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It may be a cliché, but it’s true—You never get a second chance to make a first impression—and this axiom definitely applies to first dates! We all want to put our best foot forward, but we don’t always know just how to go about it.Not to worry, we’ve got you covered! In fact, we went straight to the source and surveyed over 1,100 singles to get answers. Read on to learn what singles say makes for a great first impression. More

The dating game is nothing like it used to be! Advances in technology, evolving gender roles, and cultural changes have impacted all realms of life—especially dating. More

If you’re serious about meeting someone special, take a page from Sir Richard Branson’s playbook and just say, Yes! More

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—and the busiest! Amid the hustle and bustle of office parties, tree trimming, and family traditions most of us assume we’ll have little time to look for love. Besides, we’ve all heard it before—no one wants to start dating someone new during the holidays. But is that really true? More

No matter how socially savvy we are, it’s easy to stumble into “awkward first date” territory. Despite our best intentions, we may unwittingly ask an intrusive question or bring up an uncomfortable subject. Before we know it, we’ve made a first date faux pas and put a damper on things—and maybe even hindered our chances of finding love! More

I am loving this spring weather and the new women I’ve been interviewing this month! Our Bachelorette of the Month is a 52-year-old knock-out! But more than that, she is a very accomplished and respected attorney. Standing at 5’7”, she has beautiful long blonde hair, blue eyes and an athletic frame. She is intelligent, secure and passionate. Her interests include writing, dining out, reading, dancing and wine-tasting. However, her main passion is playing the classical piano – she’s very talented! Guys – let me know if she sounds like someone you’d like to meet! More

It is warming up in Seattle now that it’s spring, and summer is just around the corner. As May is upon us, spring into action with some fun date ideas with these popular events around Seattle: More

We are happy to announce that 99 Park Restaurant in Bellevue has joined us as one of our newest restaurant partners! 99 Park features Northwest inspired, farm-to-table cuisine. They have a unique, but approachable food menu and broad selection of local wines and seasonal cocktails. The elegant, yet casual atmosphere of 99 Park makes it a great spot for a first date! More

Its's Just Lunch Seattle Bachelor / Bachelorette of the Month! More

I would like to start off by saying congratulations to all of our newest IJL couples! Nothing makes us happier than hearing our clients have found the person they were looking for and are now officially in an exclusive relationship! Recently, I have noticed a pattern with a lot of my clients who are now in relationships, so here are a few consistencies I thought would be nice to share: More

This article is for the guys—especially those who think there’s no way they’d ever hire a matchmaker. Because that’s what my husband thought, too. But upon entering the dating scene again after being married for 23 years, he decided that signing up with a dating service was the smartest way to go. More

Here’s a Roundup of Seattle Spring Date Events: Thursday March 23rd: Aqua on Pier 70, 7-10pm Friday March 24th: Pike Place Market Saturday March 25th: Various Locations Sunday April 2nd- Thursday April 13th: Seattle Restaurant Week Saturday April 8th: Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, 9:30 am race start time More

Spring is right around the corner and that means PNW weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer and change is upon us! It’s time to leave the cold depression of winter behind and jump into new, exciting relationships. Spring is a great time for dating in Seattle and recently I have been speaking with many of my clients who are currently dating someone they have met through us, but it’s still too soon to give their status a “title”. For those who may be in this new stage of a relationship or about to be there, here are a few helpful pieces of advice that might come in handy during this fun, yet confusing time period! More

We are happy to announce that Piatti Ristorante, located in University Village, has recently joined It’s Just Lunch as a Dinner Club restaurant partner! Piatti features Italian-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on being local and seasonal. We are excited to have our clients experience the character and atmosphere of Piatti Ristorante. Offering a great location and its own kind of ambiance, it’s perfect for an IJL Dinner Party! More

I knew I would be featuring our March Bachelor as soon as I met him! He is a 50-year-old Sr. VP of a financial company. He is 6’3 with an athletic build, brown eyes and brown hair. He is a father of two children that he spoke so proudly of when I met with him. More

Any man should consider himself lucky to have an It’s Just Lunch Seattle date with our March Bachelorette! She is one of most beautiful 62-year-old women that I have ever met with, and trust me, I’ve met with a LOT of great looking people on my 8 years of matchmaking in Seattle! Our March bachelorette has a classy sophisticated style, is a slender 5’7 with beautiful green eyes and medium brown hair. However, her looks are just a bonus! More

Happy New Year and Happy Dating in 2017! A New Year brings a fresh start, and a new journey for yourself and your dating life. It is the best time to be dating and putting yourself out there to meet that special someone! Here are some winter date ideas to help you get creative during the dreary winter months: More

Our It’s Just Lunch Seattle January Bachelorette of the Month has accomplished a lot for being only 32! She’s 5’3” with a gorgeous smile and petite figure, who works as a Sr. Marketing Director for a large technology firm. She has been to over 45 countries! Our Bachelorette had the opportunity to live abroad for 8 years and had some incredible travel experiences. She comes from a family of sports lovers and enjoys watching baseball and football. This Bachelorette loves spending time with her friends multiple times a week but also appreciates her downtime from her busy schedule. She is looking for a man with strong values who is open-minded, ambitious and family-oriented. More

2017 is starting off great with some amazing new clients at It’s Just Lunch Seattle! The New Year is always a great time to be reflect on our relationship goals and start being proactive about creating opportunities to find that special someone. January’s Bachelor has such a positive outlook on his dating goals and is really excited about meeting some fantastic Seattle singles in 2017! Mr. January is a 65-year-old commercial real estate executive who is 6’3” with brown eyes and salt and pepper hair. He is a Washington native who has three grown children that he loves spending time with. He stays active by cycling the Burke Gillman, kayaking on Lake Union and he’s an avid skier. He also has a love of cooking and hosting friends in his home for dinner, going to outdoor concerts and enjoys beach vacations, especially this time of year. Our IJL Seattle Bachelor of the Month is looking for a woman that thinks young, has a positive approach to life, enjoys family time and is sincere and compassionate. More

Happy New Year everyone! With the New Year comes plenty of resolutions. Based on conversations I have had with my clients recently, I put together a list of easy dating resolutions that everyone can put into action for the whole year of 2017. More

It’s that time of year again—time to reflect on the past twelve months and set goals for the future. As the new year rolls around, we evaluate our lives to identify what’s working—and what’s not working—in various domains. We consider making changes regarding our careers, friendships, and of course, love. More

There is so much to experience in Seattle during the most magical time of the year! You don’t want to miss any of these events, especially during this season. Whether you have your own traditions or you are ready to start some new ones, get out there and enjoy dating during the coziest and most festive time of the year! More

The weather outside might be frightful, but the IJL office has been heating up with some great new clients including our It’s Just Lunch Seattle December Bachelorette. She’s beautiful inside and out! Our Bachelorette is a 29-year-old Social Worker who has great style and has long beautiful brown hair. She’s a true Northwest “Jeans to Jewels” woman! In her free time, she likes to go backpacking, plays a little guitar, she’s an avid reader and loves to go out dancing! This Seattle Bachelorette is looking for a man that lives an active lifestyle, is goal driven and passionate. We are so excited to be matching such a great Seattle single young professional! More

Another impressive man has joined It’s Just Lunch Seattle! Our December Bachelor of the Month is a 45-year-old Senior Vice President in banking. He is divorced with two teenage boys that he loves spending time with. He’s 5’11” with beautiful blue eyes and brown hair. This Bachelor an active guy who enjoys getting out and riding his bike several times a week. He’s also an avid skier and loves to travel to different mountains for the best snow! Speaking of travel, he lived in Europe for a year and loves experiencing new countries and taking road trips. Our December Bachelor is looking for a woman who is confident, social, open-minded and lives an active lifestyle! More

Chemistry is defined as the complex emotional or psychological interaction between two people. Some people define it as a “spark” or attraction between them and another person. It can be brought on by a physical or an intense emotional connection with someone you meet. For some people, chemistry cannot be defined. It’s a feeling you get that you can’t describe. You don’t know what it is about that person, but you’re drawn to them. Chemistry is the one thing everyone wants and I talk about it with my clients every day. So here are some good things to know about chemistry that will make your journey to find it a whole lot easier: More

Wow, do I have a lot to say about our It’s Just Lunch Seattle November Bachelorette of the Month! She’s a 45-year-old Executive Vice President in Public Relations. She’s a gorgeous 5’3” petite woman with green eyes and long blonde hair. When she isn’t working out 6 days a week and volunteering with dogs on Sundays, she’s traveling around the world. This Bachelorette has been to over 40 countries! Some of her favorite places are Australia, India and London. She is looking for a man who is driven, active, easygoing and adventurous. More

Get ready ladies… our It’s Just Lunch Seattle November Bachelor of the Month is the full package… he has brains, looks, ambition, he’s well-cultured and family oriented. Our November Bachelor is 34 years old, 6’7” with brown eyes and a great smile. He has his PHD and works as a Sr. Consultant for his company. In his free time, our IJL Seattle Bachelor stays fit by weight training 5 days per week. He loves trying new restaurants, going out dancing with friends, listening to music and spending time with his dog. Our Bachelor is also looking for the full package: He wants someone who is athletic, outgoing, spontaneous and super smart! More

Now that it is November in Seattle, it is getting dark earlier, the weather is chilly and makes you just want to stay inside and relax. But don’t let yourself get lazy - there are plenty of fall date ideas to keep yourself in the dating scene even when it is gloomy outside. And if you want someone with whom to kick off your New Year’s right, you must put in the effort now! See below for some fall date ideas in Seattle: More

This isn’t the first time we’ve written about this topic, and it’s still something I tell clients about constantly. But alas, I must bring it up again because I hear it in feedback every day. On a first date, pretty please, do not talk about IJL, online dating or past relationships. More

Our September Bachelorette has a really cool and unique background; she’s works in software by day and is a professional athlete too! She’s a beautiful 44-year-old petite woman with brown eyes and medium-length brown hair. In her free time, she is a passionate rock climber and has traveled all over the world to climb! She loves a wide range of music, trying new restaurants and enjoys reading a variety of genres. Our Bachelorette is looking for someone who is down to earth, introspective and family oriented. Guys, we can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Ms. September! More

The leaves are starting to turn, PSL’s are being consumed again, the kids are back in school and the ladies are going to FALL for our September Bachelor of the Month! He’s a tall (6’4”) 51-year-old Global Account Manager who is a mix between McDreamy and Jake Cutler! Mr. September is genuine, warm, friendly and has such a positive outlook and attitude. He’s a sports fan, works out 4 days a week and loves to have fun out on the golf course. Ladies…he is also a man that loves to cook! Our September Bachelor loves a confident woman who is outgoing, kind and easy going! More

September 22nd marks the first day of fall, which means as the season changes, so do your date ideas! There are so many fun and entertaining events for you to try. These next couple months, plan for all kinds of music festivals, beer and pub crawls and shows to fill up your weekend plans. Here are some to check out: More

How people show and express love is crucial in finding the right relationship. Men and women often communicate and love in different ways, so it’s important in the dating process to understand what your language is and what your partner’s (or potential partner’s) is. More

Our Bachelorette of the Month is a 58-year-old beauty that is full of positive energy and fun! She is 5’4” with light brown hair and blue eyes, plus she has a fantastic smile and sense of style! She is a small-business owner with over 25 years of experience in her industry. She is looking to meet a passionate man with professional drive! In her free time, she enjoys a lot of athletic endeavors, including downhill skiing and cycling. She’s also authored a children’s book and speaks Italian. Her favorite travel destinations include Italy, Turkey, Israel and Cambodia. More

August’s Bachelor of the Month is a really great catch! He’s a handsome and well put together 36-year-old, who is tall and has beautiful blue eyes. He has his MBA, works in medical sales and is someone who is driven in his career, but knows how to make time for his outside interests, friends and family. Our August Bachelor is a guy’s guy who is a Seahawks season ticket holder, plays golf once a week, has a boat and is a great skier. He also appreciates a nice Italian wine, loves going to concerts and trying a variety of restaurants. Our Bachelor appreciates a woman who is family oriented, confident, who challenges him and has a great sense of humor! More

Sure, summers in Seattle are full of fun things to do, but you may want to adventure outside of the city while the weather is still nice. Try one of these spots for a day trip or overnight excursion: More

Head to Ballard any Sunday, as most of Ballard Ave closes down to accommodate Seattle’s best farmers market (after of course, Pike Place) with the most delicious food to snack on! Enjoy strolling through the market with you date and discovering some treasures! More

This month I’ve been interviewing so many great young professional clients! My July Bachelorette of the Month is one of them! She’s an extremely driven 30-year-old who loves her career in Finance for a beauty company, but also has a big love of sports (go Cougs & Seahawks)! She’s a petite blonde that really appreciates a man who is passionate, independent, family oriented and doesn’t take himself too seriously. This “Jeans to Jewels” lady enjoys hot yoga, loves being out on the lake in the Seattle summers, is a fan of all types of music from EDM to Country and has a love of travel to warm beachy locations. More

Attention ladies! Our latest Bachelor is quite the catch! He’s 40 years old, 6’4” with blonde hair and grey/green eyes! He has been working as a Software Architect for 15 years and he moved from Europe to the US at age 21. He is looking for a woman that is independent, exciting and smart! In his free time, he enjoys photography, making music, art walks and lots of travel! Ladies, let us know if he sounds like someone you would like to meet! More

Conversing with someone should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how often people get it wrong. Date conversation isn’t just about asking questions and learning about each other, there are certain nuances in quality conversation that are important to be mindful of. Here are my top tips: More

Last month we covered all the fabulous summer music events that you can’t miss: The Gorge, Chateau Ste. Michelle Wineries, Marymoor Park, Woodland Park, and West Seattle Summerfest! Here are some more ideas to help wrap up the summer the best way possible. More

We were so excited to have our very own It’s Just Lunch Seattle Executive Matchmaker, Sara French, featured on Seattle Refined! The show features an ABC Bachelor hopeful preparing for the casting call. Sara shared some of her top tips for successful dating in Seattle. More

Can I just say it again? I am so impressed with the amazing group of women that are currently dating through IJL Seattle! Our Bachelorette of the Month is no exception! This spunky, driven and beautiful woman grew up all over Europe (she’s fluent in French) and has been a resident of Seattle since 2012. She is 39 years old, 5’5” with curly blonde hair and brown eyes, plus a great sense of style! She works as an Executive Recruiter and appreciates a direct, intelligent and funny guy! She enjoys practicing yoga and loves to cook and entertain for friends. In addition to her travels throughout Spain, Europe and Africa, she would love to get to Asia soon. More

This month’s Bachelor of the Month re-located to Seattle at the perfect time for Summer Dating! He’s 55 years old, 6’3 and handsome with brown eyes and salt and pepper hair. He works as a program manager for a large local company and has a Master’s Degree. In his free time, he enjoys running to stay in shape, scuba diving and taking annual ski vacations. Ladies, he is also a man that loves to cook! He’s also lived in Australia in the past and has traveled all over the world. Our bachelor is looking for a woman who is energetic, optimistic, and a great conversationalist! More

I recently sat down with a friend of mine to get his perspective on dating. He’s a 32-year-old medical resident, originally from North Carolina, who has been living in Seattle the past couple years. He isn’t an IJL client, but he is a single young professional currently out in the Seattle dating scene. He didn’t know what I was going to ask him, but here is what he had to say: More

Lately, the upcoming election is permeating every aspect of American life. Not surprisingly it has become a topic of discussion in the dating world as well. How important is it for you and your significant other to share similar political views? Could opposing views impact a relationship? Recently, we conducted a poll to determine how political beliefs are playing a part in today’s dating scene. The results are rather surprising, and reflect the significance political discussions have on dating. More

We are very excited this Seattle summer for the fabulous music, concerts and festivals. Being in the Northwest, we are lucky to have several options where to catch a great show – whether it’s local or you make a weekend trip of it. Here are some ideas of shows you can’t miss and will surely make for an amazing summer! More

This month’s Bachelorette is such a cool, sporty and interesting woman! She’s 34 and is a trained pilot and flight instructor. She has beautiful green eyes, olive skin tone and really cute style! She’s a certified scuba diver, has her own kayak, loves to cook for others and enjoys indie films. Our Bachelorette also loves to travel and lived in New Zealand for a year. She’s looking for a confident man who is spontaneous and passionate. More

It can be a tough decision to decide which man is my featured Bachelor of the Month, but this time it was easy! Our Bachelor is a very easy-going, successful and humble guy! He’s 40 years old, 6’2” with brown hair and blue eyes, plus a great smile! He has been a business owner for over 17 years and is originally from Canada. He is looking for a woman that is kind, active and thoughtful! In his free time, he enjoys road biking, dining-out, day-hiking, golf and tennis. He also loves to get away for ski vacations to Whistler and Sun Peaks. Ladies, let us know if he sounds like someone you would like to meet! More

My favorite recent feedback comes from two clients – one of which was on her first IJL date ever and the other who was on his first date in his second membership. I was happy to hear they both had a fantastic time! Here’s what they had to say More

This article’s inspiration comes from a female client I recently met with who asked me, “What do you wish your female and male clients knew?” In light of that question, I’ve composed a list of 5 dating truths that I wish every client knew More

Now that the sun is shining and spring has sprung, you can finally date without wearing several layers everywhere. It’s the time of the year when your wardrobe starts to come back to life and your dark and drab winter clothes can be put away for next year. It’s the perfect time to get outdoors – think brunch, picnic, cruising on the beach and happy hour on a rooftop! But the big question is, “what should I wear?” More

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from my clients about missed opportunities. They tell me they’d like to see their matches for a second date, but then there is no follow-up, or the follow-up is so much later that momentum is lost. Sometimes I wish our IJL team had the ability to schedule second and third dates for our clients because there are so many cases when opportunity is lost because someone let work/travel/kids/etc. get in the way. Reality check: it’s usually because you’ve let those things get in the way that you are still single! More

You can tell a lot about a person on a first date, but the kind of first date a person enjoys might just be able to tell you even more. There is no end to the kind of first date a person can have, so if they make their preferences known while planning your initial encounter, you can start to gauge who they are, what they like and what you should expect. More

When you’ve been in the dating game as long as I have, continuous nights out with someone potentially special or wonderfully promising can start to feel monotonous. Even if you’re seeing different individuals on each date, expanding your horizons and meeting new people, it doesn’t mean that you can’t fall into somewhat of a dating routine. It’s not uncommon - we’re creatures of habit - but just going through the dating motions can definitely hinder your ability to meet someone fantastic and life-changing. More

Dating can be exciting, exhilarating – and terrifying. There are so many unknowns when you go on a date, it’s easy to let your imagination run away. But here’s the good news: the other person is probably feeling the exact same way. See, you two already have something in common! More

After interviewing a lot of single men and women on their dating experiences, It’s Just Lunch managed to get some inside information on what men and women are really looking for when they meet someone for the first time. In the past, we’ve offered tips on making a good first impression, flirting and wordplay, and tips for both sexes on what they expect out of someone on a first date. More

New year! New goals! New love? If you've resolved to rev up the romance in 2016, consider the suggestions below. You'll increase your chances of meeting someone special—maybe even The One! More

When it comes to dating, we can be our own worst enemy—without even realizing it! Inundated with a plethora of love advice from countless sources, we occasionally internalize certain notions that not only impede our chances for happy relationships but are also, quite frankly, flat out wrong. More

There is nothing worse than being on a first date and suffering through the awkward patches of silence as the two of you struggle for conversation. It’s the kind of experience that is so uncomfortable it could cause you to stress out every time you agree to going out with someone new. More

Miranda Hobbs did it in Sex and The City. So did Susan Meyer in Desperate Housewives and of course, Jules Cobb in Cougar Town. These TV single moms managed to date, and even made it look easy. But those of us single moms in the real world know that life can be challenging when trying to juggle your kids, job, friends, errands, workouts, and meeting the love of your life. More

When it comes to love and career, it’s all too easy to prioritize one over the other. In either scenario, failure to strike a balance between the two could result in putting your relationship or your job in jeopardy. When you put most of your time and energy into your relationship, it could very possibly hinder your productivity at work. Similarly, putting your career first could result in your partner feeling neglected. Our It’s Just Lunch matchmakers have some great advice to help busy professionals strike a balance between their personal and professional life so they can achieve success in both. More

Go ahead - admit it. You have a list somewhere of all of the attributes of your perfect man. It probably goes something like this: at least 6’ tall, blonde hair, a graduate degree and must love dogs. Your list might go on to cover things like religion, politics and whether they want kids. More

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and you’ve probably got love on the brain. If you’re currently crushing on, seeing, secretly dating, or hooking up with someone in the office, you’re probably wondering if you’ve gone mental with all of the questions swirling around in your mind. More

We’ve all been there. You’re sitting across the table from someone who you think is close to perfect. Smiling from ear to ear, you sip wine and barely eat as you gaze into his or her beautiful eyes, unable to believe that after countless awful dates, you actually met someone who stopped your world. More