A dating agency, also known as a marriage bureau, marriage agency, matrimonial bureau or matrimonial agency, is a business that provides matchmaking services to potential couples, with a view toward romance and/or marriage between them.

The modern marriage agency works in two principle ways to help clients find a marriage partner:

Historically, marriage agencies usually worked alone. Modern marriage agencies now often work within federations or associations, enabling effects of scale that allow easier creation of marriage matches because of inter-marriage agency cooperation. This is common in Japan, where the culture, along with social influences have led to marriage agencies being responsible for 5.3% of marriages in 2010 and 2014.

Matchmaking is the core goal of marriage agencies, as their members largely focus on being with someone whom they truly love and are truly compatible with due to increased levels of happiness and fulfillment derived.

Marriage agencies as distinct from dating agencies also have total focus on their clients getting married, rather than just being life partners, dating, co-habiting, or forming other beneficial relationships.

The internet and speed dating agencies are the biggest of the group.

There is a rise of businesses that teach men how they can meet women themselves without the use of a dating agency, some of which use the label pickup artist.

Both dating agencies and marriage agencies have some organizations where people are paid to interact with other members and keep their interests high. Various agencies only have members who are genuinely seeking real partners.