Michael From Season 17 of 'Married at First Sight' Experiences a First for the Franchise

The first couple of episodes of Married at First Sight feature the unthinkable for one Season 17 cast member, Michael. He is left at the altar in front of his friends and family, along with his bride's loved ones too. And it's a crushing moment to watch, especially since this has never happened before in an episode of the U.S. version of the show.

Does this mean Michael doesn't get married at all on MAFS, though? Michael's experience is the worst case scenario for most of the participants. And, although he takes it well when his unnamed match says she can't go through with the wedding, it's hard not to feel for him. And this is something viewers haven't seen before, even if it may have happened for past pairs that weren't on the show.

But all is not lost, apparently, since it looks like Michael gets a second chance at marriage.

Though we see a little more of their interaction at the altar in the second episode, we still don't know the bride's identity or see her face by the end of Episode 2. In fact, the camera doesn't even show the bride's family or friends who attended the ceremony.

"I'm sorry," she tells Michael at the altar. "I don't think I can do this. I don't want to marry a stranger."

Michael graciously tells her that he understands and that he wishes the best for her and respects her decision.

"Thank you so much," she tells him. "Wow, what an amazing guy. I'm sorry."

Michael's groomsmen eventually come to hug him as the things wind down. A visibly heartbroken Michael tells them that he didn't see this happening.

While it doesn't look like Michael initially gets the happy ending that fans hoped for him, he may still get married this season — just not to the woman he was initially matched with.

We see Michael sit down with the experts in the Jan. 3 episode of MAFS and he agrees that the idea of getting matched with someone new is exciting.

Unfortunately, Michael's friends aren't all thrilled at the possibility of seeing him heartbroken again. Even though Michael's situation, of being left at the altar, isn't common on MAFS, one of his friends points out that it happened once, so the process of finding him another match could result in the same outcome.

In the preview following the Jan. 3 episode of MAFS, we see a woman by the name of Chloe as she shops for a wedding dress. Before now, she hadn't been introduced on the show. But it looks like she is Michael's new bride-to-be.

While the jury is still out on whether or not she and Michael hit it off (or even make it to the point where they can both say "I do," it's already a positive sign that viewers see Chloe before her nuptials. When Michael geared up for his first wedding, there was a lot of mystery surrounding the woman he was set to marry. So if Chloe is Michael's new bride, then things are already off to a better start.

To date, no one on the U.S. version of MAFS has ever said "no" to their bride or groom on their wedding day. We've had uncertainty and even some cringy moments where loved ones may have uttered a word or two from their seats. But no one has actually refused to marry their match at the altar. One fan on Reddit shared they believe there were moments like this, but that couples who that happened to were replaced, unbeknownst to viewers.

Someone else claimed they did hear of it happening in an earlier season.

"I vaguely remember someone backing out in the original Atlanta season and Sam and Neil being the 'replacement couple,'" they wrote. "But I don't think they got as far as going down the aisle. It never made it on the show."

Whatever the case may be, Season 17's Michael will definitely be remembered for his own ill-fated wedding day.

Watch Married at First Sight on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.