Relationships Talk

When singles have a bad time on a dating site, it’s easy for them to blame the platform. They tell themselves the dating site is full of phony profiles, or they claim the search and matching features weren’t easy to use. Many will find fault in the membership, the interface, and the online dating system in general — because that’s easier than finding fault in themselves.

In reality, the singles who blame the dating site or app for their bad results miss out on the opportunities afforded by these platforms. They give up rather than learn how to use these tools to their advantage.

Matchmaker Carmelia Ray understands that a little knowledge and self-awareness can go a long way on a dating platform, and she has made it her mission to inform online daters and prepare them to use the resources at their fingertips.

She told us she hopes to see singles having a better experience while online dating because that will cause a ripple effect that will improve the dating environment as a whole. With so much technology within their reach, Carmelia said there’s no excuse and no reason for singles to feel unable to meet compatible dates.

“Singles don’t have to feel like they’re alone,” she said. “There’s a place for them somewhere. There’s a resource, a dating site, and a lot of options to help them find an instant connection.”

In the last few years, Carmelia Ray has offered her expertise to dating sites and dating companies throughout the world. This long-standing matchmaker has collaborated with many big names in the industry and has made savvy dating advice more accessible to everyday singles so nothing stands between them and a great match.

Whether singles are looking for love with a matchmaker or on a dating site, Carmelia intends to arm them with the knowledge and skill sets they need to be successful.

“I’m a digital dating strategist,” she said. “I want to help educate and show singles they can find love online and offline.”

Empowering Online Daters Through Collaborative Efforts

Carmelia has been in the dating industry for over 26 years, and she has built a solid reputation in that time. She won the prestigious Best Dating Coach Award at iDate in 2018. She has personally interviewed over 65,000 singles and worked with over 8,000 matchmaking clients. Her dating advice has been featured by major publications, including AskMen, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Cupid’s Pulse, Elite Daily, DatingAdvice, and YourTango.

She has also consulted closely with dating sites and apps of all sizes. She has given pointers to  dating startups launching apps in Canada, and she has hosted webinars for Match.com that have reached thousands of singles worldwide.

“I don’t believe in competition in this space. I believe in collaboration.” — Carmelia Ray, a matchmaker in Toronto

WooYou, an experiential dating app in Toronto, has named Carmelia its Chief Dating Adviser, which means she gives them insight into what singles are looking for and how to meet their needs. Her matchmaking expertise translates well to the online dating space because, at the end of the day, the process of pairing up quality singles is essentially the same whether you’re using an algorithm or a matchmaker.

Carmelia said her goal in working with notable influencers in the dating industry is to educate today’s singles about their options and offer them better resources to help them reach their goals.

“I would like to see people getting to their goals faster,” she said. “And I’d love to see more collaboration between dating sites and matchmakers.”

A Fourth Season of “Mom vs Matchmaker” in the Works

Since 2016, Carmelia has starred in an award-winning reality-based television show called “Mom vs Matchmaker.” The popular series is entering its fourth season and currently casting single millennials and their mothers to be featured on the show.

The show’s intriguing premise tests the adage that mother knows best and pits a professional and seasoned matchmaker against a feisty and caring mother. Carmelia competes with her client’s mother to see who can make the best match. It can be quite challenging because the singles who appear on the show are highly selective, but she’s up for the challenge.

Full of good-natured trash talk and overbearing parents, “Mom vs Matchmaker” offers an entertaining competition with a romantic twist. Episodes can be found on the pay TV channel MyxTV.

Singles and their mothers can apply to be on “Mom Versus Matchmaker” by sending an email to [email protected] The casting team are looking for outgoing singles and opinionated parents who can give Carmelia a run for her money.

“We want to see who knows best in the game of matchmaking,” she said. “It’s for anyone who’s been unlucky in love or difficult to match, which is pretty much every single on the planet.”

Her Matchmaking Firm Has a 95% Match-Approval Rate

All in all, Carmelia is responsible for facilitating over 1,000 marriages through her Toronto-based matchmaking business. Her methodical and discrete approach to matchmaking appeals to high-profile singles who want to take the effort and uncertainty out of dating. She has honed her skills as a matchmaker through decades of experience, and today she boasts a 95% match-approval rate.

Carmelia was voted the Best Dating Coach of 2018 at the annual iDate Awards.

That means that the vast majority of her match recommendations lead to a first date. She often hits the nail on the head and has seen many of her clients walk off into the sunset with the right match after she has introduced them.

Carmelia told us collaborating with colleagues in the dating industry has helped her grow her business and gain notoriety as an authority in the dating scene. Now she endeavors to share the wealth and spread her knowledge on as many platforms as possible.

“I’ve been successful because of my ability to adapt and learn and accept the trends of dating,” she said. “I really listen to what my clients want.”

Whether she’s advising singles through webinars, advice articles, or face-to-face consultations, Carmelia’s warmth, wisdom, and wealth of knowledge make a strong impression on daters hoping to meet The One.

Carmelia Wants People to Have Faith in the Industry

Carmelia has become a mover and shaker in the dating industry by listening to singles and working hard to meet their needs. She has instructed, encouraged, and introduced singles throughout her career as a matchmaker, and it’s no wonder that dating companies big and small have come to rely on her knowledgebase and connections.

Although the dating landscape is always changing, Carmelia has managed to keep pace with the latest trends and crack the online dating code for thousands of relationship-minded singles. In the next few years, she said she plans to continue spreading her message of love and empowerment to the next generation of daters.

“There’s a sense of pride in knowing I’ve been able to be in the industry a long time helping people and sharing my insights,” she said. “Finding love is the most important choice in your life. It’s the person you’ll spend a majority of your time with. It impacts your life choices in everything you do.”