9 Rules You Didn’t Know Married at First Sight Contestants Have to Follow

Married at First Sight’s title might say all you need to know about the show, but there are many rules contestants must follow on their journey to find love.

Since its debut in 2014, the show has attracted a dedicated following, with fans tuning in to watch the dramatic and often heartwarming journeys of individuals agreeing to marry a complete stranger.

The process begins with each participant placing their romantic future in the hands of the show’s experts (currently Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Calvin “Cal” Roberson and Dr. Pia Holec), who carefully match them based on personality, compatibility and lifestyle. The couples then meet for the first time at their wedding, where they must trust the experts’ choice and say, “I do.”

Following the wedding, the newlyweds embark on a honeymoon, move in together and navigate the early days of married life. The ultimate decision comes at the end of the experiment: Will they choose to stay together or get a divorce?

There are also a slew of rules each contestant must follow throughout the process. Here’s everything to know about the rules Married at First Sight contestants have to abide by, including guidelines for their televised weddings.

Marriages are legally binding in the U.S.

On MAFS, the marriages are not just for show — they are legally binding unions, solidified by an actual marriage license.

All couples must sign a prenuptial agreement

Couples are required to sign a prenuptial agreement before they walk down the aisle, which offers basic protection for both parties entering the marriage, a rep for the show confirms.

All cast members and wedding attendees must also sign an NDA

Privacy is a major concern to ensure no spoilers leak before the season airs.

To prevent any details from getting out, everyone who attends a Married at First Sight wedding, as well as the contestants themselves, must sign a non-disclosure agreement.

As Sonia Granados, a contestant from season 4, explained to Cosmopolitan, “The people who do make it have to promise they’ll keep it a secret for several months and sign a nondisclosure agreement. No one can post on Facebook the next day, ‘My daughter got married!’ “

Contestants dictate filming schedules

The show goes into the day to day lives of the couples. A rep for the show says there are no set hours — some couples are filmed for eight hours a day, some are filmed every day. The contestants dictate their own filming schedules.

A psych evaluation is required

The producer’s vetting process goes beyond the questionnaire — contestants also undergo both psychological evaluations to check they’re mentally fit for the marriage experiment.

As Pastor Roberson explained the thorough process to Entertainment Tonight, “We’re looking at things like their psychological testing, their core values.”

The evaluation system also includes analyzing certain physical traits — like the hip-to-waist ratio in women and the hip-to-shoulder ratio in men — as these attributes are thought to play a role in perceived sexual desirability and compatibility.

The show does not cast parents

Applicants for Married at First Sight are questioned about their previous relationships, whether they’ve experienced heartbreak, their openness to finding love again as well as their personal definition of love. But not everyone is eligible to participate.

The show does not allow individuals who have children to take part. They are allowed to have been previously married, however.

They meet with wedding planners to envision their big day

The couples have a say in their wedding and each sit down with a wedding planner to share their dream details. Aside from choosing the venue, they have a say in everything else, a rep for the show tells PEOPLE. They get to pick their dresses, suits, flowers, schemes, etc.

Contestants cannot have public social media accounts

Social media accounts are set to private to prevent any spoilers leaking before the show airs.

The production team covers therapy and divorce costs

According to a rep for the show, production will cover the cost of therapy for all couples.

If the marriage doesn’t work out after the eight-week filming period on Married at First Sight, the team will also offer assistance through divorce costs.