When Melissa Clark and Dominic Morales tied the knot in Sayulita, Mexico, in the spring of 2025, their celebration was about more than just their own love story. They hoped to kindle a few others as well.
To help their single guests connect, the couple created what they called a “singles face sheet” — a real-life Tinder board, complete with LinkedIn photos, Instagram snapshots, and short bios.
“It was a fun, interactive way to spark conversations,” said Ms. Clark, 32, a marketing specialist in Los Angeles. And it worked. Some guests went on dates afterward, with one woman even flying to Florida several times to meet someone she connected with at the wedding. Mr. Morales, 32, a vice president in banking, based in Los Angeles, added, “It was a way to turn the usual awkward mingling into something more meaningful.”
Though Ms. Clark and Mr. Morales met through a mutual friend, the singles-connection idea sprang from Ms. Clark’s observations of modern dating struggles. “Apps have helped in some ways, but they’ve also made it harder to meet organically. People feel more disconnected,” she said. So Ms. Clark and Mr. Morales made connecting their unattached guests a priority. “Couples like us are trying to be more thoughtful,” Ms. Clark said.
Their matchmaking twist is part of a broader trend of partnered couples playing matchmaker. Recently, a similar idea went viral on TikTok — a couple designed a custom wedding newspaper featuring profiles of single guests, with QR codes to share photos and contact info.
As dating app fatigue grows and organic meet-cutes become rare, people in relationships are stepping in with creative, often surprisingly effective solutions to help their single friends find a match.
Blaine Anderson, a matchmaker and dating coach in Austin, Texas, acknowledges the frustration with dating apps. “People are questioning if the apps are actually helping them find compatible partners,” Ms. Anderson said. Many singles are yearning for more intention and better outcomes. Ms. Anderson said that married friends often become enthusiastic matchmakers. “When I’m looking for matches, I reach out to my married friends and ask, ‘Do you know any singles who might fit this?’ They’re usually excited to help.”
Even when Ms. Anderson reaches out to potential matches on Instagram and learns they aren’t single, she asks if they know someone who is. “People genuinely love playing Cupid,” she said.
This shift reflects a larger cultural evolution, said Sarah Schreiber, a former editor at Brides magazine and Martha Stewart Weddings. “The singles table is dead,” she said. “Couples aren’t just tossing single guests together and hoping for the best anymore. They’re being intentional.” Sarah Schreiber attributes this change partly to smaller, more curated guest lists. “Weddings today are more intimate, people you truly know, which makes matchmaking feel personal, not forced. When a couple has found their person, they often want to help their friends find that, too.”
Ultimately, she believes we’re entering a “new era” of wedding meet-cutes. “Couples have always met at weddings,” she said. “What’s new is that we’re just a little more direct about it now.”
Casey Lewis, the writer of the popular “After School” newsletter on Substack, which examines youth culture, has noticed a related trend on TikTok: coupled women pitching their single guy friends to others. “What I see most now is girls recommending their guy friends,” she said. “Like, ‘My husband’s best friend is single, please date him so I’m not a third wheel forever.’ Then others pitch themselves in the comments.”
Ms. Lewis highlights the power of social proof in these setups. “Having a married friend vouch for someone signals they’re safe, likable, and vetted.” She connects this trend to dating app burnout, noting, “People are just done,” with online dating. “They want a real-life connection.”
In 2020, Olivia Schreiber, a New York-based content creator who runs Camp Social, a summer camp for women , started a TikTok series called Hot and Single to set her brother and others up on dates in a casual, authentic way. “I interview guys like it’s a conversation, asking about age, job, life motto, what they want in a relationship,” she explained. The videos have gained traction, and Ms. Schreiber proudly joked, “I’ve got three marriages under my belt!”
Beyond dating, she started Hot and Social in 2021, where she hosts monthly events in New York City. Most attendees come solo but leave with new connections. “Apps can’t show you someone’s vibe in person,” she said. “People crave real connection: eye contact, actual conversation. You can’t read energy through an app.” Her events have drawn more than 60,000 people, often selling out within a day, highlighting the hunger for tangible, authentic encounters.
But playing matchmaker isn’t just about creativity — it requires care. Ms. Anderson warns against treating single friends like a problem to be fixed. “Don’t make every conversation about whether they’re dating,” she said. “That can make people feel their worth is tied to relationship status.”
If your friend is open to dating, thoughtful matchmaking can help, but it’s not as simple as matching ages or status. “Consider if they truly align in values and interests,” Ms. Anderson said. When there’s a good match, check in with both parties and make a warm introduction.
Oliva Schreiber agreed on the benefits of this approach. “Be empathetic, dating can be tough,” she said. “Make your single friends feel seen and supported. And remember, just because two people are single doesn’t mean they belong together. Be thoughtful.”
Olivia’s final tip? “Have fun with it, and keep it authentic.”
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