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Love Story – A Matchmaking Site for Baha’is

February 20, 2015, in Articles > Baha'i Life, by

In the Baha’i Faith, marriage is not a law, but it’s definitely encouraged, and when we’re getting to know a potential life-partner, we’re supposed to become thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other. But what about the step which comes before getting to know someone? The step of meeting someone who may be a potential life-partner.

Hello online world of dating, and hello Love Story!

Love Story is a new online matchmaking site created by a good friend of mine Dr. Mieko Bond. The site is aimed at helping Baha’is around the world find their future partner, and like most other dating sites, you can sign up to the site and add your profile picture and basic information, but what’s really cool and unique about Love Story, is that they offer a ‘matchmaking service’ where you can privately be ‘matched’ and introduced to potential life-partners.

More and more of my friends have met their life-partner online, and it totally makes sense considering how so many of us seem to have less-and-less time to meet people, and how geographically scattered so many of us all are nowadays, so I decided to get in touch with Mieko to find out more about the site and this initiative:

Baha’i Blog: Why did you start ‘Love Story’, and why is a dating and matchmaking service important to you?

Actually, a friend asked me to start it as I had just gotten married and was so happy. They were busy professionals like me and wanted to get ‘matched’ without having to be on a public site, or do the searching themselves. They asked me to help and they trusted me to do it. I had been thinking about doing it for years and decided to finally make my dream come true. I really am a romantic at heart.

I wanted to provide a different service for internet dating, to combine it with matchmaking so people can have discretion and have consultation. I started them together in order to bring single Baha’is together from all around the world so they could meet and explore relationships leading to marriage.

As Baha’is, our perspective on marriage and relationships are based on the Baha’i Faith, and we believe that providing a profile with numerous options is a practical approach to a spiritual quest.

There are millions of Baha’is around the world and we are all scattered in many places. The internet can bring everyone together into a pool of people who know they are looking for serious relationships that ultimately lead to marriage.

Baha’i Blog: So what’s unique about your site?

There are mainly two things which make ‘Love Story’ unique.

Firstly, we are unique because we provide members with the option of a confidential paid matchmaking service. People can have a confidential consultation with someone who can help them look for a partner, and get them introduced to others, and tell potentials that they’re looking for a partner online.

The second aspect which is unique is that we ask for a lot of information from people, including the spiritual, physical and practical aspects of a person. For example, spiritual options may include how ‘active’ they are as Baha’is, if they want to pioneer, if they want to have children. Then there are physical characteristics such as height and how people look and the option of a photograph, which is another aspect that is important to choosing a spouse. Then there are some questions like “Describe yourself” or “What you are looking for?” that the personality of the person comes out, and finally, there are things such as education, do they have pets, hobbies and their diet.

I’ve combined both the matchmaking and online dating options on the site so that people have the choice of choosing either the confidential matchmaking or consultation option, or if they want to upload their profile.

Baha’i Blog: What are you hoping to achieve with the site?

Obviously I am hoping that people meet, get to know each other and start a relationship that ultimately leads to marriage. I also know that it is important to start somewhere when you want to look for someone special. I think it is a practical approach to a spiritual endeavour. I hope that people find love and happiness together.

The Baha’i Faith places an emphasis on the importance of chastity and this concept of Baha’i dating can be achieved online as a person can really get to know someone virtually before they decide to meet up. It is a great way to get acquainted with someones character, and ask questions, and explore each others personality and likes or dislikes, in order to decide whether to take it to a relationship level.

Baha’i Blog: Although online dating is popular and many people find relationships that way, do you still think that there is a stigma to online dating?

Dr. Mieko bond. Love story founder.
Dr. Mieko Bond. ‘Love Story’ founder.

In the past, there was stigma attached to online dating. The old premise is that you use it because you cannot find a relationship in the real world and therefore a person is desperate. Or some people do not want others to know that they are looking to settle down as they feel it is a more private matter. That is precisely why I started the matchmaking business. It provides a space for people who do not want to be online or are too busy to look themselves.

I was inspired as I met my husband online. We met each other in high school when he was going to Maxwell Baha’i International School and was in my sister’s grade. Our families were friends and I certainly remember how I found him attractive. We had a lot in common as my parents were pioneers in Hong Kong and his parents were pioneers in Africa. Then I went to university and travelled around the world and lived in Europe. Later on we connected via Facebook and started chatting and met up. After reconnecting with him online again, we decided to meet up in Canada over the Christmas holidays and got together the first date. That was in December, and in January he visited me in England where we went to Florence in Italy. He proposed to me on Valentine’s Day on Ponte Vecchio, Florence and we got married in May 2013. We had our son, Ronin, July 2014 and are overjoyed.

Baha’i Blog: Where do you hope the site and company will go in the future?

I have great plans for expansion and hope to start travelling to different parts of the world to hold interviews in person with my clients. I would like to start attending Baha’i conferences around the world and giving talks and workshops about relationships and finding a marriage partner.

I want to start more consultations online with people. I really wish I had that service and with someone who knew many people with some experience of dating and the Baha’i Writings. I would also like to perhaps write a book for ‘authentic dating’ as opposed to all the ‘how to play women’ or the rules which I believe is not as positive as a fun dating life can be. I believe that there is a way to date that is fun without all the game playing. I would like to see pre-marriage courses and seminars offered to my clients. Finally, I would like to have an annual conference for members to meet and enjoy workshops that are fun and educational.

Baha’i Blog: Thanks so much Mieko for taking the time to do this interview and congratulations on your new site and initiative! I hope many Baha’is around the world are able to find happiness through the help of your site and services!

(Update:Love Story is no longer online, link has been removed), or email Mieko directly via: [email protected]

Posted by

Naysan Naraqi

Naysan is passionate about using the arts and media to explore the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. Back in 2011, Naysan started up the Baha’i Blog project, channeling his experiences in both media and technology companies to help create a hub for Baha’i-inspired content online.
Naysan Naraqi

Discussion 18 Comments

Very interesting site!!

Yonas Gezahegn

Yonas Gezahegn (February 2, 2015 at 5:49 AM)

the link does not seem to be working. What is web address of the site please?

Alan

Alan (February 2, 2015 at 12:37 PM)

Hi Alan, the site seems to be down right now. I’ve emailed Mieko. The url is: bahaistory.com

Naysan

Naysan (February 2, 2015 at 2:02 PM)

Yes, the same here… I can´t access to the link of the site “Love story”.
Would you please kindly email me that again?

Thank you and regards,

Teresa

Teresa Melo

Teresa Melo (February 2, 2015 at 1:01 PM)

Hi Teresa, yes unfortunately the ‘Love Story’ site is still down but Mieko has assured me that they’re doing their best to get it back up. I’m hoping it’s because of the flood of traffic we’ve sent them ;).

In the meantime you can contact Mieko directly via this email: [email protected]

Naysan

Naysan (February 2, 2015 at 1:40 PM)

Hi again Teresa, the site is now up again. You can access it by going to: http://www.bahaistory.com

Naysan

Naysan (February 2, 2015 at 1:20 AM)

Hi Alan, the site is now up again. You can access it by going to: http://www.bahaistory.com

Naysan

Naysan (February 2, 2015 at 1:21 AM)

boa noite achei bem intereamte quem sabe em contro a pessoa certa neste momento esta dificil.

veronica santos de moura

veronica santos de moura (February 2, 2015 at 10:48 PM)

I am using a Bahai dating website that is 100% free with no ads. BahaiMingle.com is also setup by a Bahai and is offered at no charge for all Bahai’s in the world to use and meet each other with out charge.
I highly recommend BahaiMingle.com

Jack Baker

Jack Baker (May 5, 2015 at 4:05 AM)

Hello people, well, I’m on this site to see if I can meet a woman who’s also a deepened Baha’i.
My roots is First Nation (Cree), Dene (Chipewyan) and French, also part ‘crazy’ in a good way. I’m a stained glass artist, nine sided hand made drum maker and somewhat of a musician.
Having been a Baha’i since 1978, I will be always looking forward to Baha’i gathering to meet fellow artist and musicians. Hopefully, I’ll meet the person who’s a little like me.

Johnny Steven Gibot

Johnny Steven Gibot (November 11, 2015 at 8:41 AM)

Allah’u’Abha Johnny, did you find someone?

Trizah

Trizah (September 9, 2017 at 9:03 PM)

I am an Iranian man . 40 years old . i am looking for some one to marray . ofcourse bahai girl . my email is aramkohandel222@gmail .com

aram kohandel

aram kohandel (December 12, 2015 at 9:54 PM)

looking for partner and my best friend

fereshteh

fereshteh (January 1, 2016 at 1:39 PM)

Conocer la seirva de Dios para progresar en ambos mundos .Fuad59 años

Fuad

Fuad (February 2, 2017 at 1:44 PM)

Conocer al sierva de de Dios y progresar en ambos mundos . [email protected]

Fuad

Fuad (February 2, 2017 at 8:58 AM)

hi Alla’u’abha all my name is tahirrih looking for a Baha’i man all over the world. I’m an engineer by profession 31yrs and ready to settle down. any one interested reply to me. thanks

shant

shant (May 5, 2017 at 9:24 AM)

Hi I’m also a young Bahia and searching for a bahai lady to marry. Email [email protected]

Quency

Quency (July 7, 2019 at 2:09 PM)

Hi ,I am a very healthy , spiritual,competent,hard working , reasonably intelligent , kind hearted motivated 60 plus year old who loves travelling looking for a beautiful wife .
[email protected]

richard gregory vesey

richard gregory vesey (July 7, 2019 at 11:41 PM)

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