Dating can feel really complicated and exhausting.
You’re ready for depth, a soulful connection with someone who also wants a long term, committed relationship. Someone to do boring things with, forever.
But maybe it’s been a while since you’ve put yourself out there. Maybe you’re busy. You have high standards and not enough time to spend all day swiping, going on terrible first dates, or getting ghosted.
Your person is out here, and I want to help you find them.
I’m Rachel (she/her), your dating doula.
Based out of Columbus, OH, I help humans of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations navigate and thrive in the modern dating world.
STAY IN THE LOOP
We love love! This newsletter for everyone, single or not. You'll get date ideas, invitations to participate in collaborative projects, and the chance to help me search for matches.
I started my life as an innately hospitable only child, planning camps for kids a few years younger than me & sewing rice bags which my mom sold to her friends at work. I spent my teens and twenties learning how to notice people’s needs at our family’s restaurant and help them feel seen. At 18, I set sail for a gap year in Amsterdam to be a live-in nanny. Then during college, I hosted house concerts and poetry evenings, where I fell in love with the art of hosting.
Throughout college, I found myself with many interests and felt determined to find a major which aligned with my heart for humanity and my creative nature–a course of study to lend me the sharpest lens through which to see the world (spoiler: I did not discover my perfect vocational match during my time at OSU, but I did walk away with a degree in comparative cultural studies, laying a solid foundation for future endeavors as a photographer/visual anthropologist.) Being invited into sacred spaces through photographic storytelling has fed my family and soul for the last 12 years. I met my husband at a game party on Valentine’s Day 2013 while wearing homemade, heart-shaped, pipe cleaner glasses a week before giving a talk about matchmaking at Pecha Kucha after two friends I introduced got married.
The last ten years are filled with memories and magic. We planned a wedding unique to us (waffle brunch Monday wedding), road-tripped across the country, bought our first house, raised chickens, and got adopted by a kind pup. Life has looked like lots of board games with friends, cooking adventures (can I use up all of my haphazard ingredients to make a last minute meal for the family? Yes, yes I can.), fostering 12 kids over the past five years, continuing to explore the world, adopting a teenager, hosting an exchange student, collaborating with lots of amazing small businesses, and documenting over a hundred weddings!
In the fall of 2022, some friends from high school attended a speed dating event, and I was intrigued. Through some questioning during a hang at the park, their takeaway was clear: it was less fun and inspiring than they were hoping. After we said our goodbyes, I was left with a thought I couldn’t shake:
I bet I could run it better.
And so my matchmaking journey started to unfold. I began by researching ideas on how to host matchmaking events with more soul and intention than the norm. Through my search, I ended up finding a school to become a certified Matchmaker and science-based relationship coach with the Global Love Institute. A few months later, I was seated amongst the most amazing matchmakers in the world at conferences in New York, La Jolla, and Mexico (I now call many of them friends & mentors and hope to make them proud).
When I started the process of becoming a matchmaker, I had a preconceived idea of what that would look like. The more insight I’ve gained, I know there is a wider spectrum of ways in which I can support folks on their journey to (re)entering and journeying through the world as a human looking for love. At first, I wanted to help people learn to engage off the apps; to be a lifeboat of sorts for humans burned out from trying to connect behind a screen. However, through my learning, I’ve also gained insight into helping people shine on the apps and how best to use these digital tools to their advantage. For some people, concierge matchmaking services are a perfect fit, and for others, it’s photography or coaching–helping people show up more fully themselves online and working through self-discovery and dating strategies. It’s not a one-size-fits-all offering; I am here to support and lovingly challenge each of my clients. I’m grounded and fiercely hopeful I can help people connect and grow together.
Ready to make dating a priority? I’m here to help.
STAY IN THE LOOP
This newsletter is for you, whether you’re looking for love or looking to help others find love.
IN MY ORBIT
This is where I start when looking for matches for clients. Put yourself on my radar.
WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING
I was so lucky to find Rachel and have her in my corner as I took my first steps on my relationship journey. I wasn't surprised that Rachel had really great advice, both for how to approach dating and for how to think about myself in positive ways. What really changed the game for me was that talking with Rachel, having a safe and supportive space to learn about my needs and wants, made me excited to put myself out there. Rachel helped me find someone with whom I made an immediate, very positive connection - but even if I hadn't been that lucky, working with Rachel gave me a positive and open-hearted outlook that improved many aspects of my life. - Dennis
For as long as I have known her, Rachel has been a connector in every sense of the word. Her sense for feeling a person—their heart, their energy, their unique qualities—is like no one else’s I have met. With both tact and enthusiasm, she is able to see people, relationships, and potential connection with a keen eye. My own shyness has benefited from Rachel’s big heart and can-do spirit, the exact kind of energy that keeps the world going. My confidence in her is rooted in a long personal history where I have seen her whip people, parties, and plans together in just the place where the potential was ripe. I’m deeply grateful to Rachel for the opportunities she’s given to me, and I’m hopeful that others will feel the exact same blessing of her effort, eye, and energy. -Phil
Rachel has a profound heart for connection and an ability to really see people and to ask questions that delve straight to the heart. working with her helped me clarify what I was really wanting in a partner. her matchmaking intuition is prolific and spot on. 12/10 would recommend. -Kelly
Rachel has been a dear friend for years and is the reason I met my husband over ten years ago. She's always had a gift for bringing people together and creating community. Funny enough, I was not interested in meeting anyone at the time. However, Johnny was kind and persistent. I wasn't sure if we'd be a good fit or if I had time for a relationship, but Rachel was insistent that I give Johnny a chance. She felt that there was something about him that just made sense and I trusted her. I am glad I did. Johnny and I have been married for 10 years! Rachel has a keen sense for understanding people and seeing who you are at your core. She tells stories beautifully, loves well, and knows how to share life with others. -Jenny
Working with Rachel was exceptional. She has great insight and works very hard to make you feel heard and respected throughout the process, and it's easy to see she's genuinely invested in your experience. Absolutely the highlight of my summer! -Nate
Dating can feel equal parts overwhelming and exciting. Imagine taking away the ‘overwhelming’ part of the equation and that’s what I was left with while being set up by Rachel! Knowing that my match was planned with intentionality and uniqueness allowed me to enter into my date fully as myself and I had so much fun. I can’t recommend Rachel’s matchmaking services enough! - Carly
You helped me realize what I was looking for. You gave me lots of hope that there was someone out there for me and that the things I was looking for weren’t too much, you helped me boil down and get clear on what values were important to me. You give killer advice, you gave me so much wisdom- quick nuggets that helped me shift my thinking with obstacles that I might have been putting in the way of meeting someone. -Emily
FAQS
