Why one person at a time instead of lots of profiles?
Matching profiles is like matching résumés. It tells you nothing about how two people actually feel in a room together. So instead of more options, we give you one good one, plus a small, doable nudge that helps you show up honestly. That's where it starts.
How is Friend different from a dating app?
For about what you'd pay an app to keep swiping, Friend gets you one person a month, chosen by a human who knows what you're looking for. No endless feed, nothing designed to keep you scrolling. One good introduction beats a thousand maybes. And whenever you want the full treatment (a consultation, two matches a month, dates planned for you), Close Friends is one tap up.
How do you get to know me, and do I have to come in for a meeting?
Depends on your plan. If you've just joined the pool, or you're on Friend, you build your profile right here in a quick guided chat. Same questions our matchmakers ask, on your own time, no meeting required. A person still reviews every answer before you're matched. On Close Friends and Inner Circle, you get the full one-on-one consultation: an unhurried conversation with your matchmaker, who reads between the lines and builds your profile with you. Same care either way. The higher tiers just add the sit-down.
What if I'm too nervous to meet someone one-on-one?
Then you don't have to. Tell us, and we'll make your introduction a double date, alongside another well-matched couple, or a warm host whose whole job is breaking the ice and then quietly stepping back. It's an optional add-on ($50 a date) you can add to any introduction, as often as you like, so you never walk in cold. Shy is welcome here.
Who pays for the date itself, the food and drinks?
You do, just like any date. You each cover your own food and drinks. There's no venue fee; we book a relaxed spot, not a private hall. What you're paying us for is the matchmaking and the planning. On a double date, the add-on covers the extra coordination and a host's cover if we bring one to break the ice.
Can I see my own profile?
Yes. Every paid member gets a "Your Profile" view: what you're looking for, your interests, your love languages, and how your matchmaker sees you. No clinical scores, no secret read on you. If anything's off or has changed, you tell us and we update it. Inner Circle adds your match history and progress over time.
How do I reach my matchmaker, and how fast will I hear back?
By message, text or email, whenever something's on your mind. We're a small local team and we read every message ourselves, so we get back to you as soon as we can. When we do, it's a considered answer, never a rushed one or an auto-reply. Prefer to actually talk? On Inner Circle we'll schedule a call, including a quick one before each date. You'll always have a person giving your situation proper time and attention.
Do you tell me how the date went from their side?
A little, and only with everyone's say-so. After a date, we check in with both people and share back the kind thing your date noticed, or a small blind spot worth knowing. Never raw, never gossip. Just the stuff a good friend would tell you so you're not left guessing.
Aren't you just trying to keep me subscribed forever?
Fair question. Most services would be. We're not. The whole point is to get you to the relationship, not to keep you paying. When you find your person, you graduate, and we'll be thrilled to lose you as a customer.