I’ve been refining my skills for years, learning everything I can about dating, matchmaking, and relationships. I do this so that everyday people don’t have to do it themselves and instead can put their trust in me and my team to be their guiding hand in dating.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of common questions our clients have so you can fully understand our process.
– Alexandra Freeman, Co-Founder & Head Matchmaker
General Questions
Are you local to Oakland?
Our co-founder and head matchmaker, Alexandra Freeman, is a nationally recognized dating and relationship coach with extensive connections in the matchmaking industry. We currently have clients all across the US, Canada, the UK, and the UAE. We also have local scouts in and around other cities near Oakland who are always on the lookout for elite, relationship-minded singles like you. These scouts are our eyes and ears on the ground in Oakland. Since we have a wide network of Luxury Matchmakers in California, you could be matched with Singles in nearby cities, if you prefer.
What does a matchmaking service do?
A matchmaking service is essentially engaged in playing cupid for you and how each company does that is very unique! Depending on many factors specific to you, we may or may not be the right dating service for you, but we would love to figure that out together.
There are certain corporate matchmaking agencies, that do not do any scouting for each individual client. These lower-cost, high-turnover matchmaking companies keep their costs down by matching you with the easiest options available. You will meet matches, and you might even get lucky enough to find love, but there won’t be any targeted outreach specifically on your behalf.
Oakland Matchmaker is a bespoke matchmaking service, where each matchmaker only works with a handful of clients at a time. With a personalized service like ours, the goal is to spend as much of our time as possible getting you in front of the best matches for you, and presenting you in the best light. For example, we might want to get you in front of a photographer first thing so we can get some flattering photos of you for your comprehensive profile or we may recommend date coaching or other specialized services. Each client’s program is created on a case-by-case basis, curated specifically to their needs.
Is matchmaking better than online dating?
It depends. A high-end matchmaking service such as Oakland Matchmaker is not right for everyone.
We tell all our potential VIP Members that there are three basic requirements for someone to benefit from our service:
- Financial Stability
- Commitment
- Relationship Readiness
Just like you hire a trainer to build your fitness routine, or a financial advisor to manage investments, you can retain our services to outsource the headhunting involved in dating. For busy professionals, high-level executives, and other upscale clientele using our service, the benefit of time saved outweighs the cost incurred.
Online dating has become a job in itself. How do you go about weeding out the fake profiles, the deadbeats, and the just not compatible? With a service like Oakland Matchmaker, you don’t have to.
Do you have access to singles I might not meet on my own?
Absolutely! The three biggest things we can do to find singles just for you, are searching our nationwide database, marketing for you as our client, and referrals we can seek from matchmakers we work with.
Once we decide to work together, we will reach out to potential matches in as many ways as possible such as using paid advertising, possibly creating a dedicated section for you on our site, or even social media campaigns. This will all be catered to your needs, openness, and how comfortable you are with us sharing details about you with potential matches.
We also work with matchmakers across the US and even internationally. These matchmakers, via their own social and professional networks, have access to elite, successful, and relationship-ready clients. These matchmakers work on a paid referral system of which all fees are paid by us, on our client’s behalf.
This is all in addition to our own database of high-end, vetted singles that our matchmakers have access to. Our database has been curated with care over the last decade and includes potential matches all across the world.
Would I be set up on blind dates?
At Oakland Matchmaker we do not do blind dating in most circumstances. The majority of our VIP Members prefer to be actively involved in evaluating the matches they want to pursue. This is why we share photos and relevant information about potential matches with our members, and the VIP Members have the final say about who they would prefer to meet in person.
Having said that, there might be scenarios where you and your matchmaker decide that sending you on a few blind dates is a good idea. This is uncommon and only done in specific circumstances. No two clients are alike, and we custom-design our entire program based on who we work with.
Passive Membership
What does it cost to become a Passive Member?
You can join our database as a Passive Member for free! There is no cost to sign up, and you will get the chance to meet our elite VIP Members.
How do I join as a Passive Member?
If you are ready to join our database and potentially meet some of our elite VIP Members, you can sign up at the link below. After you complete your profile, please book your video consultation with an available matchmaker using the link provided.
What happens once I join as a Passive Member?
After clicking the sign up link you will be able to do two things:
- Create your detailed dating profile with us.
- Book an appointment with a Matchmaker.
After your appointment and review of your dating profile are completed, the matchmaker will approve your profile in our system and you will receive a confirmation email with your login information.
What is the difference between a Passive Member and a VIP Member?
A VIP Member represents an esteemed individual who has made the financial investment of retaining our professional services for a bespoke matchmaking program, in the pursuit of a serious relationship.
A Passive Membership is a membership type where at no cost you are included in our extensive database. While we actively and diligently work on finding suitable matches for our VIP Members, we only contact the Passive Members if they are found to be a potential match for one of our VIP Members.
Am I guaranteed to go out on dates/get matches as a Passive Member?
No. Only our VIP Members are guaranteed curated matches through our service.
How does the matching work?
- We study the profiles of our VIP Members and the profiles of any Passive Members we believe would be a good fit for them. If we believe you to be a good match for one of our VIP Members, we will reach out and set up a video call for you to talk to our matchmaker.
- We will show you the details of the VIP Member (based on their privacy preferences), and ask you relevant questions.
- Once we have confirmed your interest in proceeding with a date, we discuss your details with our VIP Member.
- Once their interest in meeting you is confirmed, we will proceed to arrange a meeting between the two of you, or the exchange of contact information.
- After your date, we will reach out for a compulsory post-date interview. Your feedback is important and helps us fine-tune our matchmaking process, ensuring we understand what you liked and didn’t like. That’s the beauty of personalized matchmaking – it’s all about improving future matches.
Do I need professional photos for my Passive Membership?
No, but please submit clear, appropriate photos both of your face and full body for the best results.
Is there an additional cost to go out on dates with your VIP Member?
No. If you are a suitable candidate for one of our VIP members, a matchmaker will reach out with more information at no cost to you.
Is there an age limit?
We accept VIP and Passive Members between the ages of 21 and 85.
Is my profile and data confidential?
Yes! Your profile will be accessible only to staff members and will be selectively and discreetly shown to any VIP Members we believe would be a good match for you.
I live far away from the city or area you service. Should I still become a Passive Member?
Absolutely! Most of our VIP members travel frequently and are willing to go the distance, literally and figuratively, if they are interested in meeting a suitable match.
After I sign up as a Passive Member, can I view the VIP Members in your database?
No. Only our matchmakers can see and selectively exchange information about potential matches.
How many VIP Members do you have in Oakland?
We are not a high volume matchmaking service with millions of members. We do have a small group of hand-selected and thoroughly vetted singles in Oakland. It is worth noting that because of the vast network of matchmakers we work with nationally, and even in other countries, you will get exposure to not just the members in Oakland. Our VIP Members routinely travel to make a connection with the right match.
VIP Membership
What is the difference between a Passive Member and a VIP Member?
A VIP Member represents an esteemed individual who has made the financial investment of retaining our professional services for a bespoke matchmaking program, in the pursuit of a serious relationship.
A Passive Membership is a membership type where you are included in our extensive database for free. While we actively and diligently work on finding suitable matches for our VIP Members, we only contact the Passive Members if they are found to be a potential match for one of our VIP Members.
I am interested in VIP Membership. How do I learn more?
Please submit your information at the link below and set up a consultation call. This is a no-pressure, no-obligation, mutual evaluation session to see if we are a good fit for you!
How do you find my matches?
We devise a bespoke matchmaking strategy for each VIP Member. This strategy is developed via our initial consultations with you where we get an in-depth look into who you are and what you are looking for as well as one-on-one talks with your matchmaker during the beginning stages of your membership.
The three main things we can do to find matches just for you are searching our nationwide database, marketing for you as our client, and referrals we can seek from matchmakers and industry experts we work with.
It has been a while since I have dated. Is Matchmaking right for me?
Yes! Many of our VIP Members at Oakland Matchmaker come from varied backgrounds. Some of them may have just come out of a long-term relationship or got divorced after being married for years. We don’t apply the same strategy to any two members.
Based on what your matchmaker learns during your initial consultations, we will tailor the strategy to you. For example, if you haven’t dated or socialized recently, we might set you some goals for going out alone or in a group.
If you are truly relationship-minded, no matter what your current situation, we recommend that you get in touch with us!
Do you take anyone as a VIP Member?
A high-end personal dating service such as Oakland Matchmaker is not for everyone.
We tell all our potential VIP Members that there are three basic requirements for someone to benefit from our service:
- Financial Stability
- Commitment
- Relationship Readiness
Just like you would hire a trainer to build your fitness routine, or a financial advisor to manage investments, you would retain our services to outsource the headhunting involved in dating. For the busy professionals, high-level executives, and other upscale clientele that we attract to our service, the benefit of time saved outweighs the costs involved in retaining our services.
How much does it cost to become a VIP Member?
Our fees for VIP Membership are based on the difficulty of the search criteria provided by the clients, and range from $15,000 to $100,000+.
After completing the Video Consultation Call, each potential member will receive a custom proposal outlining the membership terms we are willing to offer in your specific circumstances.
The proposal will include the length of membership on offer, the amount of hold time, any additional offerings, and a few confidential sample profiles of members fitting your search parameters.