About Speed Dating in Cardiff

Do you live in the Cardiff area?  Ever fancied going on 10-20 dates in one night? Too busy to date?

Then Speed Dating is for you!

Cardiff is a big place and with so many single people living in the area, why is still so hard to find the right person for you? Maybe you simply don’t have as much spare time as you’d like. Maybe you don’t meet enough single people. This is how going to speed dating and other singles events in Cardiff will help you…

We haven’t all got time to wine and dine. Speed dating is the fast, fun way to meet a whole bunch of attractive singles in one evening. You’ll have a great time and could find your perfect match.  So why wait – when you can speed date?

When Speed Dating exploded onto the UK singles scene with a blaze of media interest in 2002 some assumed the craze would pass and go out of fashion, but far from it. Speed Dating is now established as the second most popular dating service after online dating, according to all the search engines (e.g. Google, Yahoo, MSN). Why has speed dating become so popular?  Simple… because speed dating works!

The classic formula of bringing together around 15-20 single girls and 15-20 single guys to meet for around 4 minutes each just works.  The short dates provide just enough time to discover whether people wish to meet again.  And if people don’t click that well, the boredom lasts a couple of minutes rather than an entire evening!

Around 70-90% of attendees meet people they wish to see again at each event.

What is Speed Dating and how does it work?

Speed Dating and its benefits are well known these days. On arrival at a Speed Dating events, you welcomed by a friendly host, checked in and invited to the bar to drink, relax and mingle. Once everyone has arrived the host gives a quick welcome speech, explaining how speed dating works and answering any questions. Then the dating begins!  Women usually remain seated while men rotate every few minutes when a bell rings. Guests mark on a match sheet whether they want to see each person again. There will be a couple of breaks and by the end of the final speed dating session, all the gents and all the ladies have met each other.  When the speed dating finishes, all guests are invited to stay around for drinks at the bar, for further mingling and flirting.

With Speed Dating, everyone is there to meet other people – just like you. You have just enough time with each person to decide whether or not you would like to see them again, and you only get put in contact with the people you want to meet who also want to meet you again – no more awkward phone calls and no having to avoid people you don’t like.

What sort of people go speed dating?

Sociable, attractive, normal people. Nice people!  Most participants are busy professional people who value their spare time and can see all the benefits speed dating has to offer. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, nurses, managers and other professionals tend to be the most common professions.

Most guests are attractive and sociable and want to improve their chances of meeting the right person. Many lead a hectic lifestyle and have an established group of friends, so rarely get the chance to meet lots of new people in one evening.

Speed Dating is perfect for people who lead busy lives, never have much spare time and want to meet new people in a fun and safe environment.

What do I do if I like another speed dater?

The chances are, you will like most people at a Speed Dating evening! The dilemma is choosing who you would most like to see again. The good news is you can tick as many as you like, whether you want to see them again as a friend or a date.  Use your match sheet to make notes during the evening – after each date, you tick the people you like and want to see again. The next day or so, you will receive your matches via the website, by text or by email.

How can I get in touch with my matches?

If you liked people and ticked them as a friend or a date, and they did the same for you, this is called a mutual match and you can get each others’ contact details. The rest is up to you.  We recommend sending a text or email first to say hello and if all goes well, arranging to meet up again for drinks or a proper date.

How did Speed Dating start?

It all started with a Jewish Rabbi in Los Angeles in the late 1990′s!  You can read a detailed history of speed dating here.

Nowadays, everyone has seen or heard about speed dating, but why has it now become so popular?

This new way of meeting people is designed for single, busy professionals who are tired of the traditional dating methods that haven’t worked for them in the past. Speed dating has advantages over all of the traditional dating methods; the pub/nightclub scene, blind dates, internet dating services or even introduction agencies which can prove to be quite time consuming and expensive. You get to see and talk to 15 genuine, similarly aged singles over the course of two hours, perfectly suited to people just like me and you who do value their time…

How do I find a speed dating event in Cardiff?

Usually the first step is visit our list of upcoming speed dating and singles events in Cardiff on the Dating Events page.  Here you can choose a date from the events calendar to suit you. Be sure to book up early to avoid disappointment.

Once booked on an event in advance, we will meet you on the allocated date usually around 7pm, when our Speed Dating Events start. From here you will be greeted by our friendly hosts before an explanation of the night’s procedures. You will have four to six minutes to spend with each guest of the opposite sex before a bell rings. From here you write down the person’s name on your scorecard and mark either a “yes” or a “no” as to whether you would like to see that person again. The guys then all rotate to the next table for the second round of “Speed Dates”.

We generally have two breaks throughout the evening to break the Speed Dating up and to let everyone catch up with their scorecards. The night finishes approx 10:30 when all the guys have met all the girls. Scorecards are then handed back to the hosts for the MATCHING process to begin. A MATCH consists of you ticking “yes” to the same person that has ticked “yes” to you on their opposing scorecard. From here contact details of your matches are sent out the very next day.

Are there equal numbers of men and women?

Great consideration, time and effort is given to check and re-check that numbers are as even as possible at Cardiff speed dating events. If you cannot make it to the event, PLEASE, PLEASE let your host know as soon as possible – their contact details are given to you when you book. Just think how you would like it if you attended a speed date session and other people didn’t show up….

How many people will I meet?

Aiming for a minimum of 16 people per event, the vast majority of events usually consist of 12-18 guys and 12-18 girls, with the sexes as closely balanced in numbers as possible.

What time does the event start and finish?

Our events usually start around 7 for 7:30 and finish at around 9.45-10:15.  After this, guests are welcomed to stay around and carry on chatting to the people they have met and whose company they have most enjoyed.

What happens after I register my details?

We sent out ocasional invitations via email letting you know of appropriate upcoming events. We have events for various ages.

I am nervous about going by myself… do many people come on their own?

This is a common concern, especially with the girls.  Around a third of guests come along to an event on their own and we always make certain to put you at ease and make you feel comfortable. Guests occasionally find it easier to bring a friend along to an event as moral support and to help feel more relaxed – this is absolutely fine.  Others are happy to come alone and relish the opportunity to spend the whole evening meeting and getting to know a new bunch of people.  What better chance to expand your circle of friends!

The worst thing is actually thinking about coming alone, because once you arrive at the venue and realise from meeting everyone, just how “normal” all the other speed daters are, those nerves quickly settle. As soon as the speed dating begins all the fears and worry quickly disappear and the end of the event comes around a lot quicker than you expected. You will wonder in awe as to why you were ever worried in the first place!

How long will it take before I get my matches?

Guests usually receive matches within 48 hours of the event finishing.

What shall I wear?

There is no dress code at Speed Dating Events in Cardiff, although first impressions do count, so dress to impress!  If the event is on a week night, then a few guests who will be coming straight from work in a suit or work clothes, so no need to worry at all if you are not able to change.

What forms of payment are accepted?

All the major credit and debit cards, are accepted, as well as paypal. Card payments are 100% secure. All payments must be made before the event, do not expect to simple pay on the night – otherwise it is even harder to balance the numbers.