If you’re single in DC and thinking about hiring a dating agency, it makes sense that Michelle Jacoby, founder of DC Matchmaking, is on your radar. After all, doing a little recon on a company’s CEO is a good way to ensure you’re making a wise investment. Our team of industry experts has reviewed over 200 matchmaking services, delving deep into their operations, success rates, and customer experiences. Our reviews are built on extensive research and a keen understanding of the matchmaking industry that dates back to 2009. Table of ContentsHow It All Began...Jacoby's Matchmaking PhilosophyA Taste Jacoby’s Best Dating Advice Michelle Jacoby ReviewsThe VIDA Difference This short Michelle Jacoby bio is packed with interesting details, like her approach to matchmaking and how she got started in the industry. So you can decide if DC Matchmaking is the best fit for you! {banner2:the-subtle-shift-technique} How It All Began...Like many professional matchmakers, Michelle Jacoby was playing Cupid for her single friends long before she decided to make a career of it. A “compulsive connector” she’s been matching couples for decades and shares that these skills come to her naturally. As she explained in an interview, “It’s something I sort of instinctively know how to do—bring people together. It's a combination of listening skills, reading people and a lot of good luck with the universe.” Her first step to becoming a certified matchmaker was going through The Matchmaking Institute’s program. After that, all it took was $5,000, a laptop, and a website - and DC Matchmaking was officially launched in 2009. Jacoby utilized her background in SEO to make her new website a success. While a stay-at-home mom, she earned money selling personalized children’s toys over the internet. As she told Bethesda Magazine, “No one found the Web site [at first]. I became obsessed with search-engine optimization, and the site became the No. 2 hit when you Google searched ‘kid gift’—above ToysRUs. I had to turn the Web site off. I didn’t want to be in my attic making books all day.” She also co-founded the Matchmakers Alliance, along with Maria Avgitidis, founder of Agape Match. The non-profit organization is a way for matchmakers across the country to network and share ideas. Jacoby credits her success as a matchmaker to her outgoing personality, PR and sales background, and her extensive network of contacts in the DC area. She’s obviously doing something right - she was nominated for the “Best Matchmaker” category of the iDate Awards in 2015, 2017, and 2018. And in 2021 she published “Never Waste Time on the Wrong Man Again.” So how does she work her magic? Jacoby's Matchmaking PhilosophyFinding your soulmate involves a mix of good listening skills, intuition, and yes, just a touch of magic: A firm believer in delivering quality over quantity, Jacoby only takes on between 15 and 20 paying clients at any one time. That allows her to offer more personalized, boutique matchmaking services to clients. She can even be “on call” via phone when a client’s on a date with a match and might need some dating advice in real time. The cost for Jacoby to hunt for your soul mate starts at $15,000 for a 12-month contract. It comes with unlimited matches and 6 months of “hold” time. You’ll be meeting singles in the DC area who have joined her database, and with people from her network of affiliated matchmakers in Baltimore and Annapolis. She’ll also approach people at restaurants, events, and other public places if she sees someone who may be a good match for you. Jacoby also incorporates dating coaching for her clients to help them become more intentional and knowledgeable daters. She considers coaching an invaluable part of the process. As she shared in an interview: “I’m in love with coaching because when you learn the right mindset and have smart dating strategies, the meaningful shifts you make not only impact your love life, they can impact your whole life in a positive way.” A Taste Jacoby’s Best Dating Advice As far as first dates go, Jacoby has some advice to keep things light and enjoyable. In an interview with GW, she suggests avoiding heavy topics like work troubles or family drama. As she puts it, “You don’t need to tell your whole life story over that first drink,” she said. “By the time the check comes, you’ll both be exhausted.” Jacoby also mentions that chemistry isn’t just something you stumble upon; it’s something you can also cultivate. Her advice? “Dating should be fun and playful. You should be getting to know each other—not immediately looking for sparks to fly.” With years of experience under her belt, Jacoby has learned the importance of using both your head and your heart when searching for a partner. According to her it’s important to not just rely on feelings. As she explained to Marketplace, “It’s really, really important when you’re looking to find your life partner that you use your head. You’ve got to be more pragmatic. If you take the time to choose wisely, and really use both your heart and your head when you’re looking for love, you’ll choose a partner who you can love and enjoy for the rest of your life.” {banner1:let-us-plan-your-last-first-date} Michelle Jacoby ReviewsJacoby is no stranger to the press, as she routinely dishes out dating advice on YouTube and via her blog. But you won’t find many online reviews of DC Matchmaking. And in this day and age, when people are more apt to air their discontent on local review sites like Yelp and the BB, no news is generally good news. With no online reviews to read, you’ll have to start pondering things like whether or not the $15,000 (minimum) price is a comfortable amount to pay up front, and if you’re okay with being locked into a year-long contract for a service you haven’t actually experienced yet. If that makes you hesitate, you may want to add a service like VIDA Select to your short list of DC matchmakers to consider hiring. The VIDA DifferenceVIDA’s a little different than other professional matchmaking services in that you don’t have to sign a contract. Instead, you can pay as you go, by the month. That’s less risk for you, since you’re not paying for an entire year if you find your ideal partner right away. And with VIDA, that’s possible! Our elite matchmakers have access to a huge pool of eligible DC singles, so our clients usually find sparks are flying with one of their high-quality matches by the second or third month of service! See if VIDA’s modern approach to matchmaking is the right fit for you. Schedule a confidential, free call with one of our matchmakers today! 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}
