Episode two of the channel 4 program was the wedding day for each couple

The couples were wed at a central london wedding office in front of their friends and family.

The grooms met their brides family before even meeting their bride.

Their first kiss was in front of their friends and family.

Then there were wedding photos and awkward moment for what is quite intimate photos requiring intimacy and interaction.

At the receptions the brides got to know their grooms more by the bet man speeches.

At the end of the reception they moved onto the hotel and their first night together; I wonder if there was a spare room for each couple if they felt it way to awkard to spend the wedding night together.

• James and Emma.

James is 33 and he stated he had gone through the normal process of being a single bloke and that people around him had settled down and he was keen to do the same.

Emma is 32 and said she had struggled to find love she was nervous and wanted to get the wedding out of the way as that would be the hardest point she readily admitted she struggled to let people in to get to know the real her.

Emmas father struggled to come to terms and did not attend the wedding her sister gave her away.

James looked extremely nervous and was concerned he woud fall for her and she not him, Emma even though she said she was excited she was very nervous and wondered was she doing the right thing.

On meeting at “the alter” James cracked a joke to break the ice, Emma appeared to look at the ground and giggle nervously (she admitted that when she is nervous she giggles).

James confidently said his vows; Emma struggled making numerous mistakes and getting a frog in her throat. She continued to giggle and look nervous and she stuggled to make eye contact throughout.

Emmas mother liked James sense of humour, James mother had a very good feeling.

Emmas first impression was he had nice dark eyes which is what she likes, James admitted he could not say as his mind was blank and hoyght she had a mad man style and she looked cool.

Emma seemed at the reception to look for reassurance from her friends.

James thought Emma was really nice and that they were very similiar, she tought he was a really nice guy and she thought it was scary they were so alike and she was not really after the exact same perso.

• Jason and Kate

Jason is 33 and admited he was choosey and had not met the one and had not found it easy to meet the one.

Kate is 31 and has little time for love while building her personal trainer business over the last 3 years. My immediate view was that Kate seemed the most focussed, level headed and eager to explore the process. I do wonder why she agreed to take part

On meeting Jason Kate’s mother thought he seemed at first impressions focussed and commited.

On meeting at “the alter” Kate seemed really smiley and happy and excited a little giggly perhaps on seeing Jason, Jason looked petrified.

Jasons vows were unsurprisingly a little stuttery , Kates were flawless.

After getting married Jason first thoughts were when he met her she was a very pretty, beautiful girl and he felt good. Kate admitted she was unsure but as she looked more and more into his eyes she liked him.

Kates bridesmaids thought it felt normal and her reaction was good, Tim, Jasons best man thought there was a spark and the social experiment had worked.

Jason at the end of the episode admitted he was happy and he was attracted Kate felt the same and she was really happy and thought it gad gone well.

In the taxis back to the honeymoon hotel was really the first time they could interact. Kate and Jason agreed the day had gone well. Emma and James had a discussion around how nervous she found the last night.

Initial impressions from watching the show was that Jason and Kate seemed to get along far easier throughout each stage after the marriage ceremony for the wedding photos and reception, Emma was not keen on the first kiss in front of the wedding photographer. There was far more interaction i.e. hand holding and kisses between the Jason and Kate.

I would presume that the honeymoon and 5 weeks together would show Jason and Kate embracing the process far better than Emma and James. Only episode three would tell.

There have already been numerous dating shows on television of the last 30 years from Blind Date, Dating In The Dark, The Undateables , Take Me Out, The Batchelor to name but some. Over 3 episodes Channel 4 have aired the ultimate show in this genre Married at First Sight. The programme was  dubbed by its producers a ground breaking social experiment.

The idea being that a team of experts via a series of tests would match people with the goal of finding the perfect match. This would be tested by the matches being officially married without having met before the first meeting and view of each other was at the marriage ceremony and living together for 5 weeks before they would then decide if they would like to stay together or divorce.

The show was based on a Danish format with versions already having appeared on both US and Australian tv, no doubt other countries are in the process of producing or have already produced a show.

So what happened;

Episode One – Introduced the viewer to the format.

Over the course of a year via various tests experts matched couples that had applied to take part. The program mentioned that approx 1500 people applied for the program. There was no indication of how people became aware of the program I would guess it was via normal advertising processes for programs. After testing over a course of a year 3 couples were chosen as perfect matches.

The experts on the show were Jo Coker – Psycho-sexual therapist and psychologist , Dr Mark Coulson – Associate Professor of Psychology, Reverend Nick Devenish – Church of England Priest and Dr Anna Machin – Evolutionary Anthropologist.

It has been subsequently reported that Nick Devenish vicar at the Church of St Mary & St Michael in Cartmel, Cumbria, who does not perform marriages on the show but helped in the couple picking process was criticised by the Bishop of Manchester who said should not have appeared and by Rt Rev David Walker who described show as ‘inappropriate and rather seedy’.

Dr Anna Machin is a member of the department of experimental psychology medical sciences division at Oxford University and her profile on the univeristy site states “My research focuses upon the psychology, cognition and neurobiology of human social relationships.   I am interested in how individuals maintain their closest relationships and why people might differ in their desire and ability to do this.   I have a particular interest in long term romantic relationships and the father-infant relationship.”

Dr Mark Coulson is Reader in Psychology at the School of Health and Education in the department of Psychology at the Middlesex University. His profile on the university website states his research and interests include Psychology of happiness (positive psychology), Expression of emotion through body posture and movement; theoretical and simulation models of emotion, Effects of video games, Efficacy of psychological therapies, especially in older adults and Mindfulness.

Jo Coker web profile states “I am an HCPC reg Counselling Psychologist and an accredited BACP and COSRT psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. I have worked for 35 years in the NHS with individuals, couples and families in a variety of clinical and counselling roles. At present I am the Clinical Director of Local Counselling Centre which offers counselling across the home counties.”

The matching process matched the couples on various criteria, including their DNA, physical data, relationship history and their intelligence and also used a form of video diary.

After this matching 3 couples were chosen as the ideal match these were

Emma Rathbone and James Ord-Hume,

Kate Stewart and Jason Knowles

Samantha and Jack

The individuals in couples were informed by telephone in frot of a camera their responses were as if they had suddenly realised what they had got themselves into and you could see te nerves start to come through. Each individuals next step was to inform their family and friends. I would presume that they had been sworn to some form as secrecy in the application process as their was genuine shock from the respective families. Unfortunately due to how her family reacted Samantha pulled out of the show meaning Jack also had to drop out. It would be interesting to know their thoughts on seeing each other on tv once the program aired.

The other two couples then went around the normal process of purchasing wedding dresses and suits and having stag and hen parties. The only indication they had of their respective partners was seeing the other persons name and information on the marriage license they had to sign.