Should You Hire A Matchmaker?

You may have spotted Lara Asprey on the SheerLuxe Show this week, but if you missed it, here’s an introduction. The west London-based matchmaker is one of the most elite connectors in the dating world of dating, and the Founder of Asprey’s Introductions – an exclusive agency for aristocracy and the international jet-set (previously known as The Sloane Arranger due to its initial selection of eligible ‘sloaney’ bachelors and bachelorettes). Today, her venture has expanded across the globe, and incorporates relationship coaching, personal styling and photography, and even has its own TV series – The Ultimate Matchmaker (which airs every Wednesday at 10pm on UKTV) – giving people a glimpse into her glitzy offices the world of her well-heeled clientele of billionaires, CEOs, supermodels and actors.

At £15,000 for six months’ membership – which includes unlimited matches and your own dedicated matchmaker –her service doesn’t come cheap. But it’s not only the rich and famous Asprey thinks can benefit from matchmaking services, in fact she believes it’s the secret to anyone finding long-lasting love in today’s modern age (scroll down to see our pick of the UK’s top matchmaking services, starting from £50 per month).

While it may seem easier to stick to online dating, Asprey says that if it’s not working for you, joining an introduction agency could help you take a fresh approach to meeting The One. Here are five reasons why she reckons you’ll find much more success this way:

1. Peace Of Mind: We personally meet all of our members and can vouch that they are who they say they are (we even require proof of identification so rest assured there won't be any unexpected surprises). Make sure the agency you choose screens members and will only match you to people you've agreed to meet by seeing a photograph of them beforehand.

2. Commonality: We believe success comes from matching members with similar interests, education and backgrounds and Asprey's Introductions prides itself on its ability to do that by only matching the super charming, attractive and eligible. A good matchmaker will have knowledge to understand what makes two people compatible and the intuition to see which common values are going to be key to form long-term and lasting relationships. 

3. Personal Service: In order to offer a personal service, agencies have to really get to know all their members. That's why meeting clients face-to-face before the matchmaking process is so important to us – this way we can really find out who you are and what you're looking for. To find you a match, we then hold in-person screening sessions, spending time interviewing prospective partners on your behalf.

4. Flexibility: Meeting quality people can be difficult, especially for those with packed schedules. Go for an agency with flexible membership – we offer packages that suit our clients and their busy lifestyles, meaning they can go away on holiday or work for a few weeks or months, and come back and we'll be ready to pick things up right away.

5. Dedication: Above all else, we truly care about our members and will go to all lengths to see that they have a successful memberships, whether that means walking down the aisle or moving in. Choose an agency with a high success rate (they'll often publish this on their website) – ours is exceptional and 80% of members go on to form meaningful, long-term relationships. 

More of SL’s favourite matchmakers…