Finding Happy With eHarmony (And a Chance to Win a $100 Visa Gift Card!) (CLOSED)
I think everyone has that friend. That friend who is amazing and fantastic and wonderful, and you just can't figure out why they haven't found The One. In fact, that friend is so amazing and fantastic and wonderful you can't even think of someone to hook them up with because he or she is too good for anybody you know.
Good news, kids. It all works out in the end. In the past year, I've watched not one but two of my most amazing single friends find The One. Just thinking about how happy they are now makes me break out in a smile as big as the sun.
One of those friends, Jennifer, immediately came to mind when I received an email from BlogHer asking if I knew anyone who had found love using eHarmony. Jennifer should work for eHarmony's marketing department because HOOBOY does she sing their praises! Jennifer is an incredibly gorgeous, sweet, outgoing, energetic, and hysterical 30-something who is now engaged to Brian.
I sent Jennifer some questions, and here's what she had to say:
How did you meet?
Well, we first "met" on eHarmony. After a few months of emailing and IMing back and forth, we finally decided to meet for real at Primanti Brothers. Our first date was spent watching the Pens play while we destroyed some sammiches. LOL.
Why did you decide to try eHarmony?
I did it after a dare from a friend! Really!
I had been using another online dating site to meet people for a while and just kept striking out. The guys who would contact me were not my type at all, and the guys I contacted were total duds. My friend Sara and I were talking about how bad the whole dating thing was going when she mentioned that eHarmony has detailed questionnaires that are used to recommend people who are a better match based on personality traits. We joked that any system that thought it could find a match for my personality was crazy. Sara dared me to try it and see what kind of "loser" eHarmony would think would match my personality, so I did.
Only Brian isn't a loser at all! He's the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. eHarmony was right when it suggested that we meet!
When did you first know Brian was The One?
Oh, that's a good question. I think I knew within the first few minutes of our first date. We just clicked so perfectly! I didn't realize I knew he was the one for another month or so, though. I was telling a friend about Brian, and she asked if we were an official thing. I just kept thinking, "I hope we are!"
That weekend we had "The Talk" and agreed we were an official thing. A year later he proposed!
So, what's next?
WE'RE GETTING MARRIED! Crazy, isn't it? I'm pretty sure my parents thought I was going to be a single cat lady forever. LOL.
The wedding is in March, so we're really busy trying to put together the final details. I know it sounds sappy, but I can't wait to begin spending forever with my best friend.
I kind of want to make fun of Jennifer for her "sappy," but it's way too fantastic seeing her so happy. I'll just sit here and smile instead.
And now a chance for you to smile. BlogHer and eHarmony have given me a $100 Visa gift card to give away. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win it is to leave a comment telling me what personality trait is a MUST in a partner and why.
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/14/2012 - 3/15/2012.
Visit the BlogHer.com eHarmony page to check out more blogger success stories and for more chances to win!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Reader Comments (216)
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/174696964968030208
Integrity is tops on my list :)
tweet tweet! https://twitter.com/#!/ismile4jc/status/175627899787952128
oops, let me tell you why I said integrity - ha! I think finding someone who is upstanding, loyal, and honest is an important trait in a spouse when you encounter rocky times, as well as for general every day communication. I also want my kids to see that in their dad!
Sense of humor is a must. If they can't put up with my childish tendencies... yikes.
The most important character trait to me is humor. Life is so hard some days and a sense of humor would make life so much more fun and enjoyable during the hard times.
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/Ilovemybeagle2/status/175649272224694272
Wow so many good comments here. Id say having a caring heart to be most important!
So totally a sense of humor (god bless my hub)
Congratulation to Jennifer, thanks for sharing the story. The most important trait to me is honesty because I think trust is important in a relationship.
songyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/175904435590008833
songyueyu at gmail
My partner must have compassion because when things are not so good I know I can always count on him to tell me everything is going to be okay. thanks!
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/176020538110652416
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
Honesty must exist in my partner. I feel that honesty is very important to a strong relationship.
katbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/katbirdfl/status/176160477322293250
katbirdfl (at) gmail (dot) com
Honesty. If you can't fully trust someone, it's going no where!
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/didyouyarnthat/status/176983441554948096
I think the most important trait is kindness. It's sometimes difficult to have empathy but it would make the world a much better place if we all strove to be kinder and more empathetic.
He must be able to make me laugh. Because a happy wife is a happy life.
Okay, a realistic trait? Because that's what I'm going off of here. And I don't give a damn that nobody ever lists this as a trait. This trait has been the downfall of literally ALL of my serious relationships, and it makes me sad and frustrates me that you can't really put this down on a dating website, except, well, eHarmony kind of works with this sort of thing so here it is, the one trait:
Must be in the same place in their life as I am/looking for the SAME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP I AM.
The ability to communicate. When my boyfriend and I struggle, it is from a lack of or mis-communication. It's a hard thing to learn to do, but it's so very important and worth it.
In my opinion, the most important thing to look for in someone you want to spend the rest of your life with is trust because that is the backbone of any relationship. Without having complete trust in your partner, it is very hard for the relationship to weather the bumps that inevitably come.
A loyal and forgiving spirit. Relationships are tough and you want to have someone who will fight for the relationship.
Make me laugh. Humor can get you thru the hardest of times, this I know from experience!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/MsTofuFairy/status/179262422077554689
Honesty and a sense of humor.
Posted on my blog
https://www.facebook.com/TheOldOuthouse/posts/262050197210473
Honesty is the most important trait in my partner because I think a relationship is built on trust.
Honesty, with me and with themselves
awww!!! congratulations to Jennifer and Brian!
I met my darling husband nearly thirty years ago on a blind date and while I was royally pissed that my friend set me up on said blind date, I accepted another date the next night because I really loved the way that he made me laugh. It was hard to stay mad because of his sense of humor. Eight months later we were married. I think we will last for awhile...and then I get those random emails from eHarmony that make me wonder...seriously, it makes me wonder why am I receiving this unsolicited email from eHarmony.
Patience. I think one of us ought to have it and I certainly don't!
patience and skills to deal with stress - life throws curveballs and can get tough sometimes
Sense of humor-it helps you get through all the trials
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/rosannepm/status/179435524870778881
If honesty and disclosure are personality traits then those are my 'must haves'
ky2here at msn dot com
I think honesty is the most important, but there are many other traits that I would consider necessary.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/clc408/status/179508619874795521
humor, they have to be able to make me laugh
Honesty is my number one choice.
I also like a sense of humor.
Thanks so much.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/peg42/status/179525621641261057
kindness!
SENSE OF HUMOR
Kindness is a must for me!
blue65829 at aol dot com
The ability to make me laugh is #1.
A must for me is someone who is flexible. Someone who is so stuck to a schedule or a way of doing things won't work for me.
My husband may be goofy, but his sense of humor always makes me laugh!
Must be able to laugh at themselves!
a sense of humor is a must
A sensor or humor and positive attitude because nobody wants a grump for a partner.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/rhoneygee/status/179670746476445696