Is speed dating worth it?

[Whattodo2024]

I’ve been single for almost 5 years after a messy divorce and I’m finally ready to meet someone. I was hoping to meet someone through my social activities but that hasn’t happened, I live in a small town and there’s not that many single people. I’ve been on the apps for the last month or so but no one really catching my eye. Feels like not enough information and the apps are mainly looks focused - I’m in my mid 40s and would rather a meet a good man than a handsome man! There is a speed dating event in a local big city and was wondering if it’s worth trying?

Any dating is worth it I suppose as long as you have a very thick skin, if you don't try you'll never know. I quit trying years ago myself but occasionally - very occasionally - there'll be a genuine person who comes along whether it's tinder or speed dating or anything else. But buckle up because for the rest of it... you might as well crawl through a swamp

It's probably good practice but keep your expectations low, have tried it a couple of times and there was no one I'd be interested in romantically there. The more people you meet the better so there's not much to lose. There is something refreshing about meeting other people who are available and interested in having a relationship and have made the effort to put themselves out there. Good luck!

Please don't listen to @SitOnHisFaceIfHeDiesHeDies Speed Dating is a much more pleasant experience than OLD. People have manners and are nice to people in real life as opposed to online.

More of the issue comes from speed dating firms lying about attendance figures, debatable whether you will meet someone, but it is sociable. Sometimes just chatting to strangers is better and not forced unlike the nonsense that is OLD messaging.

I find it very fun - everyone puts their best foot forward and it's a nice little boost. I've bumped into old acquaintances and made friends doing it. There are some really genuine people doing it. The makeup often depends on the place- in London there was a lot of transient people doing it. What I like is that it takes courage to do it in the first place (not hiding behind a screen) so you're already talking to someone who has made an effort. Don't go with too high expectations.

Oh, I met a guy, we didn't click, but he's now married to a friend of a friend (they didnt meet through speed dating) and he is nice.

I hated it and preferred tinder etc

Met my husband speed dating in 2005

I went to one event and I absolutely hated it. Much preferred OLD. Whilst OLD is a swamp if you play it as a numbers game it can work. You need to trawl through at speed though- match a few messages and then meet for coffee. Dont get too invested with people until you've met

There's one thing everyone has in common at speed dating events, they all hate OLD!

I did it once and it felt awkward to me. Also the attendance was low which probably contributed to that feeling.

I don't think anyone likes OLD, but if you do it right then it works. Speed dating is too few people in a room in my view.

I read some advice on here that worked for me OLD. They said pay the subscription to get the unlimited likes and then just aim for volume of profiles. Dont offer anyone chances- if you know what your deal breakers are swipe left, and they can be as small or as silly as you like I wouldn't connect with anyone with kids, cats, small dogs, laddy pictures, gym selfies etc. Exchanged a few messages and then suggested a coffee within a few days. If they didnt want to meet binned them off straight away.

Worked for me. I spent about an hour a day swiping and treated it like a chore. But found someone quickly. Friends of mine who just log on 5 minutes here and there like a passtime have been on for years. And they're now waiting just for the new joiners (and there the competition is tougher)

I really hope your experience was better than my friend’s. She said it was the worst night of her life. The organisers told her that the women always turn up looking fabulous and the men generally shuffle in looking as though they haven’t washed in a week

I mostly made female friends at dating events. Gained a couple of fantastic wing women. Found them useless for meeting men, however.

I've tried it and never had a relationship out of it but the odd date. I'd say it's worth going to if you don't mind spending the money as it's a night out and gets you in front of single people, and from that point of view there could be a chance you meet someone who you click with.

However, the people who turn up are totally random, whereas at least with online dating you can find out a bit about them like job, lifestyle aspects that may be important to you before meeting.

I guess with speed dating you can tell if there's a physical attraction and spark but they may fulfil none of your other dating requirements or be looking for different things to you. Whereas with online dating it's the opposite, where they may tick certain boxes but you have simply no spark in person.

I like it. I found it hard to know if you’d fancy someone from online conversations so speed dating felt very efficient. I did it twice and meet my husband at the second one.

We are friends with a couple that married after meeting at speed dating. It’s the kind of thing that can’t generally be labelled as good or bad in my opinion.