NYC may be one of the most enticing places in the world to live and work, but when it comes to finding love, it ’s far from straightforward. In fact, in early 2025, it was ranked the fifth-worst city in the world for dating according to locals (on a par with Los Angeles).
For many, that statistic won’t come as a surprise. Long hours, high expectations, and a fast-paced lifestyle leave little room for the trial-and-error style of dating that’s become so prevalent. Swiping through endless profiles after a 12-hour workday simply isn’t realistic.
Since 2011, we’ve worked with successful professionals ready to move beyond this noise. Our NYC matchmakers offer a completely personalised, private, and psychology-led approach to meeting your ultimate life partner. If you’re wondering whether a matchmaker might be the right fit for you, these 7 signs may help you decide.
1. You Lead a Demanding Professional Life
If your time is absorbed by a demanding calendar, meetings, business travel, and late-night emails, it’s almost impossible to give dating the same level of attention, especially in a way that yields meaningful results. As an NYC professional, you may find that while your career is thriving, your love life… not so much.
The traditional route of dating apps often demands more time than it gives back. Swiping, small talk, scheduling; it quickly becomes another task to manage, not an experience to enjoy.
Working with a matchmaker shifts the burden. Our team put in the groundwork for you, learning who you are, understanding what you value, and presenting introductions that align with your lifestyle and relationship goals. Every match is intentional, so you can focus your energy where it matters most: getting to know someone and building something exceptional with them.
“My New York clients are constantly juggling intense careers, and dating ends up last on the list. They always tell me how much easier it feels when I manage the process for them: suddenly, they can date seriously without sacrificing their work or personal life.”
— Andrea Novak, Matchmaker
2. You’re Ready for Something That Lasts
You’ve reached a point where you’re no longer interested in short-term dalliances. Casual dating has its place, but now you’re looking for someone who shares your long-term outlook, your values, and your readiness for the next stage in life; whether that’s getting a shared place in NYC, starting a family, or perhaps embracing a new city together.
The constant rinse-and-repeat cycle of dating in a transient city like NYC can hinder this. How do you know if someone’s intentions are in the right place? How can you be sure your time and energy will be well spent?
At Maclynn, we focus on curating meaningful, lasting relationships. Your matchmaker gets to know you and your goals profoundly, and then introduces you only to those who are emotionally ready and genuinely aligned. Every match is vetted in person, so your time and energy are invested purposefully and with the intention of building a long-term connection.
“Short-lived chemistry is something I think that all clients want to leave in the past and instead find someone who actually fits long-term. When we match based on values, lifestyle, and emotional alignment, the foundations are there right from the start.”
— Andrea Novak, Matchmaker
3. You’re Drawn to a Psychology-Led Approach
You’ve done the app dating. You’ve done the surface-level small talk. What you’re looking for now is something more informed: something rooted in real understanding, not just a clever algorithm.
At Maclynn, our approach is grounded in psychology. Every match is made with emotional intelligence, not just shared interests or physical attraction (although these are important too!) We consider your relationship history, attachment style, values, and long-term goals, because those are the things that truly impact compatibility.
Rachel MacLynn founded our dating agency on the principles of psychology, and many of our NYC matchmakers come from backgrounds in psychology, too. This way, we bring insight which goes far beyond standard dating methods. If you’re someone who values clarity and depth over trial and error, this is the kind of strategy that makes sense.
“In NYC, people are self-aware but still end up in the same dating loops. When we bring in psychology (attachment style, patterns, love languages...) clients finally see what’s been getting in the way. It can change the whole trajectory of their dating life.”
— Andrea Novak, Matchmaker
4. You’re Looking for More Than Just Chemistry
Attraction is easy to come by in a city like New York. Real compatibility can be much harder to find. You can have a great first date, engaging conversation, even mutual attraction, but if your values, timelines, or life goals don’t align, things eventually stall. That’s where many app-based connections fall short: they spark quickly but lack the depth to last.
With our NYC matchmakers, compatibility is intentionally curated. We match our clients based on a clear understanding of who they are and what they need in a long-term relationship. Lifestyle, emotional readiness, communication style, future plans: it’s all factored into every match.
When the right foundations are in place from the start, the connection builds more naturally, without the second-guessing or misaligned expectations.
“So many people tell me they’ve been dating in New York for years without any real progress. Once we step in with structure and proper guidance, we see a real shift. They start meeting people who actually fit, which allows relationships to form more naturally.”
— Liv Talley, Matchmaker
5. You’re Clear on Your Standards
If you know what you bring to the table, you’ll be looking for someone who brings the same. That doesn’t have to mean a checklist of perfection, but rather a shared ambition, emotional maturity, and a relationship built on mutual respect.
We work with individuals who are selective not because they’re difficult, but because they’re intentional. They know what they’re looking for and are ready to invest in the right process to find it.
Your matchmaker will help you find the balance between meeting your expectations and allowing yourself to be open to possibility and growth. They’ll help you focus on what truly matters, and introduce you to exceptional singles who genuinely complement your life and outlook.
“New Yorkers meet a lot of people, but the quality can be all over the place. Clients always tell me how refreshing it is when every introduction feels intentional. It’s often the first time dating feels curated for clients.”
— Andrea Novak, Matchmaker
6. You’d Prefer to Keep Your Dating Life Offline
Privacy can feel hard to come by in NYC, especially when dating. Using the apps means your profile is available to anyone with an account; this could include colleagues, clients, exes, or others within your professional network. For those in the public eye, or who simply value discretion, that visibility can feel intrusive.
Matchmaking offers a more private, controlled experience. At Maclynn, your profile is never publicly visible. It’s held securely offline and shared only when a potential match has been carefully selected and personally vetted by your dedicated matchmaker. And always with your consent.
It’s a quieter, more considered way to date in NYC, where your personal life stays just that: personal.
“In New York, social circles are highly interconnected. Clients come to us because their search is completely discreet and handled offline. They’re tired of dating apps exposing their personal lives.”
— Liv Talley, Matchmaker
7. You Don’t Have Time to Waste on the Wrong Matches
Between the demands of your career, social commitments, and the pace of life in New York, your time is limited and therefore, exceptionally valuable. Spending hours swiping, messaging, and going on dates that lead nowhere is a drain on precious time.
Matchmaking offers a smarter, more efficient alternative. At Maclynn, we take on the heavy lifting by getting to know you in depth, clarifying exactly what you’re looking for, and introducing you only to people who are in alignment with your values, goals, and relationship mindset.
The result is thoughtful introductions with long-term potential, designed to respect your time and priorities. No more wasting time navigating people who aren’t on the same page.
“Dating really can feel like a second job when you’re already working long hours in a senior role. Clients always tell me how freeing it is when we take over the searching, vetting and organising. They get their time back, and the mental load of dating is reduced.”
— Liv Talley, Matchmaker
A More Intentional Way to Date in NYC
If dating in New York has started to feel like another pressure to manage, rather than something to look forward to, it might be time to try something different. Matchmaking is a way to outsource your dating life to the experts, making every experience more meaningful, enjoyable, and more likely to succeed.
At Maclynn, we combine psychological insight with a deeply personalised matchmaking experience, built around your values, your lifestyle, and your long-term goals. Our NYC matchmakers are here to guide you towards your ultimate relationship. To explore whether matchmaking is the right approach for you, inquire with our team today.
