Let me chime in with yet another (well deserved) five star review for Fern Date and Ladan. My thoughts are similar to many others here - frustration with the online dating process, love-hate relationship with the apps, not finding quality men, and having a bit of occasional writers block when I did actually connect with someone. So when I decide I am actually going to do something, I tend to move quickly. I setup a phone consult (right from the Yelp app) and talked to Ladan the very next day. We then had a face to face meeting three days later, and another within the next week. She was able to setup a photo shoot for the very next day to supplement some of my existing photos with additional casual photos (shout out to photographer @emilyjoangreene - she was awesome too!). And voila - we went live 24 hours later. Fast forward to 8 days later (today) and I have already received more "likes" than I had in all my previous online dating adventures. Three upcoming dates confirmed, and this is FUN, not frustrating anymore. Ladan moves at your pace, helps you showcase the best of YOU and doesn't try to make you into something that you're not, is accessible for those silly follow up questions, and basically just downright amazing. She loves what she does and it shows. read more

I think the best way to sum up Fern Date is that Fern Date celebrates you. From the very first moment I talked to McKenzie on the phone asking about Fern Date, I felt very hopeful. I signed up for all the services Fern Date had to offer. All my interactions with McKenzie were very warm. She was very helpful in helping me think of how I wanted to portray myself. She made me laugh during the photoshoot and brought out my playful self. Ladan was great with creating my profile to attract the right men. I posted my online dating profile today and already have likes that I think I will like to pursue. I would highly recommend Fern Date if you need help with online dating, or if you are just at a point where being celebrated will do your soul wonders. read more

Love advice is hard to get. Everyone thinks they're an expert, but their own expectations get in the way and the advice they give is often what they would want to hear themselves rather than what is most effective. This is, literally, the reason I'm leaving this review. Ladan legitimately understands relationship context much better than most people I've talked to. She has told me what I need to hear , rather than what I *think* I want to hear and helped me handle unclear or potentially awkward situations with perfect fluidity and taken the confusion out of uncomfortable moments. If you'd like to be more successful with dating, give this a try. As she likes to say "it's not you, it's your profile!" read more

This service is incredible. I am a very busy working professional with little time to think about dating. To add to this, I didn't really know where to start with building an effective dating app profile. My prior experience with dating apps has been pretty terrible...I mean it's super fun to just throw message after message into a black hole right?? Fern date helped me build a profile end to end with new photos, new content, and expert advice on how to send messages that get interest. I went from having a terrible profile and no prospects to having almost too many likes and messages to handle. They made the process so easy it felt like nothing. I was very sensitive going into the process (fear of rejection, embarrassment, blah, blah, blah). After a few conversations with Ladan, I realized that my sensitivity is not a bad thing and that it's an authentic part of my personality that people will like. I was amazed at how good I felt by the end of it, and it showed in the results. The key part of the process for me was the consulting that happened throughout the process. Ladan was really responsive. I had many questions about what to say to people (how many people should I message, when, etc). These are things that give me some anxiety. Ladan answered all of my questions almost instantaneously which helped me say the right thing at the right time. This was key to the success of my profile. I never thought I'd be able to do this, and I'm amazed by the value that Fern date provided me. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a bit of help in their dating life. If they can help me, they can help anyone!! read more

I read all of the positive reviews for this company and its owner and had high expectations. It is hard enough to speak to someone about your dating life, but with all the positive feedback, I thought I would give it a shot. The owner (Ladan I believe) does provide a free consultation as advertised, but she was more businesslike as opposed to having a genuine desire to want to help me improve my dating life. I tried to ask her questions to figure out whether her services would be right for me, but rather than giving direct answers, she would dance around them so as to not reveal any "proprietary information/advice" that I have not paid for yet. She wouldn't even answer which sites or avenues might be right for someone like me. I understand that there are a lot of freeloaders out there trying to get free information, but I am not in that boat. It became clear after this conversation that she is more concerned about protecting her knowledge and not giving free information/advice than trying to help well-meaning people make the right decision regarding dating services. This review is not meant to discredit her services or any of the other reviews. I am sure she has helped a lot of people with their dating life. However, I am also sure that other people have experienced what I did and just didn't want to take the time to write a review. She may be able to help you, but I do not think a five-star rating is representative. I hope this review helps others who are trying to put themselves out there like I did with her. read more

Ladan is a quick judge of character and is not afraid to tell you what she thinks. Her review of my online profile and photos gave me suggestions that I could not see for myself, but seem so common sense now. She is inspiring and lifts you up while honestly helping you identify your blind spots. She recommends great resources and books to help you navigate the dating world. Her intuition and advice is spot on. Even though I have not found (or committed to?!) the right match yet, she is an amazing sounding board along this journey. She encourages me to make the tough decisions, and I know I will be better off with her guidance. Ladan is a breath of fresh air and encouragement in this crazy adult dating world! read more

After almost two years of unsuccessful online dating in Portland, I was becoming very discouraged and found FernDate through an online search. I reached out to Ladan and first we had a phone discussion to review the process and options; basic service would include a review of dating profiles and advice on what to change and a photoshoot, but she also offers additional services including wardrobe review and personal shopping. After some consideration I decided to essentially take the whole package and I'm glad I did! First, Ladan reviewed my wardrobe and helped me to throw away a number of outdated and unflattering outfits. She has no qualms in letting me know exactly what she thought, which I appreciated! Fashion was never something I was highly interested in. She then took me to a number of local boutiques and helped me update my wardrobe. I now get a number of compliments on my clothing at work, and I finally enjoy dressing up to go out! I've also now found that I enjoy shopping for new clothes, which before I found overwhelming. She even helped me find some new versatile jewelry. Additionally, Ladan introduced me to an excellent hairdresser and I got a new haircut, as well as reviewed my makeup routine and gave me a new, fresh look overall. Then, armed with my new wardrobe, we planned out a photoshoot with a photographer which took place over 2 days in 4 locations, including a winery with my friends. The photos all looked natural and were an excellent upgrade. My previous photos were all taken at odd angles, poor quality and didn't seem to show me at even half my best. With the new images I saw that my matches across dating sites increased by about 50% at least! She also walked me through setting up multiple profiles. Finally, I just have to comment with how wonderful Ladan herself is. She has pointed insight into the world of modern dating and offers fantastic advice that goes beyond just superficial motivation and encouragement. She is very easy to converse with and I cannot thank her enough for the positivity she has brought to my approach to dating. I highly recommend giving FernDate a try! read more

I'm pretty well settled and put together so I thought dating in Portland wouldn't be that hard. But for some reason, my lucky stars would not give me a break! Each date seems to be a hopeless quest. Next thing I know, I'm cycling through bad date after bad date.  I knew, deep down, there were some cool dates somewhere out there! I just wasn't finding them. For me, it was as simple as letting someone help guide me through the process because I didn't know the first thing about dating online or how to portray myself in a profile.  Ladan made time to get to know my personality which helped tremendously when we started building my profile. She was eager to listen and had a great eye for helping me find the right match. She was patient and always welcomed all my many questions! I was confident and knew what I wanted from the very beginning, just needed a little help translating it to the modern dating world. Now I'm dating men I actually like and I couldn't be happier! read more

I haven't met many people with the unusual knack that Ladan has for spotting what is unique, interesting, and beautiful about someone, but she is such a pro! In every interaction I've had with her, she has made me feel powerful, valuable, hopeful, and confident. She quickly figures out what it is that genuinely makes you special and shows you how to show those things to the world in a way that is real and honest and truly feels like "you." You can tell that she finds real joy in helping people find their confidence and get what they're looking for out of life, and her enthusiasm is contagious. She's also fun, funny, refreshing, and nonjudgmental - a dream to work with. Oh, and the photos they took are amazing and made me feel beautiful. I can't recommend Fern Date highly enough! read more

I contacted Fern because I felt that I needed help with my overall presentation, both online and in person. I was looking for a relationship through a variety of web sites and applications but felt that my matches were not of the quality or quantity that I wanted. Pessimism with the whole Portland single scene was setting in. Working with Ladan, she was able to identify a few areas of improvement that made a big difference. First, she helped me revamp my outdated New England wardrobe, personally introducing me to some of the best boutique shops in town and, most importantly for me, guiding me with her impeccable fashion sense toward purchases that have made friends and strangers offer unsolicited compliments boosting my self esteem and confidence. Utilizing my "new look" Ladan, with the help of her team of professional photographers and her own skills as a photographer, provided me with several profile pictures that truly "pop" to the eye. Gone were the grainy, poorly lit pictures taken on my Iphone and in their place were vibrant colorful photos that have made a remarkable difference in my online match rate. In addition, Ladan helped me create a profile write up that was creative and witty. I would estimate that I have had a 400% increase in the number of mutual matches since posting my new profile. I literally have gone from a situation where I was struggling to find matches to one where it is difficult to keep up with all of the quality matches I am now receiving. I am 100% satisfied with the work that Fern has done for me. Ladan makes the process fun and efficient. My only regret is that I did not contact her sooner! read more

I've tried a couple of well known matchmaking companies that left me used, not listened to and fooled! When I found Fern on-line and read its reviews, I was very, very skeptical and promised myself this was the last time I'd ever pay for matchmaking services again! So when I finally met Ladan it was the first time I felt like I was being listened to, appreciated, cared for and not treated as just another check to cash! Her positivity, compassion and love for what she does just truly stood out! And boy did I not realize what I was in for. Not only did I get a matchmaker but also a friend. She really helped me realize my worth and how on-line dating worked since I'd never done it before. I can honestly say I'm finally dating men I've always wanted to date that I never knew existed. My main problem now is finding the time for it all, I know a great problem to have;) I loved Fern's services so much I hired her as a stylist as well. If you want someone who truly cares about you, listens to you and someone who knows how to get you what you want out of love I highly recommend Fern! read more

I'm a shy person and find dating difficult. I was tired of meeting the wrong guys, yet I was nervous to reach out for help. After meeting Ladan and talking with her, she made my dating process seamless. Her friendliness, genuine care, humor and easy-going personality made me more at ease.  She picked a few photos from my social media and then we added 3 more with a photo shoot. We then collaborated on writing something small for my profile. I was able to filter more easily because my profile was getting more interest. Because of this the caliber of guys I went out with went up and I was able to enjoy my dates. I don't dread meeting new dates anymore! :) read more

Ladan at Fern Date was truly a pleasure to work with. She is professional and thorough, and drastically improved my online dating profile. I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to upgrade their online dating experience. read more

Ladan has become my stylist. I trust her fashion sense (I mean, come on...look at how fabulous she is!) and she has helped me find mine. She helped me by going through my closet one item at a time and we kept the items that fit my personality and were the most flattering on me. I always ask for her advice when I am adding a new piece to my wardrobe and she's always quick to reply! I feel more confident now and I have Ladan to thank for that! Thank you immensely Ladan!!! read more

I tried online dating for some time without much luck. I wanted to improve my profile quality and found Ferndate by a web search. I ended up calling Ladan for a quick profile appraisal. She is very professional and honest in her feedback. I never believed in a silver bullet but when she said she can bring up my success rate by at least 35-40%, I decided to give her a shot. After a long discussion, she decided on a wardrobe enhancement and the photo shoot service. The very next day she came up with a plan on what to do. Even if you are not into online dating, you can always hire her for a wardrobe upgrade. Ladan's fashion sense is impeccable. She can be your stylist. She knows the ropes and all the good places in and around Portland. She picks the clothes aligned to your preferences to make you feel comfortable. Shopping and photography sessions are a lot of fun. Going from place to place with her was like a treasure hunt. She brings out the correct vibe in the pictures. She helped me in setting up my dating profile with a few pointers. I really liked her philosophy of putting your best foot forward but being honest about yourself. Also, I liked the idea of approaching this with less stress around finding "the one" and more a way of meeting compatible and interesting people and seeing what naturally happens from there. I noticed a significant increase in my number of matches and responses after we created a new profile. This service was definitely worth it. Thanks, Ladan! read more

Fern and Ladan are amazing. I had been on more online dates than I care to admit, and working with Ladan has brought the spark back into it. Most important, it's fun. And that makes all the difference. It's also a personalized experience, with real feedback. She introduced me to a far better online site for me, helped me get set up (much better with Ladan's input!), and I've been having some great dates. It's very obvious that she loves her work, and it's worth it. Thanks Ladan! read more

Why I hired Fern: I'm a very busy single mom. There are simply not enough hours in a day to do online dating. Fern offers a concierge approach to help with the online dating process and a wide range of useful services (profile, photos, crafting and reviewing messages, styling, and more). Ladan took the time to understand who I am and the traits and characteristics of a man I'm looking for. I'm confident that I will meet well-qualified dating candidates with Ladan's assistance. If you are on the fence, I would not hesitate to recommend Fern. The pricing is reasonable and one-on-one service is unparalleled. read more

Ladan revolutionized my dating experience. She upgraded my profile with excellent photos and voiced the message in a colorful fun way. Before meeting Ladan, I couldn't find a date. After meeting Ladan, my problem was that I had too many dates. Ladan learns about you, your background, and your goals. Then she performs her magic! Working with Ladan, before you know it, you'll achieve all your relationships goals. Ladan will inspire you and provide the resources and confidence for dating success. A+++++++++++ read more

Initially I was only looking for some advice in regards to online dating. I have tried in the past with limited success. Despite my failed attempts in the past I have been told by several friends I should give online another chance. I had heard of matchmaking services, but didn't know a service for online dating help existed and was curious as to what a professional would say. I found Ladan and after meeting with her I felt like it was a good fit for what I was looking for. Little did I know I would end up with a upgraded wardrobe! That is an understatement... We straight up purged my closet and Ladan has me paying more attention to style again. I must say initially the thought of a stranger going through my closet didn't sound very appealing. However, Ladan did a great job of politely suggesting I "donate" a few items. She then took me on a few shopping trips and now I truly enjoy walking into my closet. As she said, it is now nearly impossible for me to dress poorly:) Guys if you are looking for some help with style and/or dating I highly recommend you reach out to her! Even if like me you didn't think you needed any... Looking forward to the next step in the process and getting profiles set up on a few dating sites. read more

Ladan's service is fantastic: 1) The shopping trip was much-needed; I walked away with some new threads and recs on where to go that I wouldn't have known/chosen otherwise. 2) Photos were absolutely key. I feel like the tweaks to my profile were good, but the quality of the photos made an enormous difference. Super worth it, all because it was nearly impossible to take a decent photo before, but I walked away with some really good shots. I'm decent-looking, but am not photogenic at ALL - somehow, she made it happen. I'd say I got at least 3x as many matches after updating my profile with the new pictures, than I had been getting before (not exaggerating!) read more

To be honest the thought of online dating horrified me. Luckily I met Ladan and not only did she take the most amazing photos I've ever had (I hate getting my picture taken) but pretty much held my hand through the dating process. She suggested which sites would best be suited for me, helped write my profile and respond to emails. Her patience, experience and knowledge are priceless! read more

I tried online dating years ago and my profile pictures may or may not have been selfies in white undershirts. Working with Ladan, she took time to understand my past experiences and what I was looking for currently. We went on multiple shopping trips that were awesome and now I have a closet full of clothes that actually look good. One of the things that was holding me back from online dating is I never had what I thought were decent photos. I would consider trying to get on a dating site, remember I had no photos, and that process would repeat itself every year or so. With Ladan's help I got great photos. She also recommended which dating sites to use, helped set the profiles up and later helped recommending places around town for dates. I only did online dating for just over a month and my problem was having too many people that wanted to go out on dates! It's clear that Ladan loves what she is doing and thanks to her, I'm now dating someone I really like!! read more