Question that I hear ALL the time, like, seriously, at least once a week someone’s sliding into my DMs asking whether they should ditch Tinder for something more… traditional.
And honestly? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But let me break it down for you.
The Dating App Reality Check
We’ve all been there. Swiping left, swiping right, matching with someone who looks great in their photos and then… crickets. Or worse, you meet up and they’re nothing like their profile suggested. I had a buddy who went on a date with someone who used photos from 10 years ago. TEN YEARS.
The apps are convenient, sure. You can literally shop for dates while sitting on the toilet (don’t pretend you haven’t done it). But that’s kinda the problem, isn’t it? When dating becomes as casual as ordering takeout, something gets lost.
Why People Are Going Back to Matchmakers
Here’s what I’ve noticed – and this is especially true for professionals in Sydney who actually have their s* together:
• They’re tired of the games. No more wondering if someone’s just looking for a hookup when you want something real
• Time is money. Why spend hours swiping when someone else can do the heavy lifting?
• They want verified humans. Not catfish, not married people “just looking,” actual single people
• The personal touch matters. Having someone who knows both parties can make that first meeting way less awkward
But Here’s The Thing…
Matchmaking services aren’t magic. They can’t manufacture chemistry out of thin air. What they CAN do is put you in front of people who are actually looking for the same things you are.
I was talking to Recel from Vital Partners last month (yeah, the one on Pitt Street), and she told me something that stuck: “We’re not just matching profiles, we’re matching life goals, relationship goals.”
That hit different.
The Bottom Line?
If you’re 25 and just want to meet people and have fun? Apps are probably fine. Swipe away, my friend.
But if you’re at that point where you’re ready for something real – like, actually ready, not just saying it – then maybe it’s time to try something different. Especially if you’ve been on the apps for years with nothing to show for it except some mediocre dinner stories.
The best relationships I’ve seen? They usually start one of two ways:
1. Complete random chance (like meeting at a friend’s BBQ)
2. Through someone who actually knew both people well enough to say “you two need to meet”
Matchmaking is basically option 2, but professional.
My Advice?
Try both. Seriously. Keep a profile on one or two apps if you want, but also have a conversation with a matchmaker. See what they’re about. Ask them the hard questions:
* Who exactly is in their database?
* What’s their success rate?
* How do they vet people?
* What happens if it doesn’t work out?
At the end of the day, finding love is weird and unpredictable no matter how you go about it. But if you’re gonna invest time and energy (and let’s be honest, money) into finding someone, might as well stack the deck in your favor.
The worst thing you can do? Nothing. Sitting around hoping love will just “happen” is like hoping to win the lottery without buying a ticket.
So yeah. Are matchmaking services better than apps? For some people, absolutely. For others, not so much.
But you won’t know which camp you’re in until you try.
-Bryce
P.S. – If you do try a matchmaker, don’t lie about what you want. If you’re not ready to settle down, that’s fine, but don’t waste everyone’s time pretending otherwise. Trust me on this one.
