You've heard about them in old books.

You've seen them scheming on old sitcoms.

They even had their own song in "Fiddler on the Roof."

But finding a real life matchmaker who can 'make you the perfect match' is a far more difficult task in real life than in the movies or on the stage.

Which is where Gloria McDonald comes in.
 
Whoever said money can't buy you love never ran into this woman. She founded a firm called "Perfect Partners," which is dedicated to finding you just that. How does she do it? People who sign up for her service are given an intense interview at their home, during which she carefully extracts what you're looking for in that prospective mate. But if you don't like the questions or feel you don't want to give the answers, she'll understand, and take you off the list.

But her success rate leads most people to not only comply, but volunteer their most intimate secrets. "My business is highly, highly personalized," she explains. "We literally do a proactive search for our clients, just like a headhunter or an executive recruiter would."

Most of her clientele consists of those who find it hardest to make the love connection - over 40s who have had previous relationships that haven't worked out.

McDonald loves her work of love and she boasts the credentials to prove it. Of the clients she's served for the past 5 years, over 50 per cent are now either married or involved in long term relationships.

So how does it work? McDonald uses your interview answers to fashion an idea of your perfect mate. But if you spot someone who you want to meet, she'll stop at nothing to arrange it, Googling, emailing of even visiting that person to let them know they have an admirer.

"People are usually really flattered," she insists. "I have never had anybody who reacted negatively."

Barb Levy has signed on. Why did she pay for the privilege of meeting that special someone? "I don't want to be out there and be looking like I'm looking," she confides. "I'm excited about it, actually."

But if what you love is money this may not be for you. Her service isn't cheap and is only for those who are going to take it seriously. Her least expensive matchmaking package is a whopping $4,000. The costliest  will set you back $15,000 with unlimited matches for three years.

But McDonald warns those looking for love in all the right places not to expect instant chemistry. "I've had lots of couples where I had to talk either the man or the woman into going out with the other person a second time. And now they're married or living together."

To find out more if she can light your fire by striking a match, click here.