Editor's Note: Renessa Rio's matchmaking service Match Date Love no longer has an active website. Check out this guide to Seattle's best matchmakers! Finding it hard to meet high-quality singles in Seattle? If you’re over the bar scene, tired of “trying” to get a decent date online, and perhaps even feeling like the “Seattle Freeze” is wearing you thin, a local matchmaker could be just what the doctor ordered. But is Match Date Love the right Seattle matchmaking service for you? From the big industry players to small boutiques, we've reviewed over 200 matchmaking services. Our insight comes from in-depth research, real customer reviews, and a keen understanding of the matchmaking landscape. This Match Date Love review has all the information you need! You’ll get the good (real customer praise), the bad (complaints), and everything in between. The Mastermind Behind Match Date LoveYou may recognize Seattle matchmaker Renessa Rios from her morning show appearances on King 5 and Fox News. Self-proclaimed as Seattle’s #1 romance/dating/intimacy expert, she started her matchmaking service in 2007. {banner2:the-subtle-shift-technique} Originally called Three Step Dating, she now runs Match Date Love with her husband Christopher Strong. She’s also a published author with a line of self-help products. You can even buy a Renessa Rios candle, which smells of cinnamon and love. Match Date Love offers luxury matchmaking services, dating and relationship coaching, and Seattle singles events. The events include wine tastings, BBQs, dinner parties, and speed dating. Should you need assistance with areas other than your love life, Match Date Love also offers “Luxury Services” like interior design, feng shui consultations, and personal organizing. Match Date Love Cost (And What You’ll Get)Match Date Love memberships start at around $995 for 3 months, $2,500 for 6 months, and $5,000 for a full year.* Membership packages are customized according to each client’s needs and relationship goals, so you can add on services like image consulting and date coaching for an additional fee. Each membership package includes 10 scheduled events and a set number of guaranteed matches over a certain amount of time. The number of matches depends on your membership level, but is roughly one match per month. Match Date Love has a strict “no refunds” policy. Each year, paying customer are eligible to attend a specific number of it’s 80 or so singles events. At these events, 20-30% of attendees are other customers, and the rest come from the Match Date Love database. According to Renessa Rios, her database contains just over 2,000 Seattle singles who’ve been recruited via social media, marketing, referrals, etc. Match Date Love isn’t just a matchmaking service, you are also encouraged to seek out platonic friendships as well. Renessa Rios also offers self-improvement seminars and workshops. *Although articles are updated regularly, the listed pricing may not be current. {banner1:let-us-plan-your-last-first-date} How Match Date Love WorksPotential clients can call Match Date Love directly, or fill out a short online form and request contact that way. The initial phone call covers the basics, like who you are and what you’re looking for. You’ll also get a brief overview of the services, and schedule a face-to-face consultation. Prior to the actual meeting, you’ll receive a link to a page where you fill out a more in-depth profile and upload your photos. The in-person interview covers a lot of ground, so prepare to spend up to 3 hours there. In addition to describing yourself and your ideal partner criteria, you’ll also learn more about their events and additional services. If you’re feeling the love, you and your matchmaker will customize your membership package. Once you’ve signed the contract, your search begins. When a potential match is identified, you’ll get to see a picture and a profile. If you’re intrigued, and the interest is mutual, your matchmaker will arrange a date. You can also meet interesting singles on your own at the events, and you’re encouraged to swap phone numbers with them. You can attend the number of events specified in your contract at no additional cost. Any events after you’ve reached that number will require purchasing a ticket. Prices vary, but generally are in the $40-$50 range. Real Renessa Rios ReviewsWhile it’s certainly possible that Match Date Love is an excellent service, reviews online are overwhelmingly negative. This Seattle matchmaking services has 1.5-star rating on Yelp, with 16 of the 18 recommended reviews being 1-star. The one positive review praised the coaching process. The reviewer said the service was a good way to make new friends while learning about yourself: The majority of the reviews complained about lack of matches, matches that didn’t fit the specified criteria, high pressure sales tactics, and low turnout at the events: Match Date Love has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, although there is some question as to whether they are actually an accredited BBB business. The Match Date Love website states they are, but BBB says they aren’t. There are 3 Match Date Love complaints lodged with the BBB, and no user reviews. Negative feedback mirrored the Yelp reviews, with clients unhappy with the quality and number of matches: Keep in mind that in the world of dating, unhappy clients are generally much more likely to take voice their discontent online than happy clients are to sing a matchmaking agency’s praises. For that reason, online reviews probably shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision to hire a matchmaking service. But that being said, if you see the same complaints made across the board, that could be a reason to dig a little deeper before signing on the dotted line. Meet Seattle Singles The Modern Way!If you want a matchmaker that can redecorate your living room, organize your files, and adjust your condo’s feng shui - all while finding you a match, Match Date Love could be the dating agency for you. But keep in mind the owner of this boutique matchmaking service has a lot of demands on her time - and a limited number of singles in her database. Those are two potential cons you definitely want to ponder before signing an expensive contract. If you’re looking for the best matchmaker in Seattle, why not start with the one who has unlimited access to the largest database of local matches? If you don’t want to edit your list of “must haves” to fit a limited dating pool, then VIDA Select could be the matchmaking service for you. Our matchmakers consistently deliver high-quality dates, and at a significantly lower investment. And with convenient month-to-month service plans, you don’t have to worry about getting locked into an expensive, lengthy contract. After all, an effective matchmaker shouldn’t need 12 months to get you into a relationship in the first place! The typical VIDA client feels sparks fly around the 12th first date - and that’s usually in just 3 short months. When you’re looking for love, the only thing that should be on your mind is your upcoming date with an exciting match - not whether you’ll even get one sometime within the next month. VIDA delivers the personalized matchmaking experience you deserve… and you’re in control every step of the way, from pre-approving your matches to deciding how many dates you want to go on each month. Click here to discover how we can introduce you to your ideal partner! All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. {banner3:the-right-person-changes-everything-inline}
