Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphney Poyser.
Hi Daphney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My name is Daphney Poyser, and four years ago, in 2020, I started a matchmaking firm called Fern Connections that focuses on members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. In the beginning, I sought to create a more inclusive and welcoming company because I was so frustrated with the limitations of the matchmaking industry and the sense of exclusivity that lived within the space. Many years later, pushing the boundaries of our industry is still very much at the forefront of what we do. We’re still into making non-traditional matches, but we’ve also expanded the Coaching, Date Planning, and Events portion of the company. I’m proud of how far we’ve come in these years, and I hope that the passion I have for Fern Connections, and the love story I have with my wonderful partner is an inspiration to those that are interested in working with us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest hurdles with matchmaking is that it can be so one-dimensional and constraining at times; even though we work in–what many would deem to be–a very liberal space, there are still some traditional points of view that sneak their way into the world of LGBTQ+ matchmaking. Fern Connections, however, is the opposite; we have no intentions of trying to mold ourselves and our approaches to an industry that was never made to compensate us in the first place.
Fern Connections aims to shine a spotlight on the Queer community as a whole, not just Lesbian or Gay individuals, which a lot of other matchmakers in the industry tend to do. We have every intention of breaking every ceiling, wall, and floor we need to; to create the kind of matchmaking firm we believe the Queer community deserves.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started my matchmaking business, Fern Connections because I was frustrated with the limitations within the matchmaking industry. Inspired by my own experiences and that of others close to me, it became clear to me that there weren’t great opportunities for QBIPOC within the world of matchmaking, and I wanted to fix that. Cut to four years later, I’m still focusing my energy on helping as many people as possible and being the change that I wanted to see for my community.
Our focus is still on matchmaking and making non-traditional matches, but we now offer date and relationship coaching and date planning to anyone across the country–including couples–not just to our internal matchmaking clients. We’ve also started hosting fun and exciting events within the DFW area for people in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, like myself, to get out of the house, make connections, network, and just have some good, wholesome family-friendly fun. We also spend a lot of time in the community engaging and networking with charities, nonprofits, and organizations who want to help in order to see our community thrive within the Dallas-Fort Worth area, in addition to collaborating with other LGBTQ+-focused companies, organizations, and matchmakers across the country.
What makes you happy?
I get to do the kind of work that I love, and the best part is that on most days, it doesn’t even feel like work. My team and I are able to meet so many wonderful people across the country and sometimes across the globe, people with like minds and interests and who love this community as much as we do.
Pricing:
- Matchmaking Packages Starting At $3950
- Date Coaching Services Starting At $200
- Relationship Coaching Services Starting At $250
- Date Planning Services Starting At $100
- Average Event Cost: $20/person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fernconnections.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/fernconnections
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fernconnectionsmatchmaking
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fernconnections
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/fernconnections
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@datingwithdaphney
Image Credits
Daphney
Alex J Martin
