Matchmaking single people over the last couple of decades has made me realize that you can waste many years loving the wrong person.

People act like they’re helpless when it comes to being in a dead end, one sided relationship.

Sitting at the kids table again? Yup even though your not five, married people assume you don’t mind being a supervisor for their badly behaved kids at the little table in the kitchen while they get quietly paved in the dining room on the turkey wine. After all shouldn’t you be grateful being the old maid you are to have contact with their little darlings?

When you’re in a relationship it can be hard to know what to do when you all of sudden get radio silence.

Things have been going great and then all of a sudden out of the blue…nothing.

The natural response is to freak out and call up and demand to know what’s going on. Ask yourself, has this worked for you in the past?

Dating is never easy until you meet someone you have that unbelievable chemistry with. Adding children to the mix is that much harder.

If you have children you always have to be aware that you are dating for more than just you. Sure we’re not looking to replace a parent but ultimately if everything works out that person will have have an effect on who your children become and how happy they will be during their childhood.

As a professional matchmaker I sometimes have clients who never seem to get a second date. One way I can help them is to role play the conversation that goes on during the date. What do they ask? What are they asked and how do they respond?

One of the biggest relationship enders is the monologue. You know… we’ve all had that date. The person that drones on and on about themselves. Sometimes this can be a function of nerves and can be halted by interrupting politely and asking” did you want to know anything about me?”

If you live in Toronto or Montreal there is a pretty good chance you are from somewhere else. Dating can be confusing in the big city. Sometimes it’s quite different from your home town where you dated your best friends first cousin.

Having years of experience as a matchmaker, I keep telling my female clients: “When it comes to dating, too much enthusiasm can be the death knell”. It’s OK to be enthusiastic, just not about him. Men say they get criticized for dating young women. What they tell me is that young women are more grateful and enthusiastic. When they suggest the Keg for dinner it’s greeted with happiness. Women their own age wrinkle their nose and launch into a diatribe about how the Keg is so pedestrian and predictable.

We’ve all had the “date from you-know-where” and heard the horror stories, right?

BUT what happens when you finally meet that special someone who makes your heart pound and your knees weak? What can you do to increase your chances of finding love and happiness and ensure he or she feels the same?

Over the years, I’ve literally seen it all. I’ve counseled people as a professional matchmaker for over 17 years, so let me tell you what works…and what doesn’t! Ready?

“Professional matchmaking costs how much?”

This is literally the number one question I hear from clients when they first contact us to help them find their “one and only.” And that’s perfectly ok! The majority of singles are extremely hesitant when it comes to spending money to meet someone, but the reality is the cost of our membership isn’t as high as they think it is and it’s not “spending”…

Simple things are often the most effective yet people discard them as being antiquated ideas in the age of Tinder and internet dating.

As a professional matchmaker I often hear sad stories about texting. Everything was going so well! Both people called into our office and were thrilled with the sound of their match. They thought the picture was great and very attractive. It all should have been perfect. And then the angry call. “Take that guy off my list.”

Where do you usually go on a date? Movies? Dinner?

Why don’t you try planning a date that will make you stand out and seem special.

Remember on the first season on “the Bachelor” When the NFL guy wrote a poem to Trisha Ren? All the other guys mocked him and make fun of him doing that, but she was touched and felt special. Guess who she married.