At IDO,
they found each other

She had lived on her own overseas for years

At 27, she began to think seriously about her love life.

After many years in Canada, she had realised that the hardest part of being single overseas wasn’t a lack of chances to meet people. It was how rarely she met someone truly right for her.

Most of her friends were single, and her social circle had stopped growing. Work brought plenty of new faces, but most connections stayed on the surface and rarely went further.

She had tried other ways of meeting people. On ordinary dating apps, though, many people weren’t clear about what they wanted. Some were after friendship, some just casual dates, and it was hard to tell who actually wanted a long-term relationship.

She had been in a relationship before. They came from different backgrounds and held different values, they often clashed, and in the end it didn’t last.

After that, she started looking for an approach that suited her better.

By chance, she came across IDO on RedNote, and learnt that people she knew had found partners through IDO.

Rather than endlessly sifting through profiles online herself, she preferred a service that screened and matched people.

For anyone living overseas, time is precious. Work, daily life and plans for the future already take up so much energy.

A channel where you could learn about each other’s background in advance, and cut down on pointless conversations, seemed well worth a try.

So she decided to join IDO.

She wasn’t anxious. She just wanted to open up another possibility for her future.

He was looking for something serious too

After moving to Canada, he had also given ordinary dating apps a go.

After a while, though, he found that many platforms felt more like endless choosing than a way to help two people really get to know each other.

Chatting, meeting up, working out whether you’re a fit: every step takes a lot of time. Yet often the two people didn’t even share the most basic goal.

What he wanted was a stable, serious relationship with a long-term future. Meeting more people wasn’t the point.

So when he learnt that IDO screens and selects matches for its members, he decided to try something new.

Two months of talking before they first met

Once IDO matched them, they started chatting. Unlike many relationships that move fast, they didn’t rush things.

They talked every day, slowly getting to know each other. Once, they kept talking until four or five in the morning.

Through those late-night conversations, they gradually discovered how much they had in common in the way they thought about life, love and the future.

Talking online laid the foundation. It was only when they met in person that they knew for sure: the feeling was even more real than they had imagined.

Three days that made up their minds

The first time they met, they spent three days together.

Chatting, sharing meals, simply being together day to day, they found it all came naturally. Neither was trying to please the other, and neither hid who they were to make a good impression.

The moment she really fell for him came down to a small detail. She had once been hurt playing sport with another guy, who barely paid attention and just kept playing with his friends. Back home, she told him about it.

To her surprise, his first reaction wasn’t to pass judgement. He asked how she was feeling. In that moment, she felt genuinely cared for.

From then on, she grew more certain: this man was different from anyone she had met before.

Later, before they said goodbye at the airport, he had prepared roses and candlelight, and told her sincerely how he felt.

They officially became a couple.

From long distance to a life together

In this relationship, their consultant Icy did more than make the match. More importantly, in the early days she helped them avoid many misunderstandings.

When two people first meet, one often doesn’t know what the other is really thinking. If you rely on guesswork, it’s easy to miss out through a misunderstanding.

The consultant passed feedback between them, helping each understand where the other stood.

For two people trying a matchmaking service seriously for the first time, that support made the whole process feel far more reassuring.

Once they were together, they had to face the reality of a long-distance relationship. The distance was a challenge, but they didn’t write the relationship off from the start.

They were willing to put in the time to see each other, and willing to make changes for their future.

Every time they met, they wrote each other handwritten letters. She loves journalling, and kept movie tickets, travel stubs and photos to record the happy moments they shared.

Those small rituals brought warmth to a long-distance relationship.

Looking ahead, she plans to move so they can live together. It shows she is willing to make changes for their shared future.

On 20 May, they finally got married

At first, their parents didn’t really know much about each other. His mother had formed some misunderstandings because of how information had been passed along.

But once they talked things through properly, his mother found her outgoing and easy to get along with. Now the two of them often chat and have grown very close.

Both families gradually saw that the couple were not only similar in age and background, but shared many of the same values. The people their parents had introduced before often ran out of things to say after a few exchanges. With the right person, you don’t have to force a conversation. Often, simply feeling comfortable is the answer.

A year after they met, they decided to make it official.

They chose to get their marriage certificate on 20 May (“520” sounds like “I love you” in Chinese). To secure a registration slot in Shanghai, they worked out the timing a month in advance, set alarms, and after 40 minutes of trying, finally got one.

That moment felt especially meaningful to them.

It’s never too late for love. The only risk is missing your chance

She has this to say to everyone still looking for love:

“Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Don’t let one failure make you give up on the future. Finding a partner takes time and energy, just like building a career, and it deserves to be taken seriously. At the same time, don’t change yourself to please someone else. The right person will like the real you.”

He also has advice, especially for people who are more introverted:

“Talk to your consultant about what you need, rather than just waiting for others to arrange things. Speak up for yourself and create opportunities, so that people can see you.”

And on long-distance relationships, they say:

“Don’t assume from the start that distance means failure. If you’re both willing to put in the time and effort to see each other, distance isn’t the biggest obstacle.”

She never expected to find someone

Before joining IDO, she had never used a dating app of any kind.

To her, it meant spending a lot of time screening, judging and messaging people, which seemed both a hassle and exhausting. Then she saw IDO on RedNote and learnt that it verifies profiles and screens matches in advance, rather than leaving members to search blindly through a sea of profiles. That felt far more trustworthy to her.

After she joined IDO, her consultant Lillie sent her the profiles of three men. She opened the first one and was drawn in straight away. He loved music and had his own interests, and every line suggested someone who took life seriously.

So she was the one who suggested meeting.

Many stories begin quite simply. You see someone and suddenly think: I’d like to get to know this person.

He was tired of fast-food dating

After moving to the US, he had spent a long time on various dating apps. But he gradually noticed that people on these platforms were more used to “choosing” than to “working things out”. If it’s not right, swipe away; if you’re not satisfied, move on to the next. Everyone seemed to be constantly comparing, and few people truly opened up to get to know someone.

It wasn’t that he had no chance to meet people in everyday life. But meeting lots of people doesn’t mean meeting a kindred spirit. So he decided to try a new channel and joined IDO.

When his consultant Kelly sent him her profile, he was hooked straight away. She made art, baked and played the piano, interests that lined up closely with his own love of the violin.

To him, she wasn’t just “a good match on paper”. Their ways of living had a lot in common. So he was really looking forward to meeting her.

For him, that connection of mind and interests meant more than any outward criteria.

Before their first date, she felt a little nervous

Although her first impression of him was good, once the date was set she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.

What should they talk about? What if the conversation dried up? How could she show who she was naturally, without seeming to try too hard? She talked all of this through with her consultant Lillie, who helped her plan the flow of a first date: start with their interests, no need to perform, just be herself.

A good consultant doesn’t date for you. At the key moments, they help you see the way forward, so you can approach the right person with more confidence.

On 5 July, they met for the first time. Before she set off, he sent her a heads-up: the road nearby was rough, so drive slowly and watch out for scraping the underside of the car.

They hadn’t even met, and that one message already told her he was thoughtful. When they did meet, he casually showed her where the toilets were. Small things, but these were exactly the details that made her think: this man is considerate and attentive, and he looks out for how others feel.

And when he first saw her, he was stunned. She was wearing a pink hanfu (traditional Chinese dress) she had designed herself, and she stood out beautifully in the crowd. He later said that seeing her for the first time felt like seeing a “fairy”.

Often, a first impression isn’t something you can put on. It’s the other person’s presence, effort and ease that happen to win you over.

A whole day together, and the awkwardness melted away

After meeting, they visited a natural history museum, wandered around a shopping centre and stopped for a quirky hot dog along the way. As the date was close to his place, he invited her over to see his violin collection.

The invitation sounded a bit like an “excuse”. But thanks to that “excuse”, they made music together for the first time. He played the violin, she played the piano, and they performed a duet that very day.

One loved the violin, the other played the piano. He had sent her the piano score in advance, and she genuinely wanted to join in. In that moment, a lot didn’t need to be said. When two people are on the same wavelength, they can feel it while making something together.

In the evening, they went to watch fireworks together. From midday until the fireworks ended, they spent an entire day together on their first date. All that time together quickly broke the ice and laid the foundation for their relationship. Looking back, they both agree it was the best decision they made that day.

They each brought a gift to their first date

What made this date so memorable for both of them wasn’t just the full itinerary. It was the care they had both put in.

He had sent her the piano score in advance, and hand-converted a candle holder into a display case holding a tiny violin model, as a gift for their first meeting. When she found out he had prepared a gift, she didn’t turn up empty-handed either. She painted a travel landscape herself to give him in return.

Her plan had been that if things got awkward, they could start talking about the painting. In the end, the conversation never dried up.

Preparing a gift isn’t about how expensive it is. It’s about letting the other person know you didn’t just turn up on a whim, and that you were genuinely looking forward to meeting them.

Things went so smoothly she was briefly unsure

In the eight months since they met, their relationship has gone remarkably smoothly. So smoothly that at first she felt a little unsure: things were moving fast. Was this just a passing spark, or something that could last?

But the more time they spent together, the more she realised this was more than the thrill of something new. Their daily routines, tastes in food, interests and values lined up closely. Their personalities complemented each other too: one more outgoing and proactive, the other gentler and more attentive. One loved the violin, the other the piano. One planned ahead, the other was happy to respond.

They didn’t go through much painful adjustment, and they didn’t hit any major problems. That wasn’t because they were exactly alike. It was because they were both sincere, and both willing to bring their real selves into the relationship.

Happiness is never an accident

They didn’t actually live that far apart, but their social circles were completely different. Without IDO’s careful matching, they would most likely never have crossed paths in real life.

After their first date, she felt they were a very good match. That’s also what they value most about the service. IDO doesn’t date for you, and it doesn’t guarantee every date will work out, but it can open up one more channel for you. Through profile verification, screening and support from a consultant, you can meet people you would never come across in everyday life, within a more trustworthy setting.

He had his doubts at first. He worried whether the service was legitimate, and hesitated over whether to try it. Looking back now, he’s glad he took that step. Without it, he would never have met her.

Love comes first to the brave

His message to single men: if you still haven’t met the right person, try opening one more door for yourself. Don’t just wait passively. Sometimes a new opportunity starts with a single try. When you work on becoming a better version of yourself, you’ll be better able to seize the chance when it comes.

Her message to single women: don’t just stay at home waiting for love to find you. If you want to meet someone, take the first step, meet more people and give yourself more chances. There’s no need to stress too much, and no need to change yourself to please others. When you meet someone, just be sincere and be yourself. The right person will see the real you.

When an opportunity comes along, be a little braver and a little more sincere. The person on your wavelength may be waiting for you to take the first step.

Years of dating in Sydney had left him worn out

He had migrated to Australia more than twenty years ago. After his divorce, he began trying to meet the right person in Sydney.

But once he was back on the dating scene, he found that starting over was harder than he’d expected. Many people carried hurt from past relationships and were used to protecting themselves first. Not long into a date, the other person would ask directly about property, work, income, assets and cars. Those topics aren’t off-limits in themselves, but when a relationship turns into a “vetting process” before it has even begun, the whole mood becomes tense.

Date after date, he grew more and more tired, and more and more discouraged.

He was a professor at the university in Sydney, with a stable career and income. Yet in the matching process he found that good credentials didn’t guarantee things would go well. He began to realise that the hardest part of dating isn’t meeting someone who “ticks the boxes”. It’s meeting someone who truly wants to understand you, and is willing to be understood. Gradually, he grew tired of endless swiping, endless filtering and introducing himself over and over again.

So he joined IDO.

Divorced with a child in Chengdu, she was wary of marrying again

She lived in Chengdu, raising her primary-school-aged son on her own after her divorce. Having been through a failed marriage, she longed for stability, but was more hesitant and cautious than most.

In China’s dating market, divorced women with children have always faced more constraints and prejudice. Remarrying is never simply about two people. It also involves family opinion, raising the child, practical pros and cons and how others see you. Layer upon layer of pressure makes it hard to even try.

Her friends didn’t want to see her on her own, and suggested she consider a relationship across borders: one more option, one more possibility. But the unknowns left her full of doubts. A different language, a different culture, completely different habits. Could a relationship across thousands of kilometres really work? Could it really last?

It was only when she found IDO that she felt sure. Her consultant told her that she was the one who would be in the relationship. The service could screen matches and help her see the way forward, but in the end she needed to learn to communicate with the other person herself, and to sense for herself whether he was right for her.

That struck a chord. She didn’t want a relationship simply arranged for her. She wanted to learn how to get to know someone, how to judge a relationship, and how to take part in her own happiness. So she chose IDO.

For the first time, she took a real look at herself

Before matching began, the consultant didn’t rush to recommend anyone. Rather than getting her coupled up quickly, the consultant wanted to help her understand herself first, and avoid the patterns that had tripped her up before.

She began to work through what she really needed, and to face her deepest wishes honestly. A series of searching questions helped her shed the standards for a partner that others had handed her. Most of the time we follow outside standards without thinking: age, income, education, family background, status, treating these hard criteria as must-haves. Look closer, though, and it becomes clear that these conventional standards may not fill the gap inside, or sustain a lasting marriage.

With her consultant’s patient guidance, she finally saw through the fog and understood what she truly needed.

From hesitation to meeting, growing closer through a screen

The match her consultant put forward was the university professor, far away in Sydney.

Seeing his profile for the first time, she felt hesitation rather than a spark. The consultant didn’t try to talk her round. Instead, the consultant calmly and objectively walked her through his past: he had never been one to avoid problems. When his marriage ended, he didn’t simply blame the other side. He reflected on what had gone wrong, even saw a counsellor, and worked through his patterns in close relationships. He had kept growing.

The uncertainty of meeting across borders weighed on him too. Separated by screens, language and thousands of kilometres, unable to see each other’s real lives or fully know each other’s hearts, he at one point wanted to give up.

But after three or four months of deep conversations, two hearts that had both been through a lot gradually drew closer and came to trust each other. To test whether what they felt through a screen was real, he made a bold decision: to fly to Chengdu and meet her in person.

Her English was still limited then, and they often struggled to understand each other. But sincerity and kindness never need translating. He saw for himself how gentle, genuine, family-minded and clear-sighted she was, and the strength and courage it took to raise her son alone. Beyond the labels on a profile, the real woman in front of him, with her vulnerabilities and her resilience, won him over completely.

Later, she used her holidays to travel to Australia and step into his life and his work. She saw for herself how confident and respected he was in his field. He was open with her and told her everything about his family, which gave her a real sense of security. Along the way, she kept in touch with her consultant about how things were going, to understand his sincerity and get a sense of where the relationship was heading.

COVID kept them apart for two years, and made them more certain

When he came back to Chengdu over Chinese New Year, the pandemic suddenly hit. They went through lockdown together and faced many unplanned changes side by side. After that goodbye, they were apart for two years.

Two years of distance is hard on any relationship, and between them stood the pandemic, visas and no clear date for when they would see each other again. But throughout those two years they stayed in touch every day. The distance didn’t cool things down, and the uncertainty didn’t make them give up.

Some relationships can’t stand up to the tests of real life. Others are exactly where two people become more certain of each other.

Eventually, she got her visa and flew to Australia. Once reunited, they didn’t hesitate for long. Within a month they were engaged and married. That was 2022.

During the pandemic, he had already bought a home. It was more than a house. It was his preparation for their future together. He had long since decided to welcome her, and her son as well.

Because they had lived through a lot, and through marriage, they knew more clearly what they wanted, and treasured this hard-won relationship all the more.

The best marriages are built on acceptance from both sides

A marriage across cultures is never just romance. Lifestyles, attitudes to money, social habits and the division of household roles all reveal themselves bit by bit in everyday life.

When she first arrived in Australia, she noticed many cultural differences, such as attitudes to spending, the social atmosphere and dining customs. Chinese people tend to be polite and defer to others, while Westerners are more direct about what they need. There’s no need to keep guessing, and no need for excessive politeness. The early differences brought plenty of discomfort, but over time she came to understand that differences are never what stands in the way of a marriage. An unwillingness to communicate, accept and adapt is.

A good marriage is never one person giving way to the other. It’s two people working together to create new rules for their own family. What moves her most in this marriage has never been material gifts. It’s the countless small ways he shows patience and care. Being accepted in a marriage across cultures, she realised, doesn’t come from trying to please. It comes from both sides being sincere, both making the effort and both cherishing each other.

Today, their little family home is full of warmth.

True happiness means being willing to start again

Their own experience offers a clear answer about what makes a marriage across cultures work. Differences aren’t frightening, distance isn’t frightening, and old scars aren’t frightening either. What matters most is talking honestly, facing problems head-on and refusing to let suspicion take hold. Rather than forcing each other’s lives into one mould, they bring their pasts together to create a new family culture of their own.

True happiness doesn’t mean having no scars. It means not being afraid of the past and having the courage to start again. Nobody’s life is plain sailing. Anyone can go through heartbreak, a broken marriage or a time of feeling lost. But age, divorce and distance have never been barriers to happiness.

As long as you’re willing to face yourself honestly, move past your limits and take a brave step forward, life can always turn around.

Happiness will find you, and we’ll be with you all the way.

“After 30, I started dreading opening dating apps”

Starting life over in an unfamiliar city in your early thirties is hard enough. Harder still, her days were work, commute, home, on repeat, with no time at all to make new friends.

In her first two years in Melbourne, she all but buried herself in work. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a relationship. She genuinely didn’t know where to meet people. Her family rang every few days to nag: “You’re not getting any younger. You’re in your thirties now, it’ll only get harder.” Every time she heard it, she felt anxious and hurt.

She’d had a relationship before that ended because of the distance. Afterwards she lost confidence in love, and whenever relationships came up, her instinct was to avoid the subject. There was a long gap while she worked on herself. In the end she put all her energy into work and stopped thinking about it altogether.

Then one day, an IDO ad popped up on a web page. She hesitated for a long time before clicking through to enquire.

Her consultant gave her a real confidence boost and urged her to “give this one a try”

Her consultant was very patient and listened to all her worries: her anxiety about age, the hurt from the past, her unease in an unfamiliar city. The consultant kept reassuring her and encouraging her to take that step.

In the end, she told herself: why not give it a go? It has to be better than those dating apps. At least everyone here has been screened by professionals. Not just anyone can join.

Based on what she was looking for in a partner, her consultant recommended suitable men and went on to arrange dates with several of them. The first few were just okay, each missing something.

Then one day her consultant said, “This one has a lot going for him. Would you be open to meeting him?”

At the first meeting, she felt at ease

He was born in 1989, Malaysian, a French-cuisine chef in Melbourne, 173cm tall. They met at a quiet café. He didn’t say much, but everything he said felt steady and sincere.

They talked about work, life and what they wanted for the future. He was a chef and she was a barista, so they had plenty in common through work. More importantly, they were both from Malaysia, and the shared background made conversation easy.

By the end of that first meeting, she had a feeling: this man was different from everyone she had met before.

When her consultant followed up, the message was clear: “Hold on to this one. He’s serious about building something with you.”

She didn’t hesitate for long. She decided to get to know him properly.

One meeting changed her parents’ minds

Once they were officially together, she told her family about him straight away. To her surprise, her parents weren’t happy at first. They were worried.

They thought a man met through a dating service might not be reliable. Maybe he had no friends, or something was wrong with his personality. In their minds, dating services were still “not respectable” and “not safe”.

She didn’t argue with them. Instead she made a decision: she would bring them to Melbourne to meet him.

When he heard, he didn’t hesitate for a second and prepared carefully. On the day, he was relaxed and well-mannered. He chatted with her parents himself, about his work, his family and his plans for the future.

After a few days together, her parents did a complete about-turn. They told their daughter privately, “He’s a reliable young man. He’s not what we imagined.”

From then on, her parents trusted IDO and gave the couple their full support.

The families meet and set a wedding date: 1 December 2025

With her family behind them, the relationship grew even more smoothly. She introduced him to her parents, and he introduced her to his family in Melbourne and in Malaysia. The two families got on wonderfully, and before long the talk turned to marriage.

They put the wedding firmly on the calendar. After talking it through, they decided to marry in Malaysia on 1 December 2025. His father was fully supportive of the plan.

Looking back, without her consultant’s encouragement she might still be the workaholic who only knew the office and was too scared to risk her heart. Her past heartbreak had shaken her confidence, and her consultant helped her rebuild it bit by bit, until she was ready to meet people again.

In just two years, she went from someone afraid to date to someone getting married. Even she was surprised.

Her message to anyone still on the fence: IDO is a service you can trust. Even with someone a friend introduces or someone you meet online, you never really know their background. IDO carefully selects people who meet its standards, and makes it more comfortable to meet and get to know someone. If you’re single, you really should give IDO a go. You won’t be disappointed.

Busy with work, he let his best dating years slip by

His family is from Guangdong, but he grew up in Singapore, so his habits and outlook are thoroughly local. As an only child, he carried high expectations from his parents, but in his younger years he poured all his energy into his career.

For years his life was filled with work: overtime, projects, managing a team. After hours he didn’t socialise much. Most of his friends had settled down and the catch-ups grew fewer. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a relationship. He simply had no chance to meet the right woman.

After he joined IDO, his consultant had an in-depth conversation with him. He was clear that he hoped to find someone gentle and sweet, good-natured and with sound values. He had no firm limits on age, but deep down he leaned towards a partner he could look after and protect.

Doted on by her brother, she was drawn to an older, more mature man

She was born in 1998 and works as a teacher in Singapore on an EP. She stayed on to work after studying there. She grew up in a warm family with an older brother who always spoilt her, and so she hoped to find a partner older than her who could give her a sense of security.

Most of the men around her were her age or younger. In her experience they were a bit immature in how they thought and how they handled things. She liked the idea of an older partner, someone with life experience and a sense of responsibility, who could guide her and be someone to lean on.

Friends had introduced her to a few people, but no one was quite right. She began to think about using a professional service to do the screening, and that’s how she found IDO.

A considered match: seven years is no barrier

After weighing up what each of them needed most, the consultant made a bold call and introduced him to her, despite a seven-year age gap.

When she first read his profile, she did hesitate. Would seven years mean a generation gap? Would their pace of life and interests be completely different?

The consultant didn’t brush the question aside, and talked her through his situation honestly: yes, he was older, but he was young at heart and successful in his career. More importantly, he was far more serious and responsible about relationships than the men her age she had met before.

The consultant encouraged her to meet him once first, and not let a number box her in.

He had few doubts. When he saw her photos and profile, he thought she looked graceful and gentle, exactly his type.

The first date

He chose a quiet restaurant for their first meeting and arrived early, holding two things: a simple, elegant bunch of flowers, and a Disney plush toy, because she had mentioned Disney in her profile.

She hadn’t expected him to remember a little interest she had mentioned in passing. The flowers made her feel valued too. They weren’t a token few stems but a bouquet put together with care.

Throughout the date he was thoughtful and composed. He didn’t talk a lot, but everything he said was well judged. Whether they talked about work, life or the future, his answers showed a quiet maturity and steadiness.

He liked her too. Although she was seven years younger, she was anything but childish. She had her own ideas and plans, and her sweet smile put him at ease.

The perfect complement

After that first meeting, things moved along smoothly. The more time they spent together, the more they found they complemented each other.

She does have a playful side. She loves Disney, concerts and theme parks. He never saw this as childish and was happy to come along. He queued with her for roller coasters and waved glow sticks with her at concerts.

In turn, she joins him at business talks and industry events. She may not follow all the tech and management talk, but she stands beside him with poise, greeting people and making conversation, the picture of a gracious partner.

She is just as committed in her own career. She takes her teaching seriously, from lesson planning and curriculum work to talking with parents, and does every part of it well. That’s what he admires most about her: playful in everyday life, independent and dependable at work.

Seven years apart, and more in tune than anyone

With the consultant guiding and supporting them all the way, they became a couple. No drama, no unexplained cold shoulders, just two people slowly putting down roots in each other’s worlds.

Looking back, he told the consultant, “I used to think finding a partner was hard because I didn’t have a social circle. Then I realised it wasn’t hard, I just hadn’t found the right approach. IDO helped me find the right person.” She said, “I was always looking for someone mature, reliable and responsible. Lots of people told me men like that were hard to find, but I found one.”

With seven years between them, they had once worried about a generation gap. Once they were together, they realised age was never the issue. What matters is whether someone is willing to step into your world, and whether you are willing to step into theirs.

She did want to find someone. She just didn’t want to waste more time

She is gentle, loves children, has a steady job and a simple life. Love, though, had not been so straightforward.

The men she had met before were either not sincere or only after something casual. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a partner. She didn’t want to waste her time on someone who wasn’t serious. Before letting herself get invested, she would test the waters again and again until she was sure he meant it. It was exhausting and disheartening. Gradually she stopped expecting to meet the right person.

Friends had introduced her to a few people, but the conversations always fizzled out. Either he didn’t make the effort, or she felt they had nothing in common. After a few of these, she even started to wonder whether her standards were too high.

A small circle, and nearly all his colleagues were men

He is actually quite outgoing. He’s chatty, fun and not shy. The trouble was that his social circle was small.

As a software engineer, he was surrounded mostly by men his age and knew only a handful of women at work. Life after hours was simple: the gym, gaming, the odd dinner with friends. He had thought about widening his social life, but approaching strangers just wasn’t his style. He didn’t lack social skills. He lacked a way to meet women.

Before joining IDO, he believed finding a partner came down to luck. Introductions from friends, work mixers, a chance encounter: these were either too slow or simply unrealistic.

Who knew? They lived just ten minutes apart

The consultant matched them based on their backgrounds, personalities and what each of them wanted most. When checking where they lived, the consultant found something that surprised them both: they lived in the same part of Toronto, only a ten-minute drive apart.

They both found it hard to believe. If they had been introduced earlier, they might have met long ago.

Their first meeting was at a café halfway between their homes. The conversation flowed, from work to life, from hobbies to plans for the future. No awkward pauses, no uncomfortable moments.

She found he was different from the men she had met before. He was direct and didn’t play games, and he was clear about relationships: he wasn’t after anything casual, he wanted something serious. He found her more open and genuine than he had imagined, someone he didn’t have to second-guess.

By the end of that first meeting, they both felt a rare sense of ease with each other.

That week, they saw each other six times

After the first meeting, neither of them held back. Living so close, they naturally arranged a second date, then a third… That week, they saw each other six times.

Meals, walks, grocery runs, whole afternoons in the park. No push and pull, no hesitation, just a natural drawing closer.

She used to test the waters again and again early in a relationship, to make sure he was serious. With him, she found she didn’t need to. His actions were the answer.

The consultant’s support at the moments that mattered

Even though things were going well, she still had doubts at first. Her past had made her guarded. Whenever she met a man who seemed promising, she worried that once again he would look good on paper but not work out in real life. She was afraid of being let down again.

Rather than simply telling her to “be brave”, the consultant helped her look at the pattern of past disappointments. The consultant told her that not all men are the same, and to treat this as a fresh start rather than a repeat of the past. That helped her set down some of the weight she was carrying and get to know him with a more open mind.

Meanwhile, the consultant was helping him too. He was outgoing, but not good at expressing finer feelings. The consultant shared some simple everyday tips, such as paying attention to small things she mentioned and responding at the right moment. A dessert she said she liked, a place she wanted to visit: he quietly noted them all, then one day surprised her by taking her there. He learnt that sincerity doesn’t need fancy words. Care is enough.

No detours, just a natural drawing closer

From the first meeting to becoming a couple, they barely took a wrong turn. No cold shoulders, no suspicion.

Of course, some of this smooth progress was luck: living close by, compatible personalities, an instant connection on the first date.

But there was professional support behind it too: a considered match, timely guidance on communication, help for her to work through old hurts, and coaching for him on how to express himself. These small, careful interventions helped them avoid many of the pitfalls couples run into early on.

Now they are planning their future together, going to house inspections and talking about how they’d decorate…

He says that before IDO he always thought finding a partner came down to luck. After joining, he found that luck can be given a professional boost.

She says she used to be afraid of being let down yet again. This time she understood that not all men are the same. When you meet the right person, you don’t need to keep testing him. His actions will tell you.

His world was small, just work and home

Born in 1993 and living in Sydney, he works as a quantity surveyor and owns a home and a car. He is reserved and doesn’t enjoy crowds. After work he usually heads straight home. On weekends he might go to the gym, or sit in a café reading or scrolling on his phone.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want a relationship. After years of being single, he had grown used to his own company, but he still longed for someone to share his life with. The problem was he didn’t know where to meet people, or how to get something started. Social occasions drained him rather than energised him. He had tried a few gatherings, but each time he sat quietly in the corner, unsure how to join in.

After he joined IDO, his consultant got to know him in depth and found that he was thoughtful, sensitive and dependable. He just needed a partner who could draw him out and help him relax. The consultant’s view was that he didn’t need to change who he was. He needed someone willing to step into his quiet world.

Her friends call her “little sunshine”

Born in 1997, she works as a nurse in Sydney. She is his opposite: optimistic and outgoing. Her friends call her “little sunshine”. She loves life, trying new restaurants, getting outdoors and travelling with friends. Her social circle is much bigger than his, but she had never met the right person.

When the consultant introduced him to her, she read his profile carefully. His reserve didn’t put her off. If anything, she felt he was someone who needed a little warmth.

She said she was willing to give it a try.

Opposite personalities, shared values

The consultant didn’t match them on a whim just because they were opposites. Using IDO’s Relationship Matching Model and the principle of complementary personalities, the team cross-checked the core dimensions of both profiles.

The analysis showed a strong fit in their sense of responsibility, attitude to life and plans for the future. Their hopes for family and marriage lined up closely. The difference was only in how they expressed themselves, and that difference was a chance to complement each other rather than a source of conflict.

The reasoning behind the match was explained clearly to both of them: the goal isn’t to find someone exactly like you, but someone who brings the colours your life is missing.

On their first date, he didn’t quite know how to meet her warmth

On their first date, she chatted happily about funny moments from her life, her travels and heart-warming moments at work, doing her best to keep things lively. His responses were fairly flat. He didn’t quite know how to match her energy. When she shared something, he often replied with a brief “Mm” or “That’s good”, and that was it.

The conversation didn’t stall, but she was unsure: was he not interested in her, or was this just his personality?

When the consultant followed up after the date, this came to light. The consultant didn’t blame either of them, but pointed out to him, fairly, that his way of responding could easily come across as cold or uninterested. The consultant taught him some basic communication skills: when she shares something fun, don’t just give a short reply. Try saying how you feel about it, or ask a question back.

He started practising these skills in earnest. At first his responses were still a little stiff, as if he were following a formula. But he didn’t give up.

Gradually things changed. His replies went from “Mm” and “That’s good” to “That sounds fun. How did you feel at the time?” He even began sharing details of his own life without being asked.

She noticed the change. She knew it wasn’t that his nature had suddenly changed. He was making an effort to get closer to her and to show her that he cared. That sincerity and effort made her even more certain: he was worth getting to know.

Her sunshine lit up his quiet world

With the consultant following along the whole way, the relationship moved forward step by step. She took him to try things he had never experienced before.

After some time together, they became a couple.

Through it all, the consultant never made decisions for them, but offered strategies at the key moments. When he didn’t know how to respond, the consultant gave him specific phrases to try. When she wasn’t sure how he felt, the consultant helped her read what his actions meant.

Their story is still being written…

When introductions through friends became a social burden

Friends had set her up before, but their circles only went so far. After a few blind dates, she ran into a hard truth: someone who looks right on paper isn’t necessarily right in person.

Worse, if things didn’t work out with someone a friend had introduced, running into them later at gatherings was awkward. That worry made it hard for her to relax, and those dates quietly went nowhere.

She had tried other matchmaking agencies, but the people they suggested either had very different backgrounds or completely different lifestyles. After several failed matches, she lost faith in matchmaking services for a while.

He didn’t want to leave it to chance on apps anyone could join

He had used dating apps but soon gave up. In his view, the barrier to entry was too low. Anyone could join, and it was hard to tell who was serious or sincere. He didn’t know many people, and widening his circle on his own to find a partner was too hard.

What he needed wasn’t more options, but a service that could filter out people who weren’t sincere and find someone who genuinely wanted something serious.

With that in mind, he found IDO.

IDO doesn’t just introduce you. It stays with you while you learn to fit together

The consultant matched them based on their backgrounds, personalities and what each of them wanted most. Both work in finance, with a similar pace of work and way of thinking, and their upbringing and lifestyles were a far closer fit than anyone she had been introduced to before.

Once the match was made, the consultant didn’t step back. They stayed involved the whole way, from breaking the ice on the first date, to the rhythm of everyday chats, to each milestone as the relationship deepened, with professional advice and support at every step.

Still, when two adults come together, some friction is inevitable. Early on they had their disagreements, sometimes over how they expressed things, sometimes over different expectations. Whenever this happened, the consultant stepped in promptly.

The consultant handled things even-handedly, taking neither side, helping them both calm down, work out where the problem lay, and understand what the other person really meant. As she put it: “Our consultant taught us techniques and told us what the other person was thinking. At first you might not really understand, you just do it, but once you do, you see positive results coming back. At least you know where to look for a way through, and it cuts out a lot of unnecessary friction.”

The consultant kept coming back to one idea with them: a lasting relationship needs more than love. It also needs skills and know-how. Knowing how to communicate and how to handle differences often decides how far a relationship can go.

She was afraid to take the first step. He showed her another way was possible

Early in the relationship she was actually quite fearful and hesitant. Her past blind dates hadn’t gone well, and the failed matches with other agencies still weighed on her. She worried she would be let down again.

The consultant kept encouraging her to take that first step. If fear made her close the door, she might miss real love that was right in front of her.

Meanwhile, he was going through a shift in mindset too. He had always thought finding a partner was hard for him: a small circle, little time and even fewer reliable people. But IDO’s service showed him another way: with someone helping you analyse, communicate and move things forward, you find it isn’t so hard after all.

He no longer had to face all the uncertainty alone. At every step, he had professional support behind him.

Steering clear of the pitfalls, they finally committed to each other

With the consultant beside them the whole way, they avoided many of the pitfalls couples run into early on. When communication broke down, there were tools to use. When emotions ran high, there was objective analysis. As the relationship progressed, there were clear milestones.

From first meeting to truly knowing each other, things progressed smoothly. Rather than blind trial and error, they built trust and understanding step by step with professional guidance. In the end, they became a couple.

She had admirers. She just didn’t want to spend her time on trial and error

Born in 1993 and living in Melbourne, she is easygoing and never short of male attention, but she didn’t have the energy to get to know each one.

She works part-time and her days are broken into pieces. Getting home, taking off her make-up, having a shower and flopping on the couch is the biggest luxury of her day. Her social circle is small. Her friends are either married or busy building careers, and catch-ups have gone from monthly to twice a year.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want a relationship. She just didn’t want to waste any more precious time on round after round of flirting and guessing that went nowhere.

A friend of her sister’s had found a partner through a matchmaking service and was now married with children. So she decided to find a service to help her screen for the right person, and found IDO on RedNote.

One night she came across IDO’s page. The real love stories and the timelines from strangers to married couple made her think: maybe this really was worth a try.

When bias meets expertise: a brave try at dating a younger man

After she joined IDO, her consultant arranged an in-depth conversation. She laid it all out: no time, no social circle, no patience. She wasn’t after anything casual. She wanted someone serious and reliable, with marriage in mind.

As for age, she had never considered dating a younger man.

The consultant went on to introduce her to three or four men. After dinner with the first, nothing came of it, and she felt a little discouraged. But the consultant didn’t give up. Using the Relationship Matching Model, the consultant introduced her to a man two years younger than her.

At first she said no. But the consultant explained that although he was younger, he was emotionally mature, responsible and even-tempered. The consultant gave her a lot of confidence and encouraged her to give it one try.

She thought: why not meet him once?

On their first date, she was open about her views on relationships and her plans for the future. She found he wasn’t immature at all. He was well-spoken and dependable, and they got on really well.

She didn’t let the age difference hold her back, and put herself fully into every date.

The consultant became the bridge between them

The consultant kept track of how their chats and dates were going, dealt with questions and confusion on both sides as they came up, and acted as a bridge for communication between them.

From match to marriage, with relationship coaching all the way: the consultant followed every chat and every date, sorted out their confusion and helped smooth over small misunderstandings, so that two people who might have missed each other because of an age bias came together.

She often thinks back to how stubborn she was on her first call with the consultant. Dating a younger man, the very thing she had resisted so hard, turned out to be the best gift of her life.

Her message to other women still hung up on age: age has never been a measure of maturity. Don’t look at the year he was born. Look at whether he has a heart that’s willing to grow up for you.

And to anyone feeling discouraged in the search for love: don’t doubt yourself because one date went nowhere. If the first match isn’t right, maybe the Relationship Matching Model just hasn’t found the best answer yet.

A good consultant won’t give up on you after one setback. As long as you don’t give up on yourself, they’ll be there.

She thought love, for her, would never get past “a good match on paper”

Born in 1995, she has a master’s degree, PR, and owns a home and a car in Perth. Her friends all said she had a lot going for her, and she was good-looking too. Only she knew how carefully she had been treading when it came to love.

She had been in two relationships. The first was a university romance, sweet but immature. In the second, he was great in every way, but they were like two parallel lines. He never understood why she was upset, and she never felt he truly cared. The day they broke up, he said, “You’re too emotional. I don’t understand you.”

After that she set herself a firm rule: no settling, no rushing in. She didn’t want someone to just share the bills with. She wanted a real meeting of minds.

And the reality? Perth’s Chinese community isn’t big, and the suitable single men were the same handful of faces. Friends introduced her to a few men who looked good on paper, but the conversations petered out after a few messages. She started to wonder: were her standards too high? Did a “meeting of minds” only exist in films?

Then she met IDO’s consultant.

One sentence from her consultant opened her eyes

To be honest, she was a bit wary of matchmaking agencies at first. How could you hand something like love over to someone else to arrange? But a friend recommended it, so she thought she’d give it a go and booked an in-depth consultation.

The consultant didn’t rush to suggest anyone. She spent a whole afternoon listening to her talk about past relationships, her hopes for the future and her deepest fears. By the end she was choking up: “Am I being too greedy? I want shared values, emotional connection and real understanding…”

The consultant looked at her seriously and said, “You’re not greedy. You’ve just never really been seen before.”

Then the consultant helped her pin down what she really needed: a partner who understands her emotions, is willing to communicate and shares her values. Not “good enough on paper”, but “so comfortable together it feels like home”.

Then the consultant told her about a man with an excellent profile: born in 1995, a PhD, PR, owns a home and a car. But she also gave her fair warning: “He tends to handle everything rationally, and expressing emotion isn’t his strength. Deep down he really wants a serious relationship that leads to marriage. He just doesn’t know how to express it or move things forward.”

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “All right, let’s meet.”

A first date that felt like a job interview

They met at a café. He was even taller than in his photos, 181cm, neat and well-dressed. A great first impression.

But less than ten minutes after sitting down, she felt something she couldn’t quite name was “off”.

He was very direct, moving the conversation along almost like a Q&A: “What are your career plans?” “How would you handle household finances?” “How do you think chores should be divided after marriage?”

None of these questions was wrong. They were even important. But his tone and pace felt like a thesis defence, or like he was interviewing a business partner. He was clearly serious and sincere, yet she couldn’t feel the warmth of “being understood”.

After the date he politely walked her to her car and said, “I think we’re a good match on the basics. I hope we can keep getting to know each other.”

She liked how dependable and driven he was, and she could tell he wasn’t being cold on purpose. But the stiffness felt like a pane of glass between them: she could see him, but couldn’t reach him.

As soon as she got home, Koka, her consultant, called. Koka talked with each of them separately.

Koka told her, “He’s not unserious. He genuinely doesn’t know how to talk with you. His rational habits make him treat a date like a project to manage, but he really does want to remember every word you say.”

And she told him, “She isn’t looking for logical analysis. She needs an emotional response. Try slowing down, and ask her more about how she feels, rather than what she thinks.”

She decided to give them both another chance.

A month later, they knew they were meant for each other

From that day on, it was as if someone had hit fast-forward. They saw each other almost every day, cooking together, going for walks, looking up at the Perth night sky.

He was still a little clumsy, but he worked at learning the “language of feelings”. He learnt that when she went quiet, instead of asking “What’s wrong?”, he could gently take her hand. He learnt that after she told him about something small, he could say “I can see why that upset you” instead of “Here’s how you should fix it”.

One night they stood at a lookout gazing at the city lights. He suddenly turned to her and said, very seriously, “I used to think love meant finding the person who matches best on paper and then following the steps. But since meeting you, I know I was wrong. You’ve shown me that being together isn’t just about being suitable. It’s about being comfortable too. You’re the only person I don’t want to analyse with logic. Will you be my girlfriend?”

She knew exactly what he meant. And just like that, they were officially together.

Relationship coaching: not dating for them, but helping them learn to love

Looking back, she often thinks that without the consultant stepping in right after that first date, they might well have missed each other. The consultant didn’t do the dating for him. When he didn’t know how to say what he felt, Koka gave him a strategy. When she was about to pull back, Koka gave her the confidence to stay.

Emotional support and a clear plan of action at the key moments, so the right people find each other sooner.

Finally, a few words for other women still looking for love:

Don’t write someone off after one or two awkward dates. Some people aren’t insincere. They just haven’t yet learnt to love you in your language.

And don’t be afraid to ask a professional for help. A consultant doesn’t date for you. They help translate love: the needs you can’t put into words and the feelings the other person can’t say out loud all need a bridge.

And IDO was her bridge.

May you soon find the person who is willing to slow down for you.