If your idea of matchmaking is filling…
If your idea of matchmaking is filling out questionnaires similar to online dating profiles, paying premium prices, and then leaving the rest to strangers, this may be the service for you. While successful matchmaking requires both expertise and a genuine effort to understand clients, my experience left me questioning whether either was consistently present. From my first match, I openly communicated my concerns, particularly regarding what was promised during the "sales" process. While engaging and persuasive, I never felt truly heard. The same pattern continued with the two matchmakers assigned to me. I am still awaiting a call from Elizabeth that was promised in February, and Isabella has been excellent at saying, "I'll connect with you next week." Unfortunately, those follow-ups rarely materialized. It has now been over a week since I requested contact information for a supervisor or complaints department. Historically, whenever I raised concerns, one of the matchmakers would reach out, but meaningful consideration of my feedback never seemed to follow. At times, it felt as though my stated preferences were used as a guide for what not to match me with. When I expressed concerns, I often felt positioned as the difficult client rather than a paying customer seeking the service I purchased. To keep things light, my friends have certainly enjoyed hearing about what became an unexpectedly entertaining dating adventure. Match #1, "The Cowardly Lion," communicated almost entirely in vague generalities and somehow managed to avoid answering, and did while speaking in plurals. Still living at home? Match #2, "The Tin Man," did not have a vehicle, stood me up twice, and eventually attended a free event I was hosting after borrowing Auntie Ann's car. He later invited me to my own church. Match #3, "The Scarecrow," was the most concerning. Although background checks were reportedly completed, he actively participated in one of the two deal-breaker activities I had clearly identified as non-negotiable. Combined with a volatile temper, the experience left me feeling both drained and uncomfortable. Of course, dating involves getting to know people and discovering compatibility. No matchmaker can predict chemistry. However, many people invest in professional matchmaking services to increase the likelihood of meeting individuals who share similar values, goals, and relationship intentions. That foundational level of compatibility should not feel optional. I understand that life circumstances vary. Living with parents, returning to school at 45, or focusing on debt repayment can all be admirable choices. What is less attractive is using those circumstances to explain why someone believes they cannot meet a partner's expectations. That's a personal insecurity to address, not a compatibility issue for someone else to carry. I recognize that matchmakers cannot know every detail about every client they introduce. However, none of the matches I received remotely resembled what I communicated I was seeking. Friends and family who know me well were consistently surprised by how poorly aligned these introductions were. Had I encountered these individuals on a dating app, most would have received an immediate left swipe. Instead, I paid a significant amount of money for a service that promised personalized matchmaking and delivered experiences that felt random at best and concerning at worst. At the end of this journey, I am left with a smaller bank account, diminished enthusiasm for dating, and a collection of stories that sound more like a dating-themed fairy tale gone wrong than a premium matchmaking experience. Update: After posting my review, I was asked by the company to remove it. Since 6/25, I have yet to hear from upper management. According to Isabella, they are "very busy," but somehow had time to reach out when the purpose of the call was to present another match and encourage me to take down my review. She again said her famous, next week line. As she stated, my review may be deterring my match from finding me. Oh no!! Respectfully, this is not a desperate plea to find a man. This is a customer service issue, and if that was not clear from my original review, I am happy to clarify. I have accepted the matches provided. I understand that matchmaking involves trial and error and that allowing someone else to help find a connection comes with uncertainty. I never expected perfection or a guaranteed relationship. What I did expect was communication, honesty, and follow-through from the company I invested in.