Shanda Koeman talked about love, religion and the Internet–all at once.
The Chicago Christian High School teacher didn’t date much until she signed up–hesitant and skeptical–for a membership on the online matchmaking service eHarmony.com in September 2002.
Koeman said she was willing to entertain the idea because her friends had heard about the Web site and recommended it to her.
“I said, `Lord, I’m going to give it a year,'” and signed up for a $240 annual membership, she said. “What did I have to lose? If I didn’t get matched up, so what? If I didn’t try, nothing would have happened.”
Last September, near the end of her one-year eHarmony membership, something happened.
Through the service, she was introduced to Romeoville resident Gary Sprick.
In December they were engaged.
And in June, they plan to get married in front of about 300 friends and somewhat incredulous family members.
“It still blows me away,” Koeman said with a laugh. “I’m still kind of spinning, and it’s fabulous.”
She credits eHarmony’s unique psychological matchmaking process for the surprising whirlwind romance she’s now enjoying.
Koeman filled out the company’s 436-question personality inventory that is used to match members with potential companions.
The process occurs anonymously through eHarmony’s site.
It’s up to individual members if and when photos, e-mail addresses and phone numbers are exchanged.
After completing the questionnaire, Koeman received daily e-mails with eHarmony member profiles that complimented her own.
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“Then there’s a four-step communications process,” she said.
Here’s how it works:
If she was interested in learning more about a potential match, Koeman was able to choose five pre-written multiple-choice questions for the prospect to answer.
Of course, she had questions to answer as well.
If the answers are satisfactory, she said, “You submit 10 relationship `must-haves’ and 10 `can’t stands,’ to each other.”
“Then, if you both like each other’s must-haves and can’t stands, you can ask each other three [open-ended] questions. And this is the first time you can hear the other person’s [written] voice.”
Finally, the couple enters into “open communication.” Because this process takes place on the eHarmony Web site, it still is anonymous.
“All they knew about me is I’m from Oak Lawn and that I’m a teacher,” Koeman said.
Until she met Sprick.
They exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses at this point, met, and the rest is history.
The fast-growing California-based eHarmony says Koeman’s success is not unique.
The Web site claims 10,000 new members per day and more than 2,000 marriages resulting from its services.
“That $240 was very well spent,” Koeman said.
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