Denver’s Cupid Reviews [Colorado's Best Gay Matchmaker?]

Denver's Cupid is an LGBTQ-exclusive matchmaking service founded by R. Tony Smith in 2020. Serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, and genderqueer singles in Colorado and beyond, packages reportedly start around $2,500 for 6 months. The service holds a 5-star rating on Yelp (5 reviews) and 4.8 stars on Google (50+ reviews). Smith also hosts speed dating events and social activities for Denver's LGBTQ community.

Key Insights:

• R. Tony Smith founded Denver's Cupid in 2020 after recognizing a gap in LGBTQ-focused matchmaking services in Colorado
• The service exclusively serves LGBTQ singles—"straight and ally friends" are not accepted as clients
• Packages reportedly start around $2,500 for a 6-month membership
• Memberships include "as many dates as possible" during the contract period
• Smith's team can arrange dates locally, nationally, or internationally depending on your package
• Denver's Cupid holds 5 stars on Yelp (5 reviews) and 4.8 stars on Google (50+ reviews)
• The service also hosts LGBTQ speed dating events, social activities, and seminars curated by age, orientation, and gender

Our team of experts has reviewed over 200 matchmakers, diving deep into customer experiences, cost, and process. And our own firsthand experience stretches all the way back to 2009, so we know exactly what clients value most in a service!

Keep reading to find out if R Tony Smith and Denver’s Cupid is the best bet for Colorado singles. Let’s start with…

R. Tony Smith is the founder of Denver's Cupid, Colorado's dedicated LGBTQ matchmaking service. His path to matchmaking took an unexpected route through politics.

Before becoming a matchmaker, Smith worked as a marketing and operations director for over 18 years. In 2018, inspired by the 2016 election, he ran for Denver City Council on a platform focused on building stronger neighborhoods by connecting people to each other.

As he shared in an interview with Voyage Denver,

“Denver’s Cupid got started because Trump was elected President in 2016! I was inspired to run for Denver City Council in the spirit of reconnecting people to government… An essential part of my City Council campaign platform was to build stronger neighborhoods by connecting people to each other.” 

While he wasn’t elected, he did earn nearly 3,000 votes and found a new career path. In his words: 

“…I didn’t win the election — but it led to being inspired to continue my life’s work of connecting people — but as a matchmaker — so definitely a win in the long run!”

Smith noticed that singles were hiring matchmakers "within their own tribe," but he couldn't find any services specifically focused on LGBTQ matchmaking in Denver. Recognizing the opportunity, he launched Denver's Cupid in 2020.

As he explained to Shoutout Colorado,

“I literally woke up one day with the inspiration to be a matchmaker… Many in our community are continually reminded that we are less than equal, so ‘Denver’s Cupid’ is my gift back to our community to provide opportunities for love, friendship and connection that we all deserve.”

Smith recommends that potential clients start by submitting a free basic profile to the Denver's Cupid database via the website. This lists you as a potential "catch" for paying clients.

The next step is scheduling a complimentary consultation through the website. During this call, Smith reviews your profile and you share about yourself, your lifestyle, and what kind of singles you want to meet.

If Smith determines you're a good fit and you decide to continue, you sign a contract and the process begins. The team develops your database profile and learns more about your matching criteria.

You're matched with singles from the Denver's Cupid database or from Smith's network. Depending on your contract, the search can be local, national, or international in scope.

Memberships typically include a 6-month search with "as many dates as possible" during that period. Smith and his team can arrange dates and facilitate communication between you and your matches. After each introduction, you have the opportunity to give and receive feedback.

Denver's Cupid has strong ratings across review platforms, with feedback covering both the matchmaking service and hosted events.

Yelp: 5 Stars (5 Reviews)

Denver's Cupid holds a 5-star rating on Yelp based on 5 recommended reviews, plus 3 additional 5-star reviews not currently recommended by Yelp.

Reviewers frequently mention Smith's positive attitude and an overall enjoyable experience. One client noted his blind date turned out to be a good match and appreciated that all date details were arranged for him.

Some reviews reference the matchmaking service while others appear to discuss hosted events.

And this Denver’s Cupid reviewer noted he felt his blind date turned out to be a good match, and appreciated that the date details had been arranged:

Google: 4.8 Stars (50+ Reviews)

On Google, Denver's Cupid maintains a 4.8-star rating based on over 50 reviews.

Reviews include endorsements from people who've known Smith for years, event attendees, and matchmaking clients. Many singles praised the events as great experiences for meeting other LGBTQ singles.

One matchmaking client shared that while he hadn't met his "prince" yet, he appreciated the process. Another noted that while blind dates can be anxiety-provoking, he valued having the logistics arranged for him.

A small handful of 1-star reviews came from singles who attended events.

This client hadn’t paid for the matchmaking service yet, but appreciated the encouragement and invitations to the LGBTQ singles events he had received:

This matchmaking client said he hadn’t met his “prince” yet, but appreciated the process:

And while this client found blind dates to be “a bit anxiety provoking,” he also appreciated that the dates were arranged for him:

There was also a small handful of 1-star Denver’s Cupid reviews, both from singles who had attended an event.

Denver's Cupid fills a specific niche as Colorado's dedicated LGBTQ matchmaking service. R. Tony Smith's personal commitment to the community and his understanding of its diversity—including specialized events for different orientations, gender identities, and interest groups—sets the service apart.

The service works best for LGBTQ singles in Colorado seeking a matchmaker who understands the community, those who appreciate curated events alongside traditional matchmaking, singles comfortable with blind dates (no photos provided beforehand), and those open to a 6-month commitment starting around $2,500.

If you prefer seeing photos before dates or want more flexibility than a 6-month contract, other options may suit you better.

VIDA Select offers month-to-month LGBTQ matchmaking with no long-term commitment. You pre-approve every match based on profiles and photos, and VIDA's team has access to Denver's largest pool of LGBTQ singles. Most clients begin a relationship within 3 months.

Ready to explore your options? Schedule a free, confidential consultation to see which approach fits your goals.