Lawren Saunders took a leap of faith on her first date with her now-fiancé—she ditched the performative glam and showed up as herself. No sky-high heels, no dramatic lashes, no wig. Just comfy sandals and her go-to jean jacket. It was a small but radical act of authenticity in a dating landscape that often feels like a highlight reel competition. And it worked.
Saunders, now 27, was part of a growing wave of Gen Z singles ditching the swipe-fatigue of dating apps for something more intentional: matchmaking. After years of awkward prompts, ghosting, and "weird" matches, she turned to Alexis Germany Fox, a matchmaker known for cutting through the digital noise. Turns out, Saunders wasn’t alone. Post-pandemic, Germany Fox saw a 35% surge in Gen Z clients—proof that young daters are craving connections that go beyond curated selfies and clever bios.
The Burnout Behind the Shift
Dating apps were supposed to make romance easier. Instead, they’ve turned into a full-time job with no benefits. Saunders describes the cycle: endless swiping, tweaking her profile, agonizing over prompts, and still ending up with matches that left her scratching her head. "It’s exhausting trying to decode someone’s entire personality from three photos and a joke about tacos," she says. The pandemic amplified this fatigue. Lockdowns forced singles into digital-only dating, stripping away the organic chemistry of in-person interactions. By the time the world reopened, many Gen Zers were over it. Germany Fox notes that her younger clients often cite "authenticity" as their top priority—a stark contrast to the performative nature of app culture.
Three Day Rule, another matchmaking service, reports a fivefold increase in clients aged 27 or younger. These aren’t just rich kids with trust funds; they’re regular people willing to invest in a service that prioritizes compatibility over convenience. "They’ve seen their older siblings or friends get stuck in dating app purgatory," says Germany Fox. "They want off the treadmill."
Why Matchmaking? The Gen Z Appeal
Matchmaking isn’t new, but its resurgence among Gen Z is surprising to some. After all, this is the generation that grew up with technology at their fingertips. But that’s exactly the point—they’ve seen the limitations of algorithms.
For starters, matchmakers act as filters. No more sifting through bots, catfishers, or people who "forgot" to mention they’re married. Germany Fox vets clients through interviews, background checks, and even social media deep dives. "It’s not about being elitist," she explains. "It’s about ensuring everyone is who they say they are."
Then there’s the personalized approach. Apps rely on generic prompts ("pineapple on pizza: yes or no?"), but matchmakers dig deeper. Saunders recalls Germany Fox asking about her values, dealbreakers, and even how she handles conflict—questions that rarely come up in app small talk.
Finally, matchmaking removes the pressure to "sell" yourself. "On apps, you’re basically marketing a product—you," says Saunders. "With a matchmaker, they’re doing the work for you. You just show up as you are."
The Authenticity Experiment
Saunders’ first-date outfit choice wasn’t just about comfort; it was a test. "I wanted to see if he’d like the real me," she says. Her fiancé passed with flying colors—he didn’t even notice she wasn’t "done up."
Germany Fox encourages this mindset with her clients. She advises against over-styling for first dates, arguing that authenticity leads to better matches. "If you’re a sneakers-and-jeans person, don’t show up in a blazer to impress someone who loves nightclubs," she says. "That’s a recipe for mismatch."
This philosophy resonates with Gen Z, a generation hyper-aware of personal branding. They’ve grown up curating Instagram feeds and TikTok personas, but when it comes to dating, many are tired of the act. "You can’t build a relationship on a filtered version of yourself," says Saunders.
The Future of Dating?
Matchmaking isn’t a silver bullet—it’s expensive, and not everyone has access. But its rise signals a broader shift in dating culture. Gen Z isn’t rejecting technology; they’re demanding better ways to use it.
Some apps are taking note. Hinge now offers "video prompts" to showcase personality beyond static photos. Bumble has introduced "anti-ghosting" features. But for many, these tweaks feel like Band-Aids on a broken system.
Saunders, now happily engaged, has no regrets about ditching the apps. "I spent years trying to be the ‘perfect’ single woman online," she says. "Turns out, perfection is boring—and not what love is about."
Germany Fox puts it bluntly: "Dating shouldn’t feel like a second job. If it does, you’re doing it wrong." For a generation raised on instant gratification, that’s a wake-up call worth swiping right on.
The takeaway? Gen Z isn’t lazy about love—they’re just done with games. Whether through matchmakers, speed-dating events, or old-fashioned meet-cutes, they’re rewriting the rules to prioritize real connection over digital validation. And if that means showing up in sandals instead of stilettos, consider it a step in the right direction.
