7 Wedding Reality Shows That’ll Make You Want to Say “I Do”

Usually for couples on their wedding day, standing at the altar signifies a promise of commitment and love as they reminisce about the first time they met and recount the cherished memories the two have shared throughout their relationship—the moments that have strengthened their bond and affection and that, hopefully, foretell a long, happy marriage to come. 

This is definitely not the case for the couples on Married at First Sight. As you might have already guessed by the title, this show features individuals who are looking for love and have entrusted relationship experts in the field (sexologists, psychologists, and marriage counselors) to arrange their perfect match. It isn’t until their actual wedding day, as the bride walks down the aisle, that the two strangers get to meet for the first time! 

After their wedding, the couple goes on a honeymoon and then returns to reality to navigate married life while learning about their new partners’ quirks, communication styles and triggers. Once the eight weeks are through, each couple must decide whether they want to remain married or get a divorce. With 16 completed seasons, viewers can get their fix of romance and drama as they watch both heartwarming connections form and heated arguments ensue as singles learn the realities of marriage.   

Four newlywed couples get the chance to win an exotic honeymoon—the only catch is that they must compete with other brides by attending each other’s weddings and rating them based on their wedding dress, venue, food, and overall experience. Are the ratings fair and unbiased? Of course not! Do the brides usually end up nitpicking details and finding fault in the most insignificant of details? Absolutely! It’s what makes this show highly bingeable (I can spend a whole weekend watching episode after episode if I’m not careful). You’ll get to see a multitude of different wedding themes, entertainment, and venues (one wedding is even pirate-themed!) as brides battle for the best wedding experience.   

Comedian Jamie Lee provides support and guidance for soon-to-be-wed couples that are finding the wedding-planning process to be extremely stressful. She challenges the “bridezilla” stereotype by providing empathy to the people she is helping and by spotlighting how incredibly overwhelming this event can be despite the constant portrayal of weddings as a dream-come-true, perfect process. From a bride with a secret baby bump to a couple facing family drama that might hamper the joy of their big day, Jamie Lee is there to make sure the day runs as smoothly as possible while reminding the couple, amid the wedding-planning chaos, why they are getting married in the first place.   

From the creators of Queer Eye, follow three professionals in their industry: Jeremiah Brent in the field of design, Thai Nguyen in the field of fashion, and Gabriele Bertaccini in the field of cuisine. The three work together to do the impossible—plan and execute a wedding in a week to help people surprise their partners with the wedding of their dreams! If you aren’t in the mood for drama and want to watch episodes that are touching and allow you to connect with each of the featured couples’ love stories, then this one will become one of your comfort watches. 

Sometimes you’re in the mood for heartwarming love stories that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and sometimes we crave watching relationships that are in disarray. One of my favorite sayings is, “I like drama in my TV shows, not my life.” Sometimes we want to see the messiness that comes with relationships because that imperfect state is closer to reality. If that sounds like your perspective, then you should consider watching Bride & Prejudice: Forbidden Love, which follows couples whose families disapprove of their marriage due to race, religion, or sexual orientation. Although forbidden romance can be a pretty heartbreaking premise for a show about marriage, it does have a hopeful message that with enduring love, a relationship can persevere regardless of the obstacle.

This two-part series spotlights India’s multibillion-dollar wedding industry through six different weddings across the globe. Find out what goes into the planning process—from the bride’s stunning, colorful adornment to the inclusion of sacred traditions during the marriage ceremony. You’ll get to see how brides and grooms integrate old customs with a modern twist that authentically portrays their unique personalities. It provides viewers with an intimate look at spectacular celebrations of love that’ll make you feel like you’re one of the guests at their wedding.   

If you haven’t already watched it, you’ve probably heard of the highly popular Love is Blind show. Hopeless romantics engage in a dating experiment where they go on actual blind dates in pods where they can only hear the other’s voice. After 10 days of pod-dating, if they have found a connection, they must become engaged. It is only then that they meet face-to-face to see who they are engaged to. At the end of six weeks, they must either declare their love for each other in front of family and friends at the altar or decide to part ways (also in front of everyone who has attended their wedding). 

For those who are curious about the show’s premise but aren’t particularly fond of the over-the-top drama or more raunchy discussion of sexuality (no shame if you’re into that though!), then I recommend watching Love Is Blind: Japan. It’s the exact same premise, but in my opinion, it has a lot more heartwarming moments and displays mature, wholesome conversations. I’m not ashamed to admit that I even shed a few tears by the end—a couple I wanted to stay together did, but don’t worry, I’ll let you watch to see if you can guess which one it was!