Select Singles Dating

Taking a smart approach to finding love.
By Shannon McLaughlin

Anyone who has had experience with online dating or matchmaking services has had their fair share of horror stories. Let’s face it, when you’re introduced to someone online, they can be anyone they want. How many wealthy doctors end up being teenagers pulling pranks in their parent’s basement? How many 6 foot tall men barely clear five feet when you meet them in person? Don’t let these exhausting experiences steer you away from finding your match. Select Singles Dating Service, located in Bucks County, is a personalized dating service that interviews people one-on-one to ensure they are emotionally, physically and financially stable and ready to meet quality singles like themselves.

Meeting people is easy. Meeting the right kind of people—those you can laugh with, share with and have a meaningful relationship with—is what leaves many wondering if they’ll ever find “the one.” Select Singles works on a truly personal level by interviewing potential members privately and confidentially for over an hour. At the end of the interview, if the consultant feels that the person is qualified, they take several photos and 72 hours later, once the background check has cleared, the member may begin using the service.

“I’ve always been very cautious with online dating websites and services,” said Jamie, a 30-year-old from Norristown. “I’ve never participated in any other online dating services. What stood out about Select Singles was the security they provided. The owner, Christine, interviews every person to make sure they aren’t a fraud—I have the utmost confidence in her ability to weed out those who are not of good standing.”

Select Singles caters specifically to men and women, ages 25-70, with a database of 150 members, of which 55% are women and 45% are men. Dead-end dating is a time consuming process that professionals simply don’t have time to tolerate. This unique method focuses on compatibility, rather than leaving relationships to chance by putting the spotlight on online profiles or blind dates. Finding the right person to spend your time with is a key to realizing your true potential and happiness.

“In order to be happy with someone, you must be happy with yourself,” said owner Christine Magro, who has over 10 years of experience in matchmaking, dating and relationships. Magro gives her clients personal, customized and confidential attention—drawing upon her professional skills, her years of experience and a broad clientele from Bucks and Montgomery County. You hire a professional to do any other important job in your life—so why leave one of the most important aspects of your life to chance or to spending hours thumbing through fake profiles on the internet? To find what you truly desire in a partner, it helps to have the assistance of an expert with access to hundreds of area professionals who are also looking for that special someone.

Magro began her career working for the nation’s number one dating service in King of Prussia when she was just twenty years old. After her advance to management, she and her family decided to make the move to Nashville four years later to open a dating service.
“During my time in Nashville, I had over 20 people get married, saw a few babies born and introduced many single people to one another,” said Magro. “It was fantastic and very rewarding for me. I love introducing people to each other and then later hearing they are still dating or even engaged.”

While living in Nashville, Magro helped open offices nationwide and became the company’s Regional Director. “I was having so much fun in a job I really loved, but I missed home,” said Magro. Nearly four years had passed in Nashville and Magro and her family decided to move back home to Montgomery County, where she had the best of both worlds as the Regional Director living in her beloved hometown. Two years later, the company she was working for that had been in business since the 1970s, closed down due to not being able to keep up with the advances of the internet. After being approached by several matchmaking businesses and assisting them with managing offices, Magro began to wonder what her next step was.

“I decided that if I was going to do what I love to do, I should be doing it for myself,” she said. In September of 2008, Magro founded Select Singles Dating, beginning by holding local events to introduce potential members to the service. “I started my own service because I truly believe in what I do, and if you believe in what you do, you will be successful.”

Monthly events are held for members and occasionally. Select Singles opens their gatherings for the public to join, which is just one of the reasons why it pays to become a member. “The events are fun and always different. Last month, we had a game night at Dave and Buster’s in Plymouth Meeting and we also hosted a singles meet and greet at the Hotel Fiesole in Skippack, with a DJ and dancing. I want them to have the ability to come to single events at least once a month to meet the members in person and also have the chance to meet some public single people who decide to attend an event as well,” said Magro.

For members of Select Singles Dating, the investment has been well worth the priceless connections they’ve made thus far. “I came upon a Select Singles Dating business card while buying a soft pretzel at a business establishment on Street Road just before the Christmas holiday and sensed it was a bit of divine intervention!” said Lisa, a 44-year-old from Huntington Valley who has been an active member for 6 months. “I’m comforted by the fact that all members meet with Christine beforehand, that an accurate or “recent” photo is displayed and that the site promotes live communication and contact. By attending a couple of the monthly functions held by Christine at various venues throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties, I’ve made some wonderful new friends.”

Select Singles Dating is located at 4671 Street Road in Feasterville Trevose. For more information, call (484) 250-4568 or visit www.selectsinglesdating.com

Shannon McLaughlin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and a freelance illustrator.