Combining the lightly humorous tone and dead-on accuracy of a best girlfriend's advice with her insider's knowledge gained from 17 years of matchmaking success, Pari Livermore offers a multitude of ideas for finding and keeping the right fabulous guy. Wondering how to meet a man? Break the ice? How to handle a man who's dated many women? Here's an excerpt from “How to Marry a Fabulous Man”:

Television documentaries, magazines, and radio interviews have proclaimed me one of the nation’s top matchmakers. Some of the most high-powered couples in the country have turned to me for help. Every day I speak to men about what they want in a woman and they tell me the same things over and over again.

I’ve been there when women have made mistakes and I’ve been there when they’ve done all the right things. I’d like to share these winning secrets with you. If you can master two or three of the tips every week, you’ll meet a lot more men and develop much better dating skills.

Finding the right person requires as much effort as looking for a job. If you put in the time and adopt these habits, there is no question you can marry a fabulous man. Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding. — Pari Livermore

“If you can’t name it, you can’t claim it.”
— Brianna Morley, pastry chef and one of Pari’s successful matches

If you can’t articulate your goals, you can’t achieve them. It’s much easier to get married if you know what kind of man you want. Have you ever made a list of the qualities you would truly admire in a partner? Try it. Then circle the three most important. Once you feel sure enough of your list, concentrate on dating only men who have these qualities and avoiding men who don’t. Try not to focus on the wrong issues.

If he has what you want, but he looks like Elmer Fudd, don’t pass him by. When Sylvia, a former New York newscaster, met Bob, she said he reminded her of a chubby cartoon character. In a few weeks he captured her heart and became her hero. I’ve seen it happen many times.  As you begin to care about someone, his appearance becomes less important.

On the other hand if the man you just met reminds you of Brad Pitt but he doesn’t have the other qualities you want — throw that fish back! There will be plenty of other women who will want him. He will only make you unhappy and your unhappiness will make him miserable. No man likes to feel that he is not enough. (Or no woman either, for that matter.)

It is important to remember that men are very visual. Try to look as GOOD as possible as OFTEN as possible.

You never know when you’ll meet someone just perfect for you, even if you’re just stopping at the library, cleaners, or gas station. When it happens, you don’t want to be worrying about the spot on your blouse, your raggedy shoes, or your two inches of black roots. If you know you look terrific, you’ll feel confident.

Video   Marrying a fabulous man Dec. 18: Author and matchmaker Pari Livermore tells TODAY’s Hoda Kotb tips on dating, finding love, meeting the right partner and getting married. Today Relationship

One young teacher I know realized that the only eligible men who came her way were the men she jogged with every morning. She bought a hot jogging outfit and got up 10 minutes early to put on lipstick and comb her hair.

Three weeks later she met her husband, a guy she had passed on the track every morning. She said, “He never noticed me before.” He said, “She never noticed me.” They agreed that the few minutes she spent getting ready for her jog gave her the confidence to smile at him, and he took it from there.

Excerpted from “How to Marry a Fabulous Man” by Pari Livermore. Copyright © 2007 Pari Livermore. Excerpted by permission of Meredith Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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