Parents Are Investing in Matchmakers to Help Their Kids Find Love

In 2025, matchmaking is expected to become a billion dollar industry, suggesting that you can, in fact, put a price on love. It’s no surprise that people are willing to shell out serious sums of money to streamline the dating process. But not everyone who pays for matchmakers is in the market for romance themselves. 

No one wants to end up alone, and no parent wants their child to miss out on a fulfilling relationship. According to elite matchmaking service Three Day Rule, it’s not uncommon for parents to work with matchmakers to find matches for their adult children — and to foot the bill in the process. 

DatingNews spoke to Three Day Rule’s VP of Membership, Erika Kaplan, to learn more about the moms and dads playing matchmaker (or paying for one) for their kids. She told us that this growing trend is a sign that people — and their families — are in the market for a personalized, elite, and highly-intentional matchmaking experience. 

You mentioned more parents are paying for matchmaking. What do you think’s behind that trend?

We’re seeing more parents step in as singles are coming to us younger, often while they’re very much in building-mode in their careers. Dating apps have become more frustrating and harder to navigate, and parents are more aware of the challenges of being single in today’s modern dating landscape. 

For example, during Covid many adult children moved home or spent more time with their nuclear family, allowing parents to witness first-hand the challenges of navigating modern dating.

Prior to this, did parents ever get involved in the matchmaking process? What did their role used to look like compared to now?

In the past, parents were more likely to introduce their kids through friends or social networks. Now, they’re taking a more proactive role by researching matchmaking services to facilitate more intentional ways for their kids to date — and often footing the bill or helping their adult children make this investment. 

What’s the biggest challenge you face when working with parents? How do you balance their input with what the singles want?

The biggest challenge is setting expectations. Parents want the best for their kids, but matchmaking is most successful when the process reflects the client’s own desires. We emphasize this early to keep everyone aligned.

What do parents expect when they come to Three Day Rule?

Parents expect a high-quality, curated experience where their child’s preferences are prioritized. Many just want to give their child the opportunity to approach dating more intentionally and meet more like-minded, relationship ready matches which they believe their kids aren’t finding on the apps.

Are there certain age groups where you’re seeing more parents pay for matchmaking? Younger adults or more established folks?

Mostly busy professionals in their late 20s and 30s who are focused on their careers. These singles appreciate having a trusted Matchmaker to help them be more intentional in their search.

With more parents paying for matchmaking, where do you see this going in the future, is it affecting the matchmaking industry as a whole as far as you know?

This trend is allowing younger singles to explore more personalized dating options earlier. It’s encouraging a shift toward intentional, high-quality dating experiences, but the core of the industry remains focused on the individual’s journey.

For parents thinking about paying for matchmaking, what advice would you give them to make sure they’re helping their kids in the best way?

I advise parents to offer support by encouraging their child to be open to the process. The best way to help is to stay positive and allow their child to take ownership of the experience. Offer support but also make it clear that they can update you — or not — as they feel comfortable and appropriate. This takes any undue external pressures off. 

For parents who aren’t familiar with matchmaking, what’s the process like? How do you make it personal for both the parent and the single?

The process starts with a deep dive between the client and their Matchmaker into the client’s values, goals, and preferences. While parents may initiate contact, we tailor the experience entirely to the client, ensuring the matches align with what they’re looking for. 

We set our clients up only with like-minded matches who are highly vetted to be compatible. After every date, we debrief to make sure we are taking all their feedback into account and getting closer to the right match. It’s an extremely holistic process.

Closing Thoughts: Parents Will Always Want Their Children To Find Love

Whether they want to admit it or not, plenty of parents have played matchmaker for their children. But thanks to an ever-diversifying, ever-appreciating matchmaking industry, professional matchmakers are more prepared than ever to find high-quality matches for anyone, including the adult children of the people who pay them. 

After all, the demand for love isn’t going anywhere — especially if parents have anything to say about it.