Michelle Frankel didn’t plan to become a business owner—let alone a successful matchmaker.
The Miami native started on a different path. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, she worked for the Japanese government, then took the LSAT and built a career as a corporate attorney in mergers and acquisitions at a prestigious law firm.
But one day, her focus shifted from a business merger to a personal one.
“I was on a deal, and one of the partners I reported to was single and fabulous,” Frankel recalled. “Rather than focus on the merger, I focused on merging her—and I did, successfully.”
That moment changed everything.
“I realized perhaps my education was misplaced,” she said with a laugh. “My true calling and passion was to be a connector—to help people in their journeys. So I traded in law for love, and here I am, 15 years later.”
Today, Frankel, a Bergen County resident, is chief love officer of NYCity Matchmaking/New Jersey Matchmaking, a bespoke firm with offices in Ridgewood, New Jersey; New York City; and Palm Beach, Florida. The company serves clients nationwide and internationally.
When she launched the business in late 2011, dating apps were barely on the scene. Today, she is considered a veteran in an industry that has grown exponentially over the past decade.
Frankel’s team of seven matchmakers works across the country, from Long Island and the Hamptons to South Florida and California. The recent expansion to South Florida was a natural step given the flow of clients between the state and the New York metro area.
“It’s a small but cohesive group,” Frankel said. “We’re a close-knit team, busy creating love stories and connecting people with their perfect matches.”
Despite the firm’s growth, Frankel keeps the work personal. Each client begins with an in-depth consultation to define who they are, what they’re seeking and what hasn’t worked in the past. From there, the team acts as “dating recruiters,” vetting prospects, curating introductions, managing logistics and providing post-date feedback—a detail daters rarely get on their own.
“Our approach is deeply personalized and intentional, and it consistently delivers great results,” she said. “Dating is like the most important job you’re ever going to have. You can always get another job—that’s fluid—but who you’re with day in and day out is pivotal to your happiness and your journey.”
In addition to vetted introductions, NYCity Matchmaking/New Jersey Matchmaking offers date coaching, mock dates, personal styling, photoshoots, online dating profile makeovers and online dating management.
“We’ve built this amazing network—a database of more than 15,000 singles and growing every day,” Frankel said. “We advocate for our clients by creating high-quality dating opportunities they might not otherwise find. Sometimes they’re not presenting themselves in the best light online or don’t have the right network. That’s where we step in—to help them show up as their best selves and connect with compatible matches. We help remove the noise and distractions.”
Her firm builds customized packages tailored to each client’s goals—with one ultimate aim: “to achieve the success story.”
Frankel says matchmaking fills a gap in today’s dating world. She supports dating apps but believes many have drifted from their core purpose of bringing people together.
“Dating apps started with good intentions—to connect people—but many are now driven by a subscription model that prioritizes profits rather than matching individuals,” she said. “For a boutique business, it’s different. We’re so bespoke that if we don’t do our job well, we’re not getting referrals. Our clients’ success is our success.”
Clients range from their early 20s to their 80s, with most between 25 and 60. Over the years, Frankel estimates she has matched “thousands upon thousands” of people and is always moved when couples share their stories.
Recently, one client reached out to say he and his future wife—introduced through Frankel—were “very much in love and sharing our lives and families together,” and he thanked her.
“As a lawyer, I never felt like I was affecting change,” Frankel said. “Here, we had a little part in their love story—and we changed their lives.”
Michelle Frankel - Chief Love Officer & Certified Matchmaker
Phone: (212) 658.1599
Email: michelle@nycitymatchmaking.com
Website: consultationstrategysession.as.me/schedule/6de75123