”For a long time, I thought I’d have to settle – until I met you.” ~ Jonathan
Michele, how was your dating life before you joined Together Dating?
I had tried online dating sites, as I’m generally very busy, but I didn’t ever meet anyone of quality. The one nice guy whom I did meet, well, there was no spark.
What inspired you to try Together Dating? How did you like working with them?
I saw a sign on a lawn for the local franchise (laughing) and I thought ‘why not?’ and looked them up online. What impressed me about Together was that the way they worked was different from online dating. They wanted to meet me, to actually get to know me. My consultation wasn’t short, it lasted for about four hours, but the person who interviewed me really took the time, and explained everything thoroughly. After having a background check done on myself, I felt comforted and safe knowing that whoever I’d meet would have gone through the same process. I was impressed with the depth of the personality tests, and I remember thinking to myself that this type of (matching) questions had a lot of potential to really work, to cipher out just how serious a client would be about entering into a new relationship.
How does the process work?
Together offers different types of packages. I bought a package of nine introductions. I would choose a few initial criteria; in my case, age and location were important to me, so I was given a call with a potential introduction. Once I agreed to meet my future date, I was sent a spec sheet in the mail that included more detail. Jonathan’s package was different from mine in that his included a personal shopper, who did his contacting for him. We found that we were both the same age, and neither had been married before.
Where was your first date? How did the date go?
Since he lived an hour away, he offered to come to me, so I was happy to choose a location for our date. I decided on a popular local area that included a row of nice restaurants facing a beautiful fountain, which is where we were set to meet. I guess he recognized me at the fountain because I was the one who looked like I was waiting for someone. When we met, I definitely thought that he was attractive and sweet. Aside from the fact that ours was a real blind date (no photos were shared before we met), we found that we had so much to say to each other that we closed down the restaurant. After we left the restaurant, we talked by the car until almost 3AM. Not bad for a nine hour date!
What was your “first love” moment?
I waited to say I love you until I sure, and then I waited even longer. The day that I had decided to tell him turned out to be the exact same day that he had decided to tell me. That, and the fact that he’s a fellow Star Trek fan, sounds like fate to me.
How has your relationship progressed?
We've met each other’s families and we all get along very well. I love to watch him play with my nieces. He loves them and they adore him. The six year old is convinced that he’s a movie star. Once, after a trip to New York to visit family, we heard that the five year old had asked her mother, "Is she going to marry him? Because If so, then she's going to have to kiss him!" I thought that was very cute.
What do your friends think about how you two met?
I’ll never forget what my best friend said to me. She said “You talk about him differently than you have about your past boyfriends.” I guess that is true. It feels different, in a good way.
What are your future plans?
We’ve talked about having children. We both want them. I think it’s cute when he says, “When we get married.” Not “if.” Whatever happens, right now I’m very happy.
Do you have any advice for others searching for love via the Together Dating service?
Yes. Be honest about who and what you are looking for, as the service is only limited by what they can do for you. Have a reasonable list of qualities. I knew what I wanted and I wasn’t going to settle, and I didn’t have to. My interviewer had met her husband through the service; she was very confidant that she could help me. When I left the office after my interviewer, she shouted out to me “Send me an invite to your wedding!” I might just do that.
