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The Short Version: LUMA Luxury Matchmaking offers assistance to highly discerning singles who don’t have the time or energy to scour the dating scene for a perfect match. The LUMA team of matchmakers get to know their clients and ask insightful questions about what they’re looking for in a partner. LUMA arranges dates on behalf of single professionals and makes finding a significant other that much easier. In addition to its matchmaking service, LUMA offers dating coaching for singles who want tips to up their dating game.
When online dating began to increase in popularity, some industry experts predicted it would spell the end of boutique matchmakers. After all, why would clients pay for matching when dating profiles are available at their fingertips? Well, as it turns out, online dating isn’t for everyone.
Yes, singles can play matchmaker for themselves by going on a dating app or site. However, it’s a lot of work for no guaranteed reward, and busy professionals don’t always have the time, patience, or swiping savvy to land a date that way.
Dating apps require singles to put in a lot of work; whereas matchmakers do all the work for their clients. All a single person has to do is show up for their prearranged date.
LUMA Luxury Matchmaking is an example of a boutique matchmaking agency that has thrived in spite of its digital competition. The matchmakers bring a personal touch to the dating experience and take the time to get to know a person before assessing compatibility and sending them on dates.
“Our clients are looking for something specific and aren’t meeting the people they want to on apps,” explained LUMA Founder and CEO April Davis. “Some of them don’t feel comfortable putting their profiles on dating sites. We’ve had some celebrities, we’ve had millionaires, and we’ve helped people who are computer programmers and benefit from dating coaching.”
Collecting personal information from users can help matchmakers send singles on high-quality dates. This means that clients aren’t wasting time on partners who wouldn’t be good matches for them.
LUMA employs matchmakers and dating coaches who have a deep understanding of relationships and can offer sound guidance. Unlike an app, the team can provide personalized feedback based on their knowledge and experience. For example, a single person may have unrealistic expectations or unhealthy projections. The matchmakers help clients better understand their own values and priorities so they have a clear picture of what qualities to look for in a partner.
The LUMA philosophy is all about putting quality first and helping love blossom through good old-fashioned matchmaking.
April was matchmaking people long before she made it her career. When she was 16, she paired two singles she thought would hit it off — and they ended up getting married. She continued introducing friends and acquaintances and saw a lot of success.
“I didn’t think about it as a job. It was a way to help others by introducing them. When you’re always thinking about how to connect people — if that’s how your brain works — you can make a huge impact in someone’s life,” she said.
In 2010, April decided to turn her hobby into a business. Back then, online dating apps weren’t as popular as they are now. Tinder hadn’t even launched yet. So the matchmaking industry was the only assistance available to love-driven singles.
April built LUMA by hiring a team of matchmakers with years of experience. One of her matchmakers, Christy, has been partnering singles for over 25 years. The team operates in major cities throughout the U.S. and boasts an 83% success rate.
April said her team’s experience and insight can make a huge difference when facing the challenges of the dating world.
“People think it would be fun, but it’s hard. We’re dealing with people. You’re helping them in one of the most difficult areas of their lives in trying to find the right person for a romantic relationship,” she said.
LUMA has attracted a sophisticated client base of successful professionals who have a lot going for them, but need a little help finding love. Clients join LUMA because they want a personalized dating service that offers more than a speed date or a swiping list. They’re looking for support and guidance from the experts, and that’s exactly what they receive.
“The clients have their matchmaker’s phone numbers and can text them if they need to,” April told us.
When asked about her favorite client experiences, April told us a story about the time she matched a widower and a divorcee. Widowers are the hardest to match, she told us, because they are often still in love with the person they lost. Their grief can be a roadblock to falling for someone new.
It took over a year before April could introduce these two LUMA members because they were busy dating other people. Once they were both single and open to a match, she connected the two of them at a singles event, and they hit it off immediately.
“They dated for over a year, broke up for a few months, got back together, and they’ve been together for two or three years now,” April told us.
The LUMA company has an 83% success rate when it comes to helping clients get into a serious relationship. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but the matchmakers are persistent because they know how much it can matter in the long run.
Kenton and Colleen also found love through LUMA. They went ice skating on their first date, and the couple said they instantly knew they were right for each other. Colleen had never ice skated before, and Kenton was impressed by her willingness to try new things. The activity helped them get over their first date jitters.
“My matchmaking experience with April has exceeded my expectations,” Kenton said in a client review. “The introduction process has been handled very professionally and effortlessly. All I have to do is show up at the appointed location and time.”
Kenton said his relationship with Colleen has made him a better person. And Colleen said she would never have met Kenton if not for LUMA’s intervention.
When a client starts working with LUMA, the matchmakers get to know them through a detailed questionnaire. Singles will be asked about their past relationships and dating preferences as well as their lifestyle and goals.
The personality test isn’t just about finding compatibility. It’s a tool for personal growth and introspection. The matchmaking clients gain insights into themselves and how the world sees them. It also reveals the ways that people show up in relationships.
Some clients sign up for dating coaching as well as matchmaking. Coaches help singles figure out what to wear on their dates and how to make a good first impression. Oftentimes the coaches serve as relationship cheerleaders and give clients pep talks before dates.
“We help them be confident in going into the date without stressing out about it,” said April.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many single Americans have relied on matchmakers to help them connect and feel less isolated during lockdowns and social distancing. Now that the U.S. is opening back up again, April said she’s excited to organize more events and dates for her clients. The LUMA team is growing, and so is its reach in the dating scene.
Whether it’s making personalized matches or hosting interactive coaching sessions, LUMA is committed to helping singles live their best lives and find their perfect match. Matchmaking and dating coaching can have a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and April said that’s the most exciting part for her.
“Your significant other is your family. It breaks my heart to see lonely people. If I see someone alone, I want to pair them up,” she said.
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