1. A background check has to be done first
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Background checks are essential for anyone potentially appearing on the show as a couple, because there needs to be certainty that there’s no one with a criminal record, a history of abuse or anything that could be problematic for the show (and for the person marrying them!).
2. The marriage is legally binding – it’s not just for show!
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You might have had doubts about how real the marriage actually is – it would make sense if it was a fake wedding ceremony as the couples decided whether they wanted to stay together. But the marriage itself is very much real, and it’s a legally binding contract.
3. The marriage licence has to be signed straight away
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It’s taken so seriously that there isn’t even any delay in the couples signing on the dotted line! The newlyweds have to sign their marriage licence straight away after the ceremony, which usually happens off camera, and in the same way that anyone getting married would do.
4. Couples must sign a prenup
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For a show where there’s a pretty hefty chance couples will not be compatible and end up getting a divorce, it’s no surprise that they have to all sign a prenup before getting married. The couples need to have legal protection for all the things they own before coming on the show.
5. Anyone appearing on the show has to do a psychological questionnaire
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Psychological questionnaires are an important part of the application process, and it’s not about being compatible with potential matches. It’s so that the show’s professionals can check that people wanting to take part are mentally and emotionally ready for that kind of experience.
6. Yes they actually have to pass an interview to be on the show!
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Another part of the very extensive selection process is an interview, which needs to happen over Skype or over the phone. These interviews are mandatory for going to the next stage of the process. Anyone who makes it through the interview stage will then have the questionnaire, at which point some people will be rejected.
7. They genuinely do move in with a complete stranger
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Is there anything more terrifying than marrying a complete stranger? Living with one for 8 weeks! It isn’t all for show where the couples appear like they’re living together and then go to their own apartments once the cameras are off. They actually do move in together ‘at first sight’.
8. You won’t get rich appearing on this show
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You might get rich emotionally if you end up finding your soul mate, but definitely don’t go on this show thinking you’ll make a quick buck. Although reality TV is known for making some people a lot of money, MAFS couples aren’t becoming millionaires anytime soon. They pay is notoriously bad, and this is to keep the focus on love and not getting rich or famous!
9. The couples are separated before the show
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The show takes it very seriously about the altar being the very first time these couples see each other, so before the final couples are chosen for definite, all potential couples have to be separated completely before the show begins so that everything is kept a complete surprise.
10. The show is very strict about people lying
image source: themirror.co.uk
With the thorough selection process, applicants are expected to be completely honest about themselves, and their lives. The show doesn’t abide by twisting the truth, and there’s even a home visit during the final stages of the application so that production can check everything is as they claimed it was!
11. They have to agree to be filmed for 8 weeks, 10 hours a day
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No matter your reason for wanting to appear on the show, one thing you need to be 100% sure about is having a camera in your face 10 hours a day, for 8 weeks. Not just a camera on you, but a camera watching as you deal with a new marriage and sharing a home with a complete stranger!
12. Couples have to pay for their own divorce
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It doesn’t always work out on MAFS, as we know, and some couples elect to get divorced instead of stay married. Unfortunately, that means they have to pay for their own divorce – because production doesn’t have a divorce budget as well as a marriage one! And that’s pretty bad seeing as you don’t get paid a lot for being on the show in the first place.
13. Baggage is not allowed!
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Another part of the application process sees production checking any baggage you may have from a past life. The show takes it very seriously about couples starting a fresh with each other, so applicants aren’t allowed to have been previously married or have any children from previous partners in MAFS abroad versions!
14. DNA tests have to be done to make sure you’re not accidentally marrying your cousin…
image source: telegraph.co.uk
Applicants also need to have a DNA test prior to coming on the show, so that everyone can be sure two people appearing in the show and being coupled up aren’t actually related without knowing it! The DNA test isn’t just about family members, though – it’s also to understand health conditions that might need to be taken into account for the future of a relationship.
15. Deciding divorce on D-Day doesn’t mean the end
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As we know, Decision Day is when a couple must decide to stay together or go their separate ways. If the latter, this isn’t the end of the experience and back to normal lives. There’s obviously the divorce to go through (and pay for), but couples may also have to continue working with the show’s experts for months and months to reach a good place.
16. Social media is the only way to find out what happens after the show
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One of the biggest things viewers are going to want to know after the show is what the couples are up to after staying married, or getting divorced. The only way to find out is if the couples themselves choose to share updates on their own social media. The show has no rules about this, and doesn’t update anything themselves.
17. Speaking of social media: contestants aren’t allowed to look!
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As we know, social media shows a lot about a person – including selfies – so the show is very strict about none of the couples looking at social media during the show. This is to avoid any of them doing research on partners, or finding things out before they’re matched up. All social media has to be hidden.
18. There’s a guest limit for the big day
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There is also a strict rule about the amount of guests allowed for the wedding ceremony, which might end up disappointing a few couples who always dreamed of hundreds of guests! There’s a limit to around 20, so that camera angles can be perfectly done without too many people in the way of shots!
19. They’re careful not to offend religious groups
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There’s a reason that there’s never a traditional church wedding in the show. While the marriage itself is a legally binding contract, the show doesn’t want to offend any religious groups by having a ceremony in a church, so they always opt for a civil ceremony for all the couples!
20. There wasn’t always going to be dinner parties
image source: channel4.com
The dinner party is always an exciting episode for viewers – not so much for the couples who end up arguing. Originally, though, producers didn’t think having a full dinner party with all the cast members was a good idea, because it was thought it would feel too forced or “fake”.
