Vanessa Bolano WGNO News

January 31, 2012
New Orleans—

Does the thought of Valentine’s Day make you cringe? For all the single people out there, it's just another reminder you still haven't found "The one," but would you enlist in the help of a professional to track down your soul mate? Vanessa Bolano says make room, Cupid is living in New Orleans.

Love, romance, falling head over heels for someone. If it's possible on the big screen, it must be possible here too, right?

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“When you find that perfect mate, you’re going to find that person and you’re going to know that and it's going to be chemistry that you can't break through,” says Mary West.

West is a hopeless romantic and self-proclaimed matchmaker.

These are her clients: 

“What's the problem? I don't know if there's a problem; you're saying why aren't I married? Well it's a long story,” says 39-year-old Craig Leydecker, “Before she left I think she kissed about every other guy in the bar!”

57-year-old Sidney Smith says, “I'm great at starting relationships, but I must be terrible at sustaining them.”

 29-year-old Rachel says, “He pulls out like a six carat diamond ring, date one, and is like, here do you want to wear this tonight?”

Everyone has dating horror stories.

“She was chewing Pepto-Bismol tablets and it was drooling out of her mouth,” exclaims Smith.

Okay, maybe some more than others, but that's where Cupid steps in!

“I'm not a dating service. If you want a soul mate or a life partner you come to me, if you want a date, you call a friend,” explains Mary West.

West means business, literally building her brand on love.

“Someone might have bad breath and buck teeth, well no one is going to tell him about that.” But she will! Enlist in her services and your hers for a year. She'll polish you and find your better half.

Around the nation there are 110-Million singles, 40-Million are trying to find love online, and here in New Orleans, we actually rank number one, the best city for singles; maybe that's the problem?

“Nobody really wants to get serious they just want to party and have a good time so it's a little harder in New Orleans than in other cities,” says West.

“Physical attraction is part of the equation,” exclaims Leydecker.

Rachel says, “I have a list. I have the five non-negotiables of what a guy has to have.”

First rule, chuck the checklist, and if you're too timid for a matchmaker at least try Mary's guaranteed recipe for true love. A little companionship, some compatibility, tons of communication and a dash of compromise.

To contact Matchmaker Mary West click here.