This study attempted to determine whether ideal mate images actually influence mate selection. The mate perceptions of 90 engaged persons were compared with the ideal mate conceptions of single, unengaged persons precision-matched to the engaged individuals on personality characteristics. Analysis of personality and perception correlation matrices lead to the observation that mate perceptions of engaged persons, although highly inaccurate, bear little resemblance to the ideal mate conceptions of unengaged single persons. The mate actually selected has different personality relationships to the self than the ideal mate has, and is perceived as having different relationships to the self than are conceived between the ideal mate and the self. It is concluded that the ideal mate images are therefore probably of little importance in mate selection; neither are they a salient feature in the perception of the selected mate.