Photograph by Lily Johnson
Matchmaking is again in vogue, and this time, it is for everybody. Welcome to the world of Ever After, an inclusive, queer-friendly matchmaking service that launched this spring to present all Atlantans a greater shot at love. The service doesn’t discriminate based mostly on gender identification or sexual orientation, working with an “open thoughts, open coronary heart” coverage.
Ashley Overholser, founding father of Ever After, admits that relationship is not all the time so simple as “ladies in search of males.” She created Ever After as a response to her wrestle to seek out matchmaking help as a bisexual lady. Overholser says that when he met an area matchmaker, “I discussed my sexual orientation and there was this awkward pause within the dialog . . . I then realized that these corporations primarily cater to straight {couples}.”
With this revelation, Overholser left her profession in floral artwork and commenced reaching out to matchmakers across the nation—together with the World Love Institute, the premier coaching heart for matchmakers and relationship coaches—to be taught the ins and outs of the enterprise. After six weeks of analysis and networking, she transitioned into matchmaking full-time and Ever After grew its wings.
Overholser hopes to bridge the odd hole in matchmaking and assist purchasers discover their identification in a protected and supportive house. He nonetheless has no bodily workplace and runs Ever After with just one trusted intern, however enterprise has grown quickly by phrase of mouth and social media promotion. She onboarded her first official consumer in late Could and has since constructed a database of practically 100 LGBTQ+ love-seekers.
She has additionally developed partnerships with native companies and neighborhood teams, together with the queer pop-up social gathering Second Friday. He’s assured that, as Ever After builds its consumer listing, he’ll be capable to host extra numerous occasions.
“In a tradition of extra, that is what folks want proper now,” says Overholser. “Experiential occasions and real-life methods to satisfy folks.” He sees the origin story of Ever After as “rejection became redirection”. Now, the one strategy to go.
This text appeared in our August 2024 difficulty.
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