This week I saw an animated infographic that made me sad. It charted the changing ways that couples have met, from 1930 to 2024. In 1930, 23% of couples met through family, 22% at school. The other most common ways of meeting included friends (18%), neighbors (11%), and church (10%).

But as the years passed, the picture changed dramatically. By the time 2024 came around “online” accounted for 61% of meetings. Meanwhile, family (5%), school (3%), and church (2%) had dropped precipitously.

I have nothing against online dating, but it seemed a tad depressing that all these once-vital cultural institutions, like family and church, are no longer playing matchmaker.

Or maybe it’s just because (as one friend suggested) my wife would have never picked me out on a dating site. He has a point. I’m glad we got to meet the old-fashioned way so I could crack some jokes, quote some poetry, and plead with her to have mercy on me.

Had it been twenty years later, I don’t think she would have swiped right.