'Married at First Sight' Season 17 premiere: Michael is jilted at the altar, Emily and Brennan marry, and three more couples prepare to wed

Married at First Sight premiered with Michael facing rejection and getting jilted at the altar on his wedding day, Emily and Brennan getting married at first sight, and the introduction of three more couples during the Season 17 episode that aired Wednesday night on Lifetime.


Married at First Sight's seventeenth season was filmed in Denver, CO, and stars Michael as well as the following couples: Emily and Brennan, Orion and Lauren, Clare and Cameron, and Austin and Becca.

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The show will feature strangers meeting at the wedding altar and then spending about two months embarking on a honeymoon, moving in together, and navigating the joys and struggles of daily life together.

And at the end of the experiment, Married at First Sight's Season 17 couples will reach "Decision Day" and have to decide whether to remain married or decide to end their marriages and divorce.


The couples were matched by Married at First Sight experts Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, and Dr. Pia Holec.

According to Pastor Cal, this is going to be the "most intense season" of Married at First Sight yet."

The Married at First Sight premiere broadcast began with one groom, Michael, a 38-year-old senior project manager, putting on his suit for his wedding day, and he admitted he was "nervous as f-ck," even though he was also "super excited."

Michael looked forward to being in a wonderful match and growing with his wife. He couldn't wait to watch a scary movie with his wife, cook and explore a new dish together, and try new things.

Michael walked up the altar on his wedding day and put a crown on his head, and he acknowledged how he's "an acquired taste" -- both because of his presentation and his overall personality.


"I'm open to my woman having input in designing me," said Michael, who was rocking earrings, glasses, a neck tattoo, and long curly hair brushed over to one side in his Married at First Sight introduction video.

"This is me at my most confident... but I want my wife to be attracted to me, and I want her to [care] enough to give me that input... like, 'Can you take that nose ring off?'"

Michael was afraid his bride wasn't going to be attracted to him or be into him right from the get-go.

It then became time for the wedding guests to stand, and the Married at First Sight bride took one good look at Michael and admitted to his face, "I don't think I can do this."

Michael then hugged his best man and confessed, "That hurt."


Michael's friend told him that he was deserving of love and had conducted himself like a gentleman. Michael did his best not to break down into tears, but he was visibly upset and in pain.

Two weeks earlier, the Married at First Sight experts had broken the news to the cast members that they'd be getting married to a stranger.

Michael shared with the Married at First Sight cameras how he's not the typical guy in Denver and self-expression is important to him.

"The vehicle for that is how I dress," Michael said, adding how he likes to be himself and wear different patterns and color palettes. "I like to celebrate who I am."

The hardest obstacle Michael had to overcome was losing his dad at a young age. Michael said his father had adored his mother and that's the type of relationship he was hoping to find for himself.


Michael said he was confident in himself and liked to celebrate himself, and he was optimistic about being matched with an extraordinary partner and having an extraordinary life as a result.

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Michael admitted to his friends it would be "a struggle" if his Married at First Sight union didn't work out, but he was trying to remain positive.

Meanwhile, Emily, a 29-year-old account executive for a tech company, considered herself to be the life of the party. She shared how she's a high-energy person and could use a husband who would tone her down.

Emily had been single for 30 years. Most of her relationships apparently ended after Date No. 3 with the men ghosting her, but her parents' successful marriage gave her hope that a happy relationship was out there somewhere for her.


Emily said she'd like to travel -- both recreationally and professionally -- with a spouse. She had a long time to focus on herself and what she wants, and so she hoped to find it on Married at First Sight.

Emily's good friend, however, accused Emily of being into what makes her happy and what's going to work for her long-term. Emily's friend seemed unsure that Emily would think about the other person, put his needs first, and truly give 150 percent.

Emily was matched with Brennan, a 28-year-old originally from New York. Brennan claimed he used to be "a little b-tch" who wouldn't stand up for himself. His parents apparently fought a lot and had poor communication, and so that hurt his adult relationships.

Brennan told the Married at First Sight cameras that he wouldn't settle in a relationship yet he also wasn't going to give up on his spouse.

Brennan said he intends to only get married once, and he shared how divorce was out of the question for him.

Brennan's friends were concerned he may not be vulnerable with his stranger wife during the filming of Married at First Sight.


Pastor Cal said Brennan and Emily are both ambitious, adventurous, driven, and career-oriented with vibrant social lives and strong values that aligned. Pastor Cal predicted that Emily was going to be the supportive and loving partner that Brennan longed for.

Another matched couple was Lauren and Orion, a 27-year-old electrical technician.

Orion, a Native American who is a member of a tribe, shared how he wears his heart on his sleeve and he was looking for an "everlasting" love similar to what his grandparents had.

Orion told Married at First Sight cameras how he had explored his sexuality before but definitely wants to be with a woman.

"I have explored that feminine side when it came to going on a date with a man... It was just a one day. I kind of got a surprise kiss, but that door was [closed]. I was like, 'I'm not gay,'" Orion explained.

Orion's friends noted how he tended to rush into things, and so they advised him to truly get to know his wife on a deep level because she had made a huge sacrifice to participate in this experiment.


Lauren, a 31-year-old federal budget officer, boasted about how she's wild and free but also "a certified lover girl." She identifies as "queer," or maybe just "a floater," but she's more attracted to the strength and security a man can provide.

"I'll always be attracted to women, and I'll always be attracted to men, even outside of my husband -- let's just be real. But I'll be committed to my husband, always. I'm a monogamist," Lauren told the Married at First Sight cameras.

Lauren shared how her mother passed away in April and her mom had stressed wanting Lauren to be with a strong man who will make her feel safe. Lauren wanted to be matched with a man who would love her when she's her best or worst self.

Lauren, a very proud Black woman, said navigating the dating space in Denver was difficult because there's not a lot of color in that city. Lauren said Black culture is important to her but she was open to being matched with a man who's not Black.

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Lauren wished for a kind and funny man with whom she could have "fire-ass sex," and her relatives agreed that Lauren shouldn't be with a "normal and basic" man.


Pastor Cal explained how Orion's masculine and feminine qualities could fulfill Lauren's desire for security and wholehearted acceptance. They both longed to share their culture with their spouse, and so Pastor Cal predicted they'd have a mutual respect for each other and could build a marriage that may last a lifetime.

Another Married at First Sight couple for this season is Austin and Becca.

Austin, a 31-year-old business development representative, was excited about the process, but his mother was "cautious and worried" about the process. She feared her son would lack chemistry with his wife, which probably wouldn't develop with time.

Austin's mom also didn't think he was ready for marriage, which is very "challenging," in her opinion.

When Austin revealed the Married at First Sight experts had found him a match and he'd be getting married in two weeks, cheers could be heard at the dinner table from some of the women -- but his mother Suzanne looked horrified.

Austin described himself as "the typical Colorado native" who loves being outdoors and spending time with friends and family. He felt a need to be social.


Austin said "the right person" for him was hard to find and he didn't want to be in a relationship unless he could envision himself marrying this woman.

Austin shared how he always wanted to get married and start a family, but his mother Suzanne pointed out how Married at First Sight is not the conventional way to get married.

"This is not a game. This is serious and people's feelings are really important," Suzanne said. "You should be nervous; you should be very nervous."

Becca, a 31-year-old wedding photographer, explained how she's quirky and likes to have fun.

Becca said she's a gamer who doesn't follow social norms and she's certainly not boring. Becca always imagined herself being a bride, but she hadn't found The One yet.

Becca told the Married at First Sight cameras how she has an autoimmune disorder that affects her spine and causes chronic debilitating pain in her back. Becca recently had an abdominal surgery that turned into a diagnosis of endometriosis.


"My biggest hope is that I find someone who does care about me and I'm not a burden and that I bring more joy to their life than sadness or complication... 'Sickness and in health' -- you said it, honey! Here I am!" Becca joked in a confessional.

Dr. Pia said she believed Becca's spunky personality would bring out the fun side of Austin, a "good soul" who is emotionally intelligent and driven to make a marriage work.

And the final match of Married at First Sight's seventeenth season was Clare and Cameron.

Cameron, a 32-year-old bicycle shop owner, said he's always wanted to have a wife and a family, but what stopped him from accomplishing that dream was a fear of failure. One of the last fears he conquered was roller coasters, and then he went on to do more thrilling activities.

Cameron's parents got divorced when he was 13-years-old and he spent a lot of time alone.

"I really want to have that feeling that someone has my back, no matter the cost. I'm in another country; my friends and family are not here. I hope to make a family with my new wife," Cameron told the Married at First Sight cameras.


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Cameron had family friends in the United States, but that was it. Cameron's family friends pointed out how Cameron is really picky and so they were shocked he was going through with marrying a stranger on Married at First Sight.

Meanwhile, less than two weeks before her wedding day, Clare, a 27-year-old therapist and quadruplet, explained how helping people gives her fulfillment. One of her siblings, a brother, had passed away, and she cried about how life didn't feel the same without him.

Clare's brother apparently took his own life, which is why Clare is so passionate about mental health and being a therapist.

Focusing on her goals and aspirations essentially got in the way of her relationships, but Clare said she has a strong sense of self and is therefore ready for marriage more than ever before.

"I need a man who can take me out of my comfort zone... and be more spontaneous than I tend to be. I'm not asking for some extravagant lifestyle, but I want to see the world together, make memories, have fun, and I want children," Clare explained in a Married at First Sight confessional.


Clare wanted to find a man who doesn't take life too seriously but is also empathetic, smart and hard-working.

Dr. Pepper said Clare and Cameron are a great match because they're both educated and have overcome challenges, which can foster a deep understand and mutual support. She also thought the spouses' interests and personalities would balance each other well.

With only eight days to go until her wedding day on Married at First Sight, Brennan picked out a black tuxedo for the wedding, and Emily wanted to find a sexy yet classy and elegant "bad-ass-b-tch" dress.

After trying on more than a handful of dresses, Emily started getting stressed and vented about how she felt "rushed." However, she finally found a form-fitting dress that she loved.

On the day Lauren picked out her dress, she got emotional because her mother was no longer around.

Lauren imagined herself looking like "Black Barbie," and she cried because she struggled to pick the perfect gown without her beloved mother's input.


For his part, Orion selected a navy-blue and black tuxedo for his Married at First Sight wedding day. He planned to wear his long hair in a bun and rock shell earrings as a nod to his tribe.

It then became time for the cast's bachelor and bachelorette parties. The grooms partied together at one location while the brides let loose at another bar.

Lauren let a guy take a body shot off her breasts, and Emily, at one point, started twerking against a wall, and she appeared to get pretty drunk.

"I hope Emily's husband is ready because Emily likes to party! I think she's really enjoying her last days as a single woman," Lauren said in a Married at First Sight confessional.

Austin refused a lap dance and distanced himself from the strippers, but the other guys embraced the fun.

During the party, Lauren shared with the other girls how she didn't want a man with an eight or nine-inch penis, and Orion revealed to the guy how he's actually failed in past relationships because his penis was too big and "girthy."


Brennan had no interest in hearing these stories, but Orion got a good laugh out of the grooms-to-be.

Emily and Brennan then woke up on their Married at First Sight wedding day, and they were both ecstatic to become a wife and husband, respectively.

Brennan expressed how he was feeling calm because marriage is "everything" to him. Since his parents had been married for 30 years, he hoped to find the same kind of relationship that would withstand the test of time.

Emily's bridesmaids hoped Emily's groom would be able to "handle" her, and they were a little worried about what he'd think about the fact Emily had never been in a serious relationship before.

Emily said she had a lot to give and was ready to give "to a male," rather than just her friends and family. Emily hadn't seen great examples of healthy romances, but she only wanted to think positively.

"I'm going to figure out -- even if it takes a little time -- why we were matched," Emily noted to the Married at First Sight cameras.


And Brennan hoped to have an attraction as well as his values aligned with his wife. Brennan's groomsmen were optimistic that Brennan's wife would have a great sense of humor and be up for an adventure.

Before walking down the aisle, Emily took a moment to get some air outside and take a deep breath. She had repressed some feelings of anxiety and definitely felt a little fear.

Meanwhile, Brennan was nervous, especially because his father tended to be critical and judgmental of his decisions. But Brennan said he had weighed all of the pros and cons and he felt ready to go through with the Married at First Sight experiment.

Brennan's father called the move to marry a stranger "very bold," but Brennan's mom expressed how she was proud of her son for working so hard to find his soul mate.

"Everyone in our family only had one wedding," Brennan's dad pointed out.

"The woman I marry today is going to be with me for the rest of my life, so it's going to be one hell of a ride," Brennan told the Married at First Sight cameras.


Emily then walked down the aisle with a big smile, and she and Brennan hugged upon meeting. Brennan told Emily that she looked beautiful, and she responded, "Thank you."

Brennan learned from Emily's family and friends at the wedding that Emily is fearless, driven, independent, and a carnivore. T

hey called her "an Energizer Bunny" and a big talker. Brennan was also told that Emily is the life of the party with a strong personality but she's loyal and dedicated to making her husband feel loved.

Emily, in turn, discovered that Brennan is hard-working and loves deeply, and that he also loves to talk and sometimes his inner-New Yorker will come to the surface when he's frustrated. Emily learned that Brennan values quality time and is a loyal and considerate man who's a bit frugal.

In their self-written Married at First Sight vows, Emily said this was her first time in a relationship, being married, and taking the risk of a lifetime. Emily said she couldn't wait for the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and that she'd be in it for the long haul.

And Brennan told Emily how he had been waiting his entire life for this moment. He promised to listen to her, offer advice only when asked, and be spontaneous -- such as bringing home flowers or taking her on late-night fast food trips whenever necessary.


Emily appeared to like everything she heard, and then she and Brennan both said, "I do."

Emily and Brennan shared a nice kiss at the altar after being declared a married couple.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski