Why Singles Are Spending Six Figures on High-End Matchmaking Services
- Demand for personalized dating services is growing as singles seek more meaningful connections beyond dating apps.
Singles are swiping left on dating apps and spending six figures on high-end matchmaking instead.
Demand for personalized dating services is growing, according to companies interviewed by Bloomberg . Love seekers say "app fatigue" and a desire for more meaningful connections are the main reasons for breaking up with Tinder , Hinge, and the like.
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Services such as NYCity Matchmaking, Kelleher International, and Three Day Rule have experienced significant growth, as more singletons turn to matchmakers to help them find love. "We had our biggest month of sales in the history of the company last month, and we've been around for 15 years," Three Day Rule CEO Adam Cohen-Aslatei told Bloomberg. "Our business is not shrinking."
Matchmakers essentially do the legwork for their clients, finding compatible romantic partners for serious relationships or marriage. Preferences such as height or religion often influence the couplings. Members are also vetted before a first date, with background checks carried out for added safety.
Matchmaking is the antithesis of online dating. Apps require the individual to swipe through seemingly endless profiles themselves. They also have to vet their candidates and deal with potential catfishing. It's no wonder the number of paying users at Match Group Inc.'s Tinder has declined for eight consecutive quarters, with the business not set to return to revenue growth until 2027.
Matchmaking services do cost quite a pretty penny, with some packages reaching as high as six figures. Lizzie Guarino told Bloomberg she was once quoted almost $8,900 for six months and $5,900 for three months at Three Day Rule. Dating apps sit at the other end of the pricing spectrum, offering less expensive, multitiered subscriptions. Tinder Plus is the cheapest of Tinder's three subscription plans at $25 per month, while Tinder Select is the most expensive at $500 per month. The monthly cost of rival Hinge can be as low as $16 or as high as $50. Both apps can also be used for free, but paying gives users access to additional features.
The higher the price of the service, the higher the expectations can be. "If I only am given a certain number of matches for this service I'm paying for, I'm gonna be pretty scrupulous," Guarino told Bloomberg. Matchmaking services aren't guaranteed to work, either. That fact probably becomes more frustrating with the more money you spend. There are some success stories, of course. Elliot Galpern met his wife through Three Day Rule and has no regrets paying four figures for the service. He said his matchmaker helped with date outfits and gave confidence-boosting tips. At least you'll get some moral support if not a life partner.
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