Get Ready To Date Reviews [Best Barrington Matchmaker?]

Rhode Island matchmaker Debra L'Heureux's Get Ready To Date charges at least $2,500-$4,990 for services (12 matches reported in some packages) serving singles over 40 in New England, specializing in helping divorced or widowed clients navigate dating with emotional support and 15-18 hours spent per match.

Founded in 2017 after 10 years with Great Expectations and 3 years with My Top Matchmaker, the service has a 4.7-star Google rating (15 reviews) but 1-star Yelp rating citing limited database and lack of dates, with BBB complaints mentioning incompatible matches and communication issues.

Key Insights:

• Estimated pricing range: Get Ready To Date charges at least $2,500-$4,990 based on BBB complaints, with pricing varying by contract length, search scope, and package specifics (not disclosed online)
• Specialization in mature singles: Debra L'Heureux leverages her personal journey finding love at 49 to help singles over 40 navigate dating after divorce or loss through emotional support and practical guidance
• Time-intensive matching: L'Heureux spends 15-18 hours per match, emphasizing that successful dating requires clients to create dedicated space for love rather than expecting instant results
• Three pillars philosophy: Matchmaking approach focuses on achieving physical, emotional, and intellectual connections—L'Heureux believes dating based on appearance alone is the biggest mistake people make
• Emotional readiness focus: Helps clients "fall in love with themselves" first, working closely to ensure emotional readiness before starting the search, particularly helping widows grant themselves permission to date again
• New England search scope: "Combs New England to find quality matches that clients would not find on their own," sourcing from database or searching outside it across the region
• Mixed review ratings: 4.7-star Google rating (15 reviews) predominantly praising professionalism, but 1-star Yelp rating (4 reviews) with common theme of limited database and lack of dates (3-4 dates in 8-18 months reported)
• BBB complaints filed: A- BBB rating with 2 complaints citing lack of compatible matches and perceived lack of communication, despite no formal reviews on BBB platform

Rhode Island matchmaker Debra L'Heureux has been helping singles get back into the dating scene for over 5 years, but is she the right fit to find your ideal partner? This Get Ready To Date review will help you decide.

Let's start with meeting the founder...

Disclaimer: This review was researched and written by VIDA Select's editorial team to help singles determine the right service for their needs and goals. As a matchmaking service ourselves, we bring a unique industry perspective. Our insights come from 17+ years of matchmaking experience, writing 200+ matchmaking service reviews, analyzing public information including reviews on reputable platforms, and feedback from clients who used other services before hiring VIDA. While this review is updated regularly, it may not reflect the latest public data or current pricing.

Debra L’Heureux firmly stands by the belief that “it’s never too late to dream a new dream and have the courage to love again.” This philosophy stems from her own life-changing experience when, at the age of 49, she found the love of her life.

In fact, that experience is what eventually led L’Heureux to leave her job in academia and become a professional matchmaker. 

Before striking out on her own, she spent 10 years as a matchmaker with Great Expectations, then nearly 3 years working with Florida matchmaker Mimi Lee, founder of My Top Matchmaker, in Sarasota, Florida.

Then, in 2017, L’Heureux branched out on her own and established Get Ready to Date, headquartered in Barrington, Rhode Island.

L’Heureux primarily works with singles who are dating over 40, generally those reentering the dating scene after being either widowed or getting divorced. 

Guided by the belief that life is full of opportunities, L’Heureux assists her clients in developing their dating skills and finding someone special.

As she explained in an interview, “One of the things I do is help people fall in love with themselves,” recognizing that healing and self-love after traumatic events takes time.

From her experience, L'Heureux understands working with widows offers unique challenges such as helping them forgive themselves for seeking life and love after losing a spouse. 

“They need to give themselves permission to date,” as she puts it. She shared in an interview that these qualities define her approach to matchmaking.

In her own words,

“My clients say I have a discerning and passionate heart and am a consummate romantic. I possess the tenacious resolve of a headhunter to introduce clients to their next great love.”

L’Heureux emphasizes that matchmaking is not a quick fix.

“Matchmaking is a process. It takes time. Some people want instant results, but they have to be patient. I take between 15-18 hours per match."

A fundamental part of her philosophy revolves around creating adequate space in one's life to accommodate love. 

L'Heureux observes that while many people express the desire to find love, they are often not prepared to make consequential adjustments in their lives to welcome that special someone. 

As she explains, “they’re kind of in denial”, often doing things like packing their schedule full of obligations that draw attention away from finding love. 

L'Heureux advises her clients to designate time for self-reflection, and understand their wants and needs from a partner before trying to enter into a committed relationship. 

She has also found that oftentimes people just rely on physical attractiveness and neglect other areas of compatibility, like shared interests.  

She explained it this way to Sarasota Magazine,

 “The biggest mistake people make is when they decide to date someone based on physical appearance alone. There has to be a physical, emotional, and intellectual connection. You need to have all three.”

L’Heureux asserts that anything less than “mad, passionate love” is a squandered effort. 

“There are too many mediocre things in life and love should not be one of them.”

Let's take a look at what you can expect if you sign up.

Step 1: Initial Request and Phone Call

The first step for potential clients involves submitting a request online, followed by a phone call. 

Step 2: Breakthrough Consultation (90 Minutes)

These initial steps set the stage for what L'Heureux refers to as your "Breakthrough Consultation,” which is an in-person interview to better understand your specific needs.

This complimentary 90-minute consultation offers dual insights. You’ll gain an understanding of L'Heureux’s matchmaking process, and she’ll learn all about your dating history and preferences regarding your potential matches. 

Step 3: Screening and Blueprint

If you both agree to work together, L'Heureux proceeds with client screening that involves a background check and employment verification. Assuming you pass, the process gets underway. 

First, L’Heureux crafts what she describes as your "second chance for love blueprint." 

She works closely with each client to make sure they're emotionally ready for a relationship. When she feels you’re ready to start meeting new people, the search begins.

Step 4: Meeting Your Matches

You’ll meet matches she sources from her database, or she’ll search outside of it as well. As she describes it in an interview with Hey Rhody, 

“I comb New England to find quality matches that clients would not find on their own.”

Throughout the search, she says she works to keep her clients’ expectations realistic. For example, she tells people “I won’t match a 75-year-old man with a 35-year-old woman.”

Once a suitable match has been identified, L'Heureux organizes the first date at a local restaurant. 

She keeps clients' personal information confidential from their match, and vice versa. In her own words, "They speak through me if they want to see the person again." 

So, does her process work in practice? Let’s see what some clients had to say about their experience!

L'Heureux doesn’t disclose her pricing online. Prices vary depending on the length of your contract, scope of your search, and other factors. Package options and the final cost will be discussed during your initial consultation.

That being said, in complaints filed with the BBB one client reported spending $2,500 for a year-long contract that included 12 matches, and another said she spent $4,990.

Get Ready to Date has a 4.7 rating on their Google business page, based on 15 reviews.

Get Ready To Date’s google reviews were predominately 5 star, with some clients mentioning L'Heureux’s professionalism:

This client shared he was happy with the support he got, and said he gained confidence throughout the process:

The sole 1-star Get Ready To Date Google review mentioned a lack of matches:

On Yelp, this Rhode Island matchmaking service has a 1-star rating based on a handful of reviews.

There was a common theme among the Yelp reviews, with 3 out of the 4 reviews mentioning a limited database and lack of dates.

For instance, this client regretted signing up after only going on 4 dates in 18 months:

Similarly, this client said she only went on 3 dates in 8 months, and thought 2 were incompatible matches:

There were also 3 ‘not currently recommended’ reviews, 2 of which were positive:

Debra’s L’Heureux’s matchmaking service has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau. There are no Get Ready To Date reviews on the BBB website, but there are 2 complaints filed. Both cited a lack of compatible matches and a perceived lack of communication from the company.

When choosing a Rhode Island matchmaker, you've certainly got a few options. Checking out matchmaking service reviews is the logical place to start narrowing them down. But don’t just skim the star ratings!

Use the first-hand client accounts as a way to formulate insightful questions to ask during your initial consultation. And the company’s public response to those reviews often give you a peek into their approach to customer service.

Consider Where Matches Come From

Other considerations to factor into your final hiring decision include the vibe you get during that consultation, as well as more practical aspects like where your matches come from.

Traditional matchmakers predominately pull matches from an internal Rolodex, or match you with other paying clients. And while that approach can be effective, keep in mind compatibility has to flow both ways.

For a match to be successful, they have to check all your boxes, and vice versa. Making consistently high-quality matches is difficult for any matchmaker to do from a limited database in any one city - and that’s why one of the most common industry complaints is meeting incompatible people.

Elite Alternatives

Enamour, for instance, is an elite matchmaking service that might also be on your radar. Enamour’s team has an exclusive, invitation-only database, but they also utilize high-tech recruiting tools as well as a network of scouts to identify compatible singles from both online and offline sources.

VIDA Select is another option Rhode Island singles should consider if they’re serious about finding their ideal partner. VIDA’s modern approach leverages the single largest source of eligible singles there is.

That means you can look forward to first dates with singles who meet your compatibility requirements, who are also excited to meet you! VIDA offers one other twist on traditional matchmaking, too.

When it comes to contracts, VIDA opts for a pay-as-you-go approach. Instead of committing to a 6, 9, or 12-month contract, you simply pay for each month you want service.

Clients can also opt for a "90-Day Match Guarantee" that includes at least 5 matches you personally approve. Guaranteed results, or the search continues at no additional cost.

Intrigued? See if VIDA Select is right for you - get started here!