LastFirst Matchmaking Reviews [Best Elite NYC Matchmaker?]

LastFirst is a boutique Manhattan matchmaking service founded in 2014 by Emily Holmes Hahn, a former Ralph Lauren personal shopper who trained under celebrity matchmaker Richard Easton. Packages reportedly cost around $24,000 for 18-month contracts, with a limited roster of under 30 clients at any time. A key differentiator: LastFirst doesn't share photos before dates, preferring "blind" introductions. Reviews are limited but mostly positive, with clients praising match quality while some cite concerns about criteria not being followed.

LastFirst Matchmaking at a Glance

Quick Verdict: Is LastFirst Matchmaking Worth It?

Worth considering if: You want an exclusive, high-touch boutique experience with a matchmaker who limits her roster to ensure personalized attention. Holmes Hahn's approach of withholding photos to encourage open-mindedness and providing a "code of conduct" for dates appeals to singles who trust the matchmaker's judgment and want to avoid superficial snap decisions. Several clients credit LastFirst with helping them find fiancés and long-term partners.

Think twice if: You want to see photos before agreeing to dates, prefer shorter contracts, or need a larger volume of reviews to feel confident. The 18-month commitment and ~$24,000 price point represent significant investment, and the very limited review history (7 Yelp reviews, no Google reviews) makes independent verification of satisfaction rates difficult. Some negative reviews cite matches that didn't align with stated criteria.

Bottom line: LastFirst offers a genuinely boutique experience for NYC singles willing to embrace blind dates and trust Holmes Hahn's curation. The exclusivity (under 30 clients) means personalized attention, but also potential waitlists. Request references and clarify refund policies before committing to an 18-month contract.

How We Researched This Review

We analyzed LastFirst's client reviews on major review platforms, researched founder interviews across multiple publications, and compared their offering to other NYC-area matchmakers.

Disclaimer: This review was researched and written by VIDA Select's matchmaking experts to help singles find the service that best fits their needs and goals. Our industry insights come from 15+ years of matchmaking experience and writing 200+ matchmaking service reviews.

Before diving into matchmaking, Emily Holmes Hahn was a personal shopper for Ralph Lauren in Paris. In 2012, she returned to New York to start working for celebrity matchmaker Richard Easton. 

Then in 2014, she branched out on her own, launching LastFirst. Headquartered in Manhattan, she describes it as “a boutique matchmaking club.”

The LastFirst Philosophy

In an interview with Brides, she explained how their mission statement, ‘To help you get your last first date,’ reflects her approach when working with clients. 

"I don't want to overstate our mission as something grandiose, but I do think we're doing our little part to bring the humanity back into the dating business. When someone really wants to give themselves over to this process—be a little flexible and learn things about themselves and grow through the experience—then it works so well."

Holmes Hahn emphasizes that seeking the assistance of a matchmaker doesn't necessarily mean her clients don’t know how to date. Instead, she says they see her as a filter to "help weed out all the mismatches and make sure they’re only spending time on quality individuals.” 

Who LastFirst Serves

The singles she works with span a wide age range, from their late 20s to early 60s. But the majority are in their 30s and early 40s. 

In an interview with Haute Living, Holmes Hahn shared that her contemporary approach attracts a different demographic compared to more “old-school competitors.” 

"I think one thing to understand is that the kind of men who proactively seek and hire an expensive matchmaker are a special slice of the singles-scape, and not really indicative of the population.”

While the company is headquartered in New York they work with clients in Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Paris. 

Highly Selective Client Roster

As she explains on her website, she only works with “a very small number” of clients at any given time. She screens for singles who are attractive, interesting, ready for a relationship, and of “high moral character”.

Step 1: Initial Inquiry and Interview

The process begins with potential clients filling out an inquiry form on the LastFirst website. If Holmes Hahn believes you may be a good fit, her team will reach out to schedule an interview.

During this complimentary consultation, you'll share your personal background, dating history, and the type of person you're hoping to meet. The team considers this interview part of their vetting process.

As Holmes Hahn shared with DuJour, 

"We ask people right off the bat about some very personal things. This way we can start to sense what they’d be like to match, before agreeing to work with them."

Step 2: Contract and Potential Waitlist

If both parties agree to work together, you'll sign a matchmaking contract. However, because Holmes Hahn limits her roster to under 30 clients, you may need to wait for a spot to open before matchmaking begins.

New clients are taken only when a spot becomes available after finding a suitable match for existing clients. 

Step 3: Matching Process

Your profile is added to the LastFirst database, and you'll be matched with others from within it. Holmes Hahn and her team also do proactive networking to identify potential candidates.

Key differentiator: LastFirst suggests only one match at a time, and importantly, they don't share photographs, last names, or career details before the date.

As she puts it, "We paint a really vivid picture of the person without showing an actual picture."

Step 4: Date Arrangement and Code of Conduct

Once you approve a match based on the verbal description, LastFirst arranges the date. Both parties receive a "code of conduct"—a document setting clear expectations for a successful date.

As Holmes Hahn explained in an interview, 

"It ups the ante and makes it more of an occasion. When someone is offering you such detailed guidance, it smooths things out and sets the stage for the date to go really well."

Free Database Membership Option

It's free to sign up for the LastFirst database if you pass the screening process. However, as a database member, there's no guarantee of ever being matched—you're only contacted if a paying client is interested and you fit their criteria.

Holmes Hahn doesn't publish specific rates. As she told KDHamptons:

“I don’t publish rates just because I like to be discreet and I think what my clients pay is very personal to them.” 

However, based on available information:

• Reported cost: One former client stated he paid $24,000 for his matchmaking package
• Contract length: Typically 18 months, though the goal is finding a match sooner
• Initial consultation: Complimentary
• Database membership: Free (but no guarantee of being matched)

As Holmes Hahn explained, 

“The whole model is it’s a flat fee, but we’re very incentivized to get it done in less than 18 months.”

How LastFirst Compares to Other NYC Matchmakers

For more NYC matchmaker pricing, check out our complete guide to New York matchmaking services.

Yelp: 3.7 Stars (7 Reviews)

LastFirst has a 3.7-star rating on Yelp based on 7 reviews—a small sample size but with some detailed feedback.

Positive reviews (5 stars):

Four of the seven reviews gave LastFirst 5 stars. Clients praised the quality of matches and Holmes Hahn's process.

One client felt his suggested matches suited him well:

And this client shared that he met his fiance through Holmes Hahn’s matchmaking service:

This LastFirst reviewer was pleased with the matching process and her matches:

This former client wrote a 4-star LastFirst review, saying he had met a partner through the service:

Negative reviews (1 star):

Two reviewers gave LastFirst 1 star, both citing concerns that Holmes Hahn did not take their match criteria into consideration:

Note: Yelp also has 6 "not recommended" LastFirst reviews (hidden by Yelp's algorithm), which are a mix of 1-star and 5-star ratings.

LastFirst also has a BBB profile, however it is not currently rated and does not have any reviews or complaints listed. The service has not yet been reviewed on Trustpilot, nor does it have any google reviews yet.

The limited review presence across platforms makes independent assessment of client satisfaction challenging compared to larger matchmaking services.

One of LastFirst's most distinctive features is withholding photos before dates. This "blind date" approach is designed to encourage open-mindedness and prevent superficial judgments.

This approach may work well if you:

• Trust your matchmaker's judgment about compatibility
• Want to avoid making snap decisions based on photos
• Are open to being surprised
• Believe chemistry is best assessed in person

This approach may not work well if you:

• Want to feel confident about physical attraction before investing time in a date
• Prefer more control over who you meet
• Have had negative experiences with blind dates in the past
• Value efficiency and don't want to spend time on dates where attraction isn't mutual

If you prefer to see photos before agreeing to dates, services like VIDA Select provide full profiles—including photos—of every match, so you can go into each date confident about relationship potential.

Choosing a matchmaking service depends on several factors: cost, contract duration, and how you feel about blind dates.

LastFirst may be right for you if:

• You want an exclusive boutique experience with very limited clientele
• You trust a matchmaker's judgment and are open to blind dates
• You're comfortable with an 18-month commitment at ~$24,000
• You value the "occasion" approach with codes of conduct and curated introductions
• You're in NYC, LA, Miami, London, or Paris

Consider alternatives if you:

• Want to see photos before agreeing to dates
• Prefer month-to-month flexibility over long-term contracts
• Need more public reviews to feel confident
• Want access to a larger candidate pool

Alternatives to Consider

VIDA Select

VIDA's team has been helping singles in New York and other major cities find ideal partners since 2009. Unlike LastFirst, VIDA clients review full profiles, including photos, of every match, so you go into each date knowing there's relationship potential.

Key advantages:

• Month-to-month packages: No long-term contract required—stop, start, or pause anytime
• Transparent pricing: Monthly matchmaking starts at $1,595
• Photos provided: Review full profiles before agreeing to dates
• Largest singles pool: Access to the largest source of elite NYC singles there is
• Fast results: Clients meet someone special within an average of 3 months

Curious if VIDA is the right fit? Learn more about the service here!

Enamour

Enamour uses an exclusive, invitation-only database combined with recruiting technology and an extensive network of scouts to identify highly compatible singles. Packages start around $20,000 for 6-month contracts—shorter than LastFirst's 18-month commitment.

The Bottom Line

LastFirst offers a genuinely exclusive boutique matchmaking experience for NYC singles and those in select other cities. Emily Holmes Hahn's approach of limiting her roster to under 30 clients, withholding photos to encourage open-mindedness, and providing date "codes of conduct" creates a distinctive, high-touch service.

However, the 18-month contract, ~$24,000 price point, and very limited public reviews mean this is a significant commitment with limited independent verification. The no-photo policy will appeal to some and concern others.

If you value exclusivity and trust-based blind introductions, LastFirst may be worth exploring. If you prefer seeing photos, shorter commitments, or more flexibility, month-to-month services with full profile access may be a better fit.