Married At First Sight's Most Uncomfortable Kisses

Married at First Sight has paired numerous strangers together in legally binding marriages. After an extensive interview process, the hopeful singles are matched by a set of experts. They first meet at the altar, having no information about one another prior to saying, "I do." This dating show with a twist is responsible for multiple lasting marriages. There are even children who have been born as a result of these Married at First Sight unions.

During the eight weeks the "extreme social experiment" unravels, the pairs exchange vows, meet each other's families, travel to tropical honeymoon destinations, and move in together. Throughout their journeys, the newlyweds must also navigate another important aspect of a marriage — whether or not they have physical chemistry.

Some couples have it right from the start, while others take more time to get comfortable with one another. And for more than a few pairs, they never find that spark needed to ignite any passion. Needless to say, this has resulted in many awkward kisses over the years. Here are some lip-locks that proved to be cringeworthy for couples and viewers alike.

Fan favorites Stephanie Sersen and AJ Vollmoeller had an instant and playful connection that radiated on screen. When the groom first saw Stephanie, he could not take his eyes off his blushing bride. And during their wedding photo shoot, the CEO could not keep his lips off of the financial consultant. During one long makeout session, the photographer actually had to yell out, "Cut," to break up their just-wedded bliss.

Although the Season 8 pair had to face some roadblocks at the start, such as AJ's impatient attitude when hangry, they are currently enjoying their life together. A true Married at First Sight success story, the couple starred in the spinoff show Married at First Sight: Couples' Cam, filming their self-quarantine in Philadelphia. In an interview with Lifetime, Stephanie dished on how they keep the sparks flying. "So we've been making sure we do nice things for each other around the house. ... And then sometimes we'll do a little romantic dinner on the balcony."

Clearly, Stephanie and AJ's first kiss was a hint at the romance that would grow between them.

After tying the knot in Season 6, Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre have had an on-again, off-again relationship. As apparent on their wedding day, the radiant bride seemed committed to making it work. Jephte, on the other hand, was visibly uncomfortable at being intimate with a stranger, and their photo shoot resulted in a cringeworthy smooch on the cheek. "This is really awkward being this affectionate in front of my family," he said. When someone in the crowd shouted, "On the lips," the schoolteacher retorted, "Mind your business."

On the show's Decision Day, the newlyweds decided to stay married. "He's stuck with me for the rest of his life, but don't tell him that," Shawniece, a cosmetologist, said to the cameras. Before that episode premiered, in April 2018, People reported that she was pregnant. On the spinoff show, Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After, in November 2018, the couple revealed that they'd separated. They eventually reunited and welcomed their first child, Laura, together. So, despite an uncomfortable kiss early on, these two worked on their relationship and remain together.

Season 5's Nate Duhon and Sheila Downs definitely liked what they saw upon first glance. In fact, the Married at First Sight bride admitted she was immediately smitten. In an interview with The Knot, the school director said, "When I met my husband at the altar, there was no denying our chemistry." Therefore, it was no surprise when the pair passionately kissed at the altar. But when they went in for another kiss, Sheila's father stood up and yelled, while laughing, "Hey, you went for seconds. What's the matter with you?" Seeming to share the same sentiment, Nate's dad also reacted to the PDA by making a face. Not surprisingly, the fathers argued during the reception, as noted by the Daily Mail, which was a sign of problems to come.

Nate and Sheila's honeymoon foreshadowed impending doom, as they began their pattern of arguing in front of the cameras. When they eventually filed for divorce, Sheila took to Instagram to expose her partner's alleged infidelity throughout their union. "He was dishonest and there were women throughout our ENTIRE marriage," she claimed (via People). The manager defended himself on Twitter, saying, "Infidelity was not a reason, nor did I ever admit such a thing."

Clearly a passionate kiss — however awkward it may have been — is not always a mark of a great relationship.

During their wedding photo shoot in Married at First Sight Season 4, Nick Pendergrast seemed annoyed at the thought of being intimate with his new bride, Sonia Granados. When the photographer asked for "one little kiss," the newfound groom said, "Oh my goodness, again?" as he unenthusiastically planted a forced kiss on the social worker. Not exactly a reaction you'd want to hear from your new spouse.

Unfortunately, once they settled back home in Miami, Sonia revealed that, after she had sex with her husband, he told her that he wasn't attracted to her. In an interview with The Knot, Nick explained that attraction does not necessarily refer to physical attributes, but the personality of a person. "The way they handle certain situations. The way we generally interact on a person-to-person level. It's a constant roller coaster of emotions," the property manager said. 

On Decision Day, the couple did choose to work on their relationship, but ultimately decided to divorce after less than a year of marriage, as reported by Entertainment Tonight. Given their awkward kiss, this news may have not been too surprising to fans.