at First Sight’ Scripted, Real or Fake? Clues

Married at First Sight is one of Lifetime’s most popular reality shows, and for good reason! From the anticipation of seeing who will say “yes” on Decision Day to all the ups and downs in between, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that fans live for the inevitable drama each season – whether it’s real or not.

Is ‘MAFS’ Scripted, Real or Fake?

Fans have long wondered whether the couples on Married at First Sight are matched because of their compatibility – or lack thereof in hopes of creating drama each season.

While speaking to In Touch in July 2022, MAFS relationship expert Pastor Cal opened up about the selection process each hopeful undergoes before being cast on the long-running Lifetime series, which is in its 17th season as of December 2023.

“I know it’s a TV docuseries, but I’m more concerned about whether they can make it for the long haul,” the marriage counselor said, later adding that when it comes to romantic connections, “a great number of people allow desperation to make their decisions for them. Just because you are desperate to be married, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to be married.”

Noting that he has learned to press MAFS contenders “harder” to “weed out pretenders” since signing onto the show in season 4, the Virginia native continued, “I have learned that there is a difference between what someone is ‘open to’ in a relationship and what someone really wants or needs.”

Why Fans Think ‘MAFS’ Is Scripted

Married at First Sight fans have aired their grievances about the show’s alleged “scripted” storylines for years, taking to social media to vent about the couples selected for the social experiment, the interactions between the experts and more.

“The #MAFS seasons have become progressively worse, the formula has changed into pure so-called reality TV scripted drama, it’s no longer about couples finding love. I doubt we’ll ever see another Armani and Woody love story again,” one frustrated Twitter user wrote, another adding, “I love MAFS but this series seems a bit too scripted.”

Multiple social media users on Instagram did not hold back about the quality of the show after season 16 – which took place in Nashville and premiered in January 2023. “This show has moved from honestly caring about wanting people to find love to a show that seems to only care about ratings, train wrecks and shameless advertising of products and companies,” one person wrote, while another echoed similar sentiments, adding, “First season I can’t get into seems like it’s just for drama TV now with the people being picked not ready for marriage.”

Former ‘MAFS’ Cast Member Hinted at Scripted Show

Lindsey – whose roller coaster relationship with Mark was documented during season 14 in Boston – posted an Instagram video ahead of the season 16 premiere insinuating that many of the cast members questioned why certain people were paired together.

“When the new MAFS season starts and you’re trying to figure out how they made the matches,” read text over a clip of the former Lifetime personality looking deep in thought, while the caption read: “I mean we’ve all got our theories. How? Why? Huh? Who? With what? Even going through the process we asked ourselves that daily. That was part of the fun part. One thing is for certain it will be entertaining. Good luck Nashville, may the odds be in your favor.”

Fans wasted no time putting in their own two cents, with one Instagram user commenting, “I’m convinced that one or two matches each season are for entertainment purposes only,” while another added, “One word: drama. They don’t care about relationships anymore. It’s all about drama now, which is sad. Used to be a good show.”

What Is the Success Rate of ‘MAFS’?

Of the 16 completed seasons, 65 couples have married as strangers.

While 44 couples agreed to say ‘Yes’ on Decision Day, as of May 2023, 13 are still married, making the success rate of the marriage experiment about 20 percent.

Which ‘MAFS’ Couples Knew Each Other Before Getting Married?

While most of the couples on Married at First Sight genuinely are strangers, there have been a few times when the newlyweds actually knew each other before tying the knot.

Season 8 couple Luke and Kate had met at a speed dating event prior to their nuptials; however, while Luke recognized his bride as she walked down the aisle, it took Kate a minute to realize where she knew him from.

Season 11 couple Amelia and Bennett actually met at a party months prior to walking down the aisle. Another season 11 couple, Woody and Amani, also met by a chance encounter ahead of their wedding when Amani was bartending part-time, and Woody popped into the spot she was working at.

Johnny and Bao – one of the most tumultuous couples from season 13 – met in college about a decade prior to the show. Bao later revealed that after meeting at an event, Johnny essentially “ghosted” her.

‘MAFS’ New Orleans: Woody and Amani Accused of Being ‘Producer Plants’

In December 2020, Woody and Amani answered burning fan questions in a nearly 40-minute Q&A video posted to their YouTube channel – including whether or not the pair were paid actors or “producer plants,” something that social media users were convinced of at the time.

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“A lot of people have been saying that we’ve been possible plants or actors and that this is all fake… and that is ridiculous,” Amani said. “We just happened to mesh well.”

For his part, Woody further cleared up the confusion, adding, “My name really Woody, her name really Amani. She really from the Chi, I’m really from the city. We really met as strangers, and we really got married in real life. That is a legal document that ain’t fake. Ain’t no acting about that.”

Keep scrolling to read more Married at First Sight backstage secrets.

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Do ‘MAFS’ Cast Get a Heads Up They Were Matched When Reality TV Cameras Show Up?

“No, we do not get a heads up,” season 13 alum Rachel Gordillo answered via her Instagram Stories in December 2023. The Houston native explained that aside from the five matched couples, cameras also follow a few select candidates who don’t get matched into marriages to shake things up.

“What they’ll say is, ‘Hey, we need to get some extra footage of you doing something of your hobbies,’” she continued. “Whenever they do the reveal, you’ll notice people are doing something like related to a hobby … They’ll be like, ‘We’re just gonna film some B-roll’ but they do this lots of times … And every time they do it, ‘You’re kinda like, are they gonna tell me?’”

Do Cast Members Get to Keep the Wedding Dresses and Rings?

Following their time on the show, MAFS stars get to keep both their wedding dresses and rings.

“Austin got me another ring and gave it to me during the reunion episode,” season 10 star Jessica Studer shared via her Instagram Stories in February 2023. “My wedding dress is actually shoved in a bag, and I still need to get it cleaned and stored properly.”

When Is It Legally Official?

While singles meet their future spouse at the altar, when are they officially husband and wife? Season 5 star Ashley Petta revealed when she signed her marriage license to her husband Anthony D’Amico.

“It wasn’t legal until the day after our wedding because we had to be together to apply for it,” the Married at First Sight: Couples Cam alum divulged to fans in a February 2023 Q&A. “They took us the day after the wedding to do all the legal stuff. So we were actually married — legally married — during the process just one day after the wedding.”

Do Producers Initiate Conversation Between Couples?

“Thirty percent maybe,” Ashley Petta told her Instagram followers in February 2023. “I don’t really know though, I think it probably depends on the couple. If you are having good, intentional conversation, they are less likely to intervene. But yeah, they would give us topics to talk about like finances, etc.”

How Much Say Do Brides Have In Their Wedding?

Season 14 star Lindsey Georgoulis gave viewers insight into how much control a bride has over the details of their wedding ceremony with a stranger.

“You can definitely say what you don’t want … You get a little say on what you want to see,” the Boston native said via her Instagram Stories in January 2023. “They give you a blank packet, the packet has you guide what songs, what flowers, what traditions you might want.”