When Married at First Sight premiered in 2014, the newlywed couples were encouraged to stay away from other couples and nurture their own relationships. However, during Season 6, something changed, and the couples started meeting up for organized group hangouts (via E! News).
These hangouts weren't necessarily set up to cause more drama, though producers likely knew drama would eventually happen. "In the spirit of authenticity, these people all live in the same city, and they are obviously super curious to know, and I'm sure left to their own devices they would find out who the other people are," the show's producer, Chris Coelen, told E! News. He continued, saying, "So why not embrace that [and] let them support each other?"
Dr. Pepper Schwartz, one of the show's relationship experts, told E! News that Married at First Sight isn't a "static show," which allows it to change and evolve with the times. By creating a community between the couples, marriages and friendships blossomed — as evidenced by Season 10 star Mindy Shiben, who found a sisterhood with the rest of the female cast after her divorce from Zach Justice.
