Culture

11 Behind-The-Scene Facts You Might Not Know About “Love Is Blind”

The "Love Is Blind" drama is all the talk on social media right now since the current season wrapped up and the botched live reunion aired. The idea of two people falling in love “sight unseen” may sound crazy enough to write off altogether, but here are some things that might intrigue you about this reality dating show.

By Hannah Leah4 min read
Love Is Blind Season 4/Netflix
Love Is Blind Season 4/Netflix

It’s no wonder Love Is Blind has gained such popularity. Falling in love without knowing how someone looks physically, and in such a short period of time, and then committing to them in marriage – it’s all very bizarre. But there are a few successful couples who have come from the show thus far and are still thriving. 

In the beginning of the series, there are clips of each contestant conversing with someone on the other side of the wall. This segment of the show doesn’t last long, so it can be deceiving to viewers because we see people claiming to have found their one and only after talking for what seems like a blip of time on screen. But after reading some of the rules and expectations of the cast, it makes a little more sense how they can get to know someone so quickly. In fact, there are several things I learned about the cast that help put some of the puzzle pieces together. 

1. Couples Date for 10 Days in the Pods

The first part of the series is when the cast starts dating. They date in the pods for a total of 10 days. Once they get engaged, even if that is shorter than 10 days, they will meet their match in person the following day, and then they go on vacation together (similar to a honeymoon trip), where they spend physical time together before going back home. After this week-long trip, they go home and live together, and the wedding is only a few weeks later. 

2. No Wifi or TV Is Permitted, but Books Are Allowed

One reason this experiment seems to work out for some people is because there are no distractions. During their time on the show, the cast members can’t use wifi or watch TV. Aside from dating, the cast can read, work out, chat, eat, and cook, but no access to social media or the internet is allowed. I would guess that part of the reason for this is so they can’t do any online stalking. 

3. No Phones Are Allowed

Similar to the last rule, no phones are allowed either. They want the cast to be isolated from the outside world and don’t want any interference from their family, friends, or social media. Phones would also risk leaking some spoilers, which might be a big factor in this rule. 

4. Sleeping Arrangements Are Just Average

The lounge where contestants hang out between pod dates looks cozy enough, but according to Kenny Barnes from Love Is Blind Season 1, this is not where they slept. He told Refinery29, "We slept in trailers, and they were correctional facility beds. The design was to just strip us down from our comfort level.” One source claims this arrangement changed to hotel rooms in later seasons, but producers must escort the cast to and from the rooms to make sure they don’t bump into their love interest. 

5. Cast Members Can Remain on a Date in the Pods for As Long As They Want, Whenever, and with Whoever They Want

The first couple of pod dates are set up by producers since no one knows each other. This feels like a speed dating kind of thing. Each day, the cast will rank their dates until they find their top love interests, and once they do, they can date in the pods for any amount of time, whenever they would like. 

6. Producers and Hosts Don’t Interfere in Relationships

The producers set up the initial dates before the cast gets to know each other and finds out who their top contenders are, but that’s about it. Unlike The Bachelor franchise, producers and hosts don’t have a say in who the cast chooses. They simply just guide the cast through the process. It is truly up to the cast to decide who they want to be with, and if there is no connection, they go home. 

7. The Cast Members Can Spend Pod Time However They Want

Pod time can be used however the cast wants. If they want to get deep with each other, they can converse for hours; if they aren’t feeling it, they could sleep. Activities are encouraged in the pods, that way it gives more of a real-life date kind of feeling. They can bring games, food, or music. Whatever the couple would like to do, without actually seeing one another.

8. The Cast Can Request Food for Their Dates

If you’re going to spend hours with someone, especially with someone you can’t see face to face, you can at least eat a meal together. The cast is welcome to request certain food to share on the date. You’ll notice this in a few of the episodes. They can also request food outside the pods, or they can cook in the lounge area. 

9. The Show Pays for a Large Portion of the Wedding

Weddings are paid for by the show, but there isn’t an unlimited budget. Anything extra that the couple wants, they are welcome to pay for, but the show does cover the majority of the cost. As long as it's within reason, the couple is welcome to plan everything to their liking and add their own special touches. They can’t choose the venue, however, as that is planned out months in advance by production. 

10. Cast Members Can’t Share Their Relationship Status until the Show Airs

Nobody likes spoilers! Cast members are contractually obligated to keep their relationship status a secret until the show airs. Then, at the reunion, which is filmed around a year after filming, we get all the juicy updates on the couples! They are allowed to share the news with their families during the engagement process, and close family and friends can attend the wedding. 

11. Some Couples That Get Engaged Are Not Featured on the Show

That's right. Production can only follow so many couples throughout the show, so they pick and choose which are worth following. The initial cast was 40-50 people, and that dwindled down to around 20-25 people in the pods. Cast members are sent home once they realize there is no strong connection with anyone, that way people who do have a connection can focus more on their relationships. In Season 1, there were eight couples who got engaged, but the show sent two couples home.

The creator of Love Is Blind, Chris Coelen, shared some details with E! News about how the show is set up. When discussing the first season he said, “Originally, we wanted to follow five couples if we had the chance to do that, we ended up following six. We felt like we wanted to tell diverse stories, frankly. We weren't sure where the stories were going to go, everybody felt like they truly found the person they wanted to spend their life with, and we had an abundance of story…we just didn't have time in the show to follow them, which is incredible to me."

Closing Thoughts

You only get a glimpse of everything when watching a show like Love Is Blind. It’s easy to get caught up in the drama, but these are real people on camera, and things aren’t always as they seem. What I find the most wholesome about this show compared to other dating shows is that the production orchestrates things but leaves the cast to create their own story. The cast members have a much bigger say in who they get to know and the final decision they make.  

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