Matchmakers: A Real Thing

By Allison Johnson
Blog Content Contributor

I have only ever heard of matchmakers though TV shows or movies. Never have I met anyone who has used a service like this. To be honest, the whole idea reminds me of a sappy Lifetime movie.

However, they are definitely real. I found a matchmaker company based out of Austin called “It’s Just Lunch,” or IJL. Their process to find you a significant other is done through a handful of steps, through which the company will get to know you. When you talk to a specialist, just give them the dirt. Tell them what you want. If you have ever asked someone, “what are we?” and they gave you some BS answer like “what we have going right now is fine”–give IJL the total opposite of that. I mean, let’s be honest, if you are interested in a service like this you obviously are looking for something long-term. On their website, they listed some things they would ask you, like “your relationship goals, personal interests, hobbies and more. And not to worry, we’ll make it as easy as possible.”

After they gather information from you, it’s basically a matching game. They are going to find someone for you that has similar likes and dislikes, and pretty much just overall the same goals. Once they find you a match, they will contact you and tell you about your “perfect” match. IJL believes the only way to tell if you have chemistry is to meet face-to-face, and I agree. I feel like this is where dating apps fall short. Out of your 20 matches on Bumble, you might only meet two that month, then never meet, or possibly even speak to the others.

Meeting your match is the third step, and this is a huge step considering a lot of people do not put in the effort to meet people they are supposedly interested in. After you go on a lunch date with your match, you will let the dating specialist know how your date went. IJL needs feedback. They need to know if they were successful in fulfilling your wants, or if they need to put in more work to find you a better match for the future. And the last step, if your date went well, continue to date that person! If you are not interested in dating them, they will find you another match.

Now, they included this in their steps, but said it was not truly a step of the process. Having fun was their “honorary step.” Dating should be fun. I think meeting new people, especially people that you share similar interests with, is awesome. Now, I am sure most of you are like me and are turned off by the idea of a service like this because we are so young. Some people are different though, and do not have time to waste. To each their own. If you want to take control of your love life now, and find someone special, maybe this service is for you.

A matchmaker service might even be good for some dating experience. Since times have changed, I can see why people seek these services. I cannot remember the last time I had a friend come up to me and say, “I have someone you should meet. I think you would really like them.” It just does not work out like that anymore. We rely on ourselves or dating apps to be our wingman. If one day, you are just totally over whatever dating app is popular at the moment, or done with hitting the bars, maybe this will be the move. If you are an older adult this might be something to look into, but as a 20-year-old college student, I would like to give some advice to people my age. Do not rush things, and then wonder why you have not found “the one.” Be friends with someone for a while first. If they are a bad friend, then you are in for an awful relationship.

Featured image by Lucero Trevino.