Chris's article

Introduction

When TLC premiered Seeking Sister Wife in January 2018, viewers were introduced to plural families searching for or welcoming a new wife into their homes. The show immediately sparked interest, conversation, and curiosity about polygamous lifestyles. What most people do not know is that Sister Wives (SisterWives.com), the leading dating and matchmaking platform for polygamous and polyamorous relationships, played a central role in how the first season came together. Here, Sister Wives refers to the platform, not TLC’s series.

TLC’s casting team collaborated directly with Christopher Alesich, CEO of Matchmakers Inc., and Robyn Alesich, COO, who together own Sister Wives. Through this partnership, the network gained access to the platform’s community of plural families and individuals interested in plural marriage. Nearly the entire Season 1 cast, including the Alldredge family, was discovered with the help of this collaboration. TLC valued the partnership enough to fly Christopher and Robyn to Hollywood as casting wrapped up.

This article explores how Sister Wives became the dating site that helped create TLC’s Seeking Sister Wife.

The Vision Behind Seeking Sister Wife

Building on the success of TLC’s Sister Wives, which followed one family already established in plural marriage, Seeking Sister Wife focused on families in transition. Season 1 highlighted three very different families:

• The Briney Family: A fundamentalist Mormon family with three wives living together under one roof for the first time. Their story centered on the difficulties of blending households, managing 15 children, and protecting their lifestyle from legal or community scrutiny.

• The Snowden Family: A young couple, Dimitri and Ashley, who were not religious but were beginning their journey into plural marriage. Their story showed what it looks like to start from scratch in seeking a sister wife.

• The Alldredge Family: A more established plural family already practicing polygamy who were actively looking for a third wife, Melina. Their courtship storyline captured exactly what the show’s premise was built around.

The variety of these families gave viewers a look at different paths into polygamy, from seasoned fundamentalist households to modern, nonreligious couples just starting. Casting such a diverse group of participants was no small task, and that is where Sister Wives stepped in.

Sister Wives: A Platform for Plural Marriage

Founded in 2008, Sister Wives quickly grew to become the world’s largest online dating platform for polygamy and plural relationships. Built by Christopher and Robyn Alesich, the site created a safe, judgment-free space where couples and singles could explore polygamy, polyamory, and non-monogamous relationships.

Unlike general dating platforms, Sister Wives was built specifically for people who wanted a community where plural marriage was normalized. Over the years, the platform has attracted thousands of members worldwide. Its motto has always been that love is love, whether it exists between two people or within a larger family.

Because of its prominence, Sister Wives has frequently been approached by journalists, documentary filmmakers, and television networks curious about plural marriage. The platform has been featured in major media outlets and consulted by networks such as CNN. When TLC began developing Seeking Sister Wife, Sister Wives was the natural partner to help the network connect with authentic families.

Collaborating with TLC’s Casting Team

When TLC decided to move forward with Seeking Sister Wife Season 1, it needed families who were both genuine in their practice of polygamy and willing to share their story publicly. Sister Wives provided the casting team with direct access to its community, and Christopher and Robyn took an active role in the process.

Together, they reached out to more than 1,000 people within the Sister Wives network, conducting initial interviews and gathering information from families and individuals who expressed interest. These conversations helped determine which participants were serious about sharing their stories and comfortable with the visibility of national television. Once this groundwork was complete, qualified candidates were passed along to TLC’s casting directors for final review and selection.

This collaboration bridged a critical gap between producers and the polygamous community. Christopher and Robyn offered cultural insight, reassured hesitant families, and ensured that candidates came from authentic backgrounds rather than outside casting calls.

It is important to note that neither Christopher, Robyn, nor Sister Wives engaged in matchmaking for the show’s cast. The role of Sister Wives was outreach, community engagement, and pre-screening interviews. TLC’s casting team made the ultimate casting decisions and handled the production process.

This effort was important to the Season 1 casting process. Families like the Alldredges were already using Sister Wives to seek another wife, making their participation in Season 1 a natural extension of their real-life journey. Even the Snowdens, approaching polygamy from a modern and nonreligious perspective, reflected the diversity of the Sister Wives community.

As casting wrapped up, TLC invited Christopher and Robyn to Hollywood to meet with producers face-to-face. The invitation underscored how essential Sister Wives had been in shaping the show’s first season.

Recognition and Missed Credit

Television productions typically credit casting producers or consultants. For Season 1, Sister Wives was not listed with a casting credit; instead, Christopher and Robyn Alesich were thanked in the credits under “Special Thanks.”

While it was disappointing not to receive formal recognition, the acknowledgment still signaled TLC’s awareness of how critical Sister Wives had been to the process. Without the platform and its community, Seeking Sister Wife would have struggled to find such a well-rounded and authentic cast for its premiere season.

Impact on Sister Wives and Plural Marriage Awareness

The collaboration with TLC had a lasting impact on Sister Wives. The visibility from the show led to an increase in sign-ups and drew new attention to the lifestyle. For many viewers, Seeking Sister Wife was their first introduction to the idea that families could willingly and happily live in polygamous structures.

By showing plural families in the dating and courting stages, the show also mirrored the exact purpose of Sister Wives. Families seeking to expand and singles curious about joining them could see there was a community and even a dedicated platform for those interests.

Of course, the show also came with challenges. The Briney family’s turmoil and the Alldredges’ unsuccessful courtship demonstrated that plural marriage, like any relationship, can be difficult and sometimes painful. While some worried this might reinforce stereotypes, the reality is that every relationship, monogamous or plural, comes with struggles. Sister Wives has always embraced authenticity, and Season 1 of Seeking Sister Wife reflected that reality.

Why Sister Wives’ Role Mattered

The debut season of Seeking Sister Wife was shaped in large part by TLC’s collaboration with Sister Wives. By providing the production team with access to a thriving community of plural families, Sister Wives helped the team cast authentic participants who were truly living the lifestyle.

Although Christopher and Robyn Alesich did not receive a formal casting credit, their contributions were recognized with a “Special Thanks.” More importantly, the partnership cemented Sister Wives’ place in the cultural conversation about plural marriage. The platform helped bring stories of love, family, and complexity to national television, and in doing so, it played a historic role in shaping how plural marriage is portrayed in mainstream media.

Sister Wives was the dating site that helped create TLC’s Seeking Sister Wife.

Published By: Sister Wives 

Matchmakers Inc