Cara Matchmaking Reviews [Can Lynda Adams Find You Love?]

Cara Matchmaking is a Maine matchmaking service founded by Noreen Rochester in 2013, building on her original service, The Matchmaker, which she launched in 1995. It operates from Biddeford, just outside Portland, and serves singles across the state, from their 20s to their 80s. The name “Cara” comes from the Gaelic word for “beloved companion.”

Since March 2025, the service has been owned and led by Lynda Adams. At $499 for a full year of unlimited introductions, it is one of the most affordable matchmaking options in Maine.

Noreen Rochester is the founder of Cara Matchmaking and spent close to 30 years in the matchmaking industry. Her career started organically, when friends and family asked for help with their dating lives, and she decided to make it her profession.

“I saved up $35 for business cards and went into gyms and restaurants and any place with a bulletin board. After that, things took off.” — Noreen Rochester, (Source: DatingNews)

She launched The Matchmaker in 1995, organizing monthly social events and appearing on local television. In 2013 she rebranded and expanded as Cara Matchmaking. Over the years her dating advice has been featured in numerous publications, and she built a reputation as a Maine relationship expert.

Here’s a peek at some of her best dating advice from around the web!

Lynda Adams became the owner and lead matchmaker of Cara Matchmaking in March 2025. She is a certified relationship coach and matchmaker who describes her approach as grounded, intentional, and human.

Before matchmaking, Adams hosted the Successful Balanced Living radio show and served as Marketing Director for Essential Living Maine magazine. Rochester has said she waited for the right person to carry the business forward and chose Adams because she shared her values. Adams continues to run the service from Biddeford, serving clients statewide from their 20s to their 80s.

Cara Matchmaking follows a traditional, member-to-member process. You join, share what you are looking for, and Lynda Adams introduces you to other members who fit your criteria. Here is the full process, step by step.

1. Submit an online inquiry to express interest in the service.

2. Meet in person so Adams can learn what you want in a relationship and decide whether she can help.

3. Review 3 to 5 hand-selected profiles at a time, with photos, and tell her which matches interest you.

4. Get connected when interest is mutual: contact information is exchanged on your behalf.

5. Reach out to your match directly and arrange the date yourselves.

6. Check back in with the team for feedback and coaching, and review more profiles as needed.

Beyond one-on-one introductions, Cara Matchmaking also hosts speed dating and dating-game events around town, which gives members another way to meet people in person.

One thing to know up front: Adams does not arrange the dates for you. She makes the introduction and suggests starting with a text, then you take it from there.

Cara Matchmaking costs $499 for a one-year membership. During that year you can receive unlimited introductions, attend members-only singles events, and get dating support and advice from Lynda Adams.

To put that price in context, here is how Cara Matchmaking compares with other Maine matchmaking options on cost and structure.

Public, third-party reviews of Cara Matchmaking are limited, so there is not a large body of independent feedback to draw on. Here is what is available across the major platforms.

Yelp: 4 Stars (1 Review)

Cara Matchmaking has a 4-star rating on Yelp based on a single review from 2014. The reviewer found Rochester's date coaching helpful and the price affordable.

Better Business Bureau: A+ Rating

Cara Matchmaking holds an A+ rating with the BBB, with no reviews or complaints on file.

Other Platforms

The service has not been reviewed on Trustpilot or Google.

Media Coverage

Rochester has shared client success stories in various media interviews throughout her nearly 30-year career, and the Cara Matchmaking website features testimonials.

With so few public reviews, your decision will come down to fit rather than star ratings. The biggest factor is where your matches come from. Like most traditional matchmakers, Adams pairs you with other singles who joined Cara Matchmaking.

Your ideal partner may have signed up just like you did. But consistently strong matches are harder to make from a smaller local database, because compatibility runs both ways. It is not enough that you like a match: that person also has to be interested in someone like you. The smaller the pool, the fewer chances for that two-way fit to line up.

Cara Matchmaking is a strong choice if you value a personal, local touch, a low one-time price, and in-person events, and you are comfortable initiating contact and planning dates yourself.

If you would rather reach the widest possible pool of compatible singles and have your matchmaker handle more of the work, it is worth comparing Cara Matchmaking with a tech-driven service like VIDA Select, which searches far beyond a single local database to find people who fit your exact preferences.

How Cara Matchmaking Compares With VIDA Select

Since 2009, VIDA Select has helped more than 11,000 singles meet hand-selected matches who fit their preferences, values, and vision for the future. 82% of clients meet someone special within 90 days, and most find their person after just 4 to 7 introductions, with no blind dates and no long-term contracts.

Ready to meet your perfect match? See how VIDA can find your person today!