The reality TV dating show Love is Blind has taken over Netflix and there's no going back. Based on the age-old question "is love blind?," we meet a bunch of singles who go on dates without ever actually seeing each other. If the dates go well enough and a genuine connection is formed, they can see each other after a person proposes.
Thousands of viewers have been curious about the rules of this show and if the marriages are actually binding (if the couple goes through with it). And, they absolutely are. With a short-term engagement and a possible wedding to a person they've only known a couple of days, we're taking a look at 10 rules the cast of Love is Blind had to follow to find their perfect match.
The Contestants Dated For 10 Days Without Seeing Each Other
As fans of the show know, the singles date in separated pods so they never actually see each other. Each pod is sound-proof too, so there are absolutely no distractions.
On the show, it looks like the singles only date for a day or two before falling head over heels in love for each other; however, in reality, they would have dated for 10 days. To kick off the show, producers paired random couples together for about eight to 10 minutes to break the ice.
No Phones & Definitely No Social Media
Love is Blind states a couple of times that the singles don't have their phones on them. While they were in the dating stages, there were no TVs, cell phones, laptops, and WiFi. Each person was encouraged to date as much as they can in the pods and to talk it out with their housemates to help make their decision. Without the outside world to interfere, these singles were fully immersed in the dating pool.
Once the couples met and got to know each other more, it became apparent that phones and social media can trigger big argumentive discussions between the couples. For Giannina and Damian, her phone usage and obsession with Instagram was brought up a few times.
They Didn't Have To Get Engaged If They Didn't Want To
Just in case viewers thought these couples had to get engaged after dating, that wasn't the case. Each man and woman made it their own choice to propose, accept, or deny the engagement. According to Chris Coelen (the producer and creator of Love is Blind), no one was "required" to get married!
It wasn't like producers forced an engagement down the participants' throats to make great TV. It was only if the couples felt it was the right decision for them, and casting was very important because the producers wanted to find people who really wanted to find love.
They Couldn't Tell Anyone They Were Engaged Until After Mexico
With the couples having no contact with the outside world while dating, they are then whisked away to Mexico where they're encouraged to get to know each other on a deeper — more physical — level.
But just because they were outside of their pods doesn't mean they were allowed to be on their phones. The couples weren't allowed to tell their friends or family about their engagement until after their time in Mexico. This led to genuine, shocked reactions from their loved ones, as seen on TV.
Conversations Had To Be Genuine
For a dating reality TV show, one would expect the producers to get involved or tell them what to talk about. After all, isn't that what most reality villains complain about most? That the editing made them look like a worse person than they actually were?
However, that wasn't the case on Love is Blind. The participants were never obstructed with how to act or what to say on their dates in the pods. Everything was completely authentic and genuine.
If A Contestant Didn't Feel A Connection With Anyone, They Were Sent Home
On the show, viewers got to see five engaged couples (not including Diamond and Carlton) go on a ride of a lifetime; however, starting off, producers actually had "40-50" singles.
To narrow it down, whoever wasn't creating romantic connections in the pods were asked to leave by producers. Eventually, they got it down to 20-25 people before seeing the five all-star couples on Netflix.
There Wasn't A Limit On The Amount of Pod Dates
The entire premise of Love is Blind is so fascinating because it's hard to imagine wanting to marry a person before seeing them. With episodes only lasting about an hour, it makes you wonder how long each person or couple got to spend dating before linking up and devoting themselves to each other.
According to Variety, the couples got to spend as much time as they wanted in the pods on their dates because the producers wanted to give the couples an actual shot at everlasting love. They were allowed to venture into the pods as many times as they wanted, for as long as they wanted.
Nick & Vanessa Lachey Weren't Allowed To Get Involved
It was a little odd to see Nick and Vanessa Lachey as the show's host because although they're a married couple, it's not like they met through a dating show or on a blind date. Nevertheless, '90s fans were pumped.
Although the Lacheys were the hosts, they weren't allowed to interfere or meddle in the couples' relationships. Even their advice wasn't warranted!
Their Living Arrangements Weren't What Viewers Thought
On TV, the men and women's living arrangements looked pretty swanky. The interior was beautiful and there was a gorgeous bar with a ton of alcohol (shocker). However, viewers do not get to see where the singles slept and there's a good reason for that.
According to Kenny, "We slept in trailers and they were correctional facility beds. The design was to just strip us down from our comfort level." Outside of sleeping, everyone seemed to hangout joyfully in the common area where they all talked and vented about their possible relationships.
They Had To Live In Atlanta, Georgia
Through the pods, it is revealed that Mark and Jessica were both from the state of Illinois but both lived in Atlanta. It was when everyone was meeting each other's families that fans learned everyone also lived around Atlanta, Georgia, which was on purpose.
To make things easier for the couples, producers wanted everyone to live in the same city so they had a strong chance of actually making it work. It also made things easier for filming.