@NOmesorah
The actual father of Ashkenazi Mesorah aka The MaHaRIL was a shadchan. People with children of marriageable age would write to him and he would respond with an idea. They would then send him shadchanus gelt and we’re all still alive today. These people didn’t date. If you are of Ashkenazi descent you are more than likely a product of one of his shidduchim.