Jessica sat in the lobby of the matchmaking agency, twirling her coffee cup and feeling utterly unconvinced. At 45, she had been single for quite a while after a tough divorce. Her friends kept telling her to try a matchmaker, but she was sceptical. Is this what people do in movies? It cannot actually work. She imagined awkward blind dates with equally awkward strangers, all orchestrated by someone who barely knew her. But there she was, giving it a shot mostly because her best friend had practically signed her up as a birthday present. In the initial interview, the matchmaker, Elaine, asked Jessica about everything: her childhood, her passions (photography, as it turned out, lit Jessica’s face up), what she learned from her past marriage, and what she was truly looking for this time around. Jessica left that meeting feeling oddly lighter, like someone finally listened deeply to her story.

A month later, Elaine had a match for Jessica: a gentle, funny high school teacher named Marco. Jessica almost wanted to find a reason to back out, the sceptic in her was still strong, but she reminded herself she promised to stay open-minded. Their first date was, as Jessica later described, “refreshingly normal.” They met for a Saturday morning coffee and walk. No bizarre blind date vibes, just two people getting to know each other. Elaine had clearly considered their personalities well: conversation flowed easily, from their mutual love of Italian food to swapping stories of travel mishaps. Jessica was intrigued but still cautious. It felt good, but was this a fluke?

Over the next couple of months, Jessica went on two more dates arranged by the matchmaker, one was so-so, one was downright bad (chemistry just was not there). Elaine encouraged her to see these as part of the process, not failures. Meanwhile, Marco had stayed in touch, and by the third meetup, an actual dinner date, it was clear there was something real developing. By six months, Jessica and Marco were exclusive and happily in a relationship. Jessica laughingly called Elaine to thank her, admitting, “I cannot believe I’m saying this, but you proved me wrong!”

So, how did Jessica go from a matchmaking sceptic to a believer?

• She gave the process a genuine chance: Even with reservations, Jessica decided to participate fully. In her initial interviews and profile, she was honest and vulnerable. That allowed her matchmaker to truly understand her and make better matches. If you go into matchmaking (or any dating method) convinced it will not work, you might subconsciously sabotage the opportunities. Jessica consciously chose to keep an open mind, at least for a little while, and that made all the difference.
• Trusting the matchmaker’s insight: One thing Jessica noted was that Elaine saw patterns and possibilities she herself did not. For instance, Jessica always thought she needed to date someone extroverted because she is on the shy side. But Elaine matched her with Marco, who is more introverted and incredibly understanding of her nature. Their quiet moments together are comfortable, not awkward. A good matchmaker might push you (gently) beyond your typical “type,” recognising that your perfect match on paper might not be what actually makes you happy in real life. Jessica’s trust in Elaine’s expertise led her to a person she might have overlooked on her own.
• Enjoying the journey, not just the outcome: During the process, Jessica found value in the experience itself. The feedback sessions with Elaine after each date helped her learn about herself. For example, after the so-so date, Elaine discussed why it might not have clicked, and it led to the realisation that Jessica actually highly values a certain intellectual connection that was not there. Rather than seeing those dates as a waste of time, they became stepping stones, honing what she really wanted. By the time she and Marco were getting serious, Jessica felt more self-aware and confident in her relationship needs than ever before.
• Matchmaking brought hope and accountability: Before this, Jessica had essentially given up on finding love again. What matchmaking did was provide a structured, hopeful environment. Knowing someone was in her corner, actively looking for good matches, was comforting. It also made her feel accountable not to retreat into her shell; she had “homework” in a sense: go on this date, give feedback, etc. For someone who might otherwise just avoid dating, this gentle push made a difference.

Now, happily in love, Jessica occasionally teases that her success might just be luck: “Maybe the stars aligned.” But deep down, she is a believer that the matchmaking process, with its human touch and expertise, was the catalyst she needed. It turned her love life around by connecting her with someone truly compatible.

Call to Action: If you find yourself sceptical about new ways to meet someone (whether it is matchmaking, speed dating, or something else outside your comfort zone), consider Jessica’s story. Stepping outside the familiar brought her the happiness she was about to stop looking for. Maybe it is time to challenge a bit of your own scepticism. Try saying “yes” to one new avenue in your search for love; you might just become the next success story that you would not have believed before. Remember, every great love story starts with taking a chance.