Anyone met someone naturally in their 30s?

I second the recommendation to join Meetups. That's where my boyfriend and I met 2 years ago (in our 30s). The idea is you join a group with a shared hobby (hiking, coffee, languages, boardgames, the list goes on) and you meet in person to socialise. There are all ages on there, so definitely not a dating website, but people are often looking to make new friends and have new experiences. So if you're looking for a more organic connection, it might work for you.

Sorry I just see you said naturally. Not natural but worked for me. It's almost like you meet them when you finally give up hope.

I'm a bit geeky too, love a board game meetup! The first one I went to I was 1 of 3 girls to 20 guys so the odds are in your favour! I had a really lovely evening and a couple of them asked for my number. Also didn't have many of my own games at the time but honestly people will be keen to share theirs and teach you how to play. Have a great time 😊

Yes I did, on Facebook dating. Didn't expect to meet anyone and wasn't in to it at all but as soon as his profile came up I just knew he was for me. Lives quite near me and we realised we know of each other through work, we had emailed each other once before but never met.

Yes, I met my husband volunteering. We were campaigning (2016...). The campaigning didn't work out but we have three children who are going to vote for a closer relationship with Europe again one day so I guess we did our best?

We met at a wedding when we were both 32. It was just before the explosion on dating apps, so I’m glad I never had to do that - I think I probably just wouldn’t have bothered!

I met my DH online.

I had tried so many dating websites, then another single friend recommended this "new" one - OKCupid (this was 11 years ago).

She was dating a cute slightly nerdy engineer - she said "I know that's your type...and because this site is supposed to have good algorithms lots of engineers and technical men are signing up to it".

I think in actuality it was just the most popular app so there were lots of people on there. However I'd research which are the most popular apps and which are the ones with the best back end - perhaps you'll find more slightly nerdy types on there...

There is no way I would have met DH organically and we're a really good fit. Same values, both wanted a relationship (I was so fed up of men wanting a few dates/ nights together then suddenly deciding they weren't over their ex after all / needed some space etc).

Otherwise...go where the slightly nerdy men are. Board games is an excellent start. See if your local cinema / art gallery does a singles night. If not, suggest they do one.

PS loads of people told me I was sweet, nice etc. I often felt it as a backhanded compliment! But then you'll meet someone who values that about you. Best of luck

Couples I know either met years ago, met online or at work.

You don't really hear about matchmaking anymore. When I was younger we all used to set our friends up with decent guys from work, or someone from our boyfriend or brothers friendships groups. Has that stopped now? Although, actually, just remembered that a friend did this fairly recently when she met a new guy; she set one of his friends up with one of her friends - they've just moved in together. So totally contradicted myself :)

Do your friends know you're up for meeting someone? Maybe they have someone in their network.

Other than this approach, take every opportunity to go to parties, networking events with work or how about joining a committee at work that would expose you to more colleagues? I don't know how it works in public sector but where I work they have a sustainability committee, an entertainment committee - that kind of thing.

The more people you meet in a year, the more likely you are to find someone you like.

Good luck :)

In the year before I met now-DH, I met and dated two men in ‘real life’ (as opposed to via online dating) - one at work and one a friend of my housemate, at a party. Neither worked out - eventually it became clear in both cases that while we were attracted, we didn’t have enough in common or didn’t share the same values and worldview. A couple of months after I split with the second bloke, I met DH on Match - we’ve been together more than 11 years now, own a house together, have a DS and are closer than ever. We really clicked on our first date. I dated quite a few duds from Match too, tbf, but they’re not all timewasters.

I met my husband at work when I was 36. We met in the August (did not fancy him at all) but by the Autumn we were good friends. Went on a date the following June, moved in together in July and married the following Winter. Celebrating 15 years together this June.

Met dh at work when I was 33. Married for 12 years now, with a lovely DS.

Not sure what I'd do now if I were single though, the very thought of OLD makes me want to curl into a ball.

I didn't meet my wife until I was in my 40s. First time around for both of us, and we met through a sports club that both of us belonged to.

Yes. But I did look for him in real life and not online. It's my preference.

@SquashPenguin are you me? 🤣
I was also 33 when I met my DH 28, at work. We were friends for about 6 m though. He was such a geek and we were the least likely couple. A friend bet me £5 to snog him the next time we were out, as we often bumped into him in town. I did! And that was almost 25 years ago!

My ds 30 fits this description. He’s fed up of apps too. He likes board games and climbing walls.

Join a board game group.

I got to know lots more people by volunteering at Parkrun than by running at it, although ours does have a busy post-run coffee and breakfast scene too.

Second the suggestion for a running club. I was also a member of one for a while and it was very heavy on Men in their 30s and 40s.

Join a boardgames group or work in the tech department of a large company.

Join a running club - lots sweet, geeky blokes there and it sounds like you already run.

By the way one of those sixty yr olds who go for coffee might just have given birth to the love of your life . So maybe not a bad idea to go for a coffee and get to know them 😏

I kind of did. He'd been my brother's friend for years then we went to the wedding of a mutual friend, and he decided to make a move. We were married less than 2 years later (I had known him over a decade after all).

I met DH when I was 32 and he was 36. He was a former colleague of my best friend, and the night I met him he was with another friend of a friend. Actually it’s more surprising I’d never met him before.

I met my now DH at a boardgame cafe "meet up" event three years ago. I too was utterly fed up with OLD and related shenanigans. Good hunting ground for geeks!

Try meet up for social groups and go to make friends, you may meet a chap!

I was 40 when I met DH at a friend's BBQ party while on holiday in the country in which she lives. I also had the motto never say no to an invite at that time, glad I did.

I second this! When I was single ( long before internet dating became a big thing) I accepted invitations and went out with friends; wasn't going to go one night as I was broke, and I'd been out with friends the night before, went anyway, and met my now husband. It's our 25th wedding anniversary this year! We met in a nightclub, doesn't sound ideal, but we clicked. Just be open to a variety of different things. You never know who you'll meet.