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The Matchmaker - Valuable Service Or 'Love Butlers' For Rich People?

Putting a price on love sounds quite UN-sexy, but the right matchmaker could solve all your romance woes.

As any matchmaker worth her salt knows, you can't really put a price on love.

But, if pushed, they could throw a reasonable estimate your way.

You see, the matchmaker is sorely misunderstood.

We all want to find that person we can sleep in the grass with! [Boris SV/Flickr]
We all want to find that person we can sleep in the grass with! [Boris SV/Flickr]



While we are all busy swiping on Tinder, ask anyone in the UK where to find a decent matchmaker and they won’t have a clue.

It makes sense - we’ve always been a few steps behind the US when it comes to offline dating.

In America, you have the Millionaire Matchmaker, a larger than life woman called Patti Stanger who fixes up rich men for the bargain price of 125K a year.

America's matchmaker supreme - Patti Stanger. [REX]
America's matchmaker supreme - Patti Stanger. [REX]



And even in the UK, there are matchmakers that charge 30K a year to find you a partner.

Gulp.



Are matchmaker’s just "love butlers" for the global elite?

Or are they a valuable source of romantic knowledge, worth shelling out for?

Well both really.

As with any profession, there are those who care about the quality of their service and there are those who love nothing more to command a big fee.

But one thing is for certain, they are slowly moving into the mainstream.

Compatitibility is really important. [REX]
Compatitibility is really important. [REX]



Compared to big-buck players, you can now hire a personal matchmaker in the UK for as little as £200 a month.

Way more expensive than dating sites, but you do largely get what you pay for – your pick of the bunch.

However, every once in a while I hear about someone who has thrown every penny they own at finding “true love” and wonder – was THAT really the price of happiness?

.....


Last week, I met a girlfriend for drinks.

We found a hidden bar called Mr Fogg's, an eccentric place in Mayfair with strong cocktails and crisp workers.

Just as we settled down to chat, a bulky man in his mid 40s stumbled towards the bar.

He hustled a space between us and barked, "Drink up ladies, the next one's on me!"

We were a little put off at first – he was sweating and dribbling drunk.

But the two men either side of him were sober, apologetic and rather sweet.

Fine, we'll bite.

Two Punch Cobblers down, we decided to find out why this man was so pissed on a Tuesday.

"Well," he began, "I've just been conned."

“Go on...”, we said, interest peaked.

“I just paid £18k for eight phone numbers.”

“What??”

[Giphy]
[Giphy]

We must have misheard.

"It's a matchmaker thing. They offer eligible women, at a price. High quality and all that...", he trailed off.

We asked whether he had been on a date yet.

“The first is tomorrow.” He said. “With a German ex-Playboy model.”

It didn’t sound bad.

“But I’m not sure, after all, that we’ll have anything in common.”

A smart, but creepy 50-year-old man and a 30-something-year-old Euro playgirl?

Yeah, there might be better matches out there.

The man, riddled with buyers remorse, was convinced he wanted his money back, but was locked in a contract.

Feeling sorry for him, we drank for a few more hours and started to warm to the guy.

He just wanted to find love.

An hour later, we introduced him to a 30-something-year-old brunette lawyer who was drinking alone.

She gave him her number that night – and it cost him two glasses of wine and a tequila shot.

[Giphy]
[Giphy]

So what's the take away here?

That matchmakers are con artists? Not at all.

Speaking as one, and knowing many more, they do a fantastic job.


The moral here is that if you are going to shell out a lot of money for any service, especially one that could govern how you spend the rest of your life, look around, ask for recommendations and testimonials.

It’s easy to panic when you want to find love and are prepared to try everything – anything – to speed things up.

But do your research - this is not the time for an impulse buy!

[Fair Trade - How NOT To Behave When Dating A Banker]

[Lawyer Seeks Kitten - An S&M Cautionary Tale]

 

Nana is the newest addition to our Yahoo Lifestyle blogging team. She's runs a bespoke dating service called Social Concierge.

Check out her full bio HERE.