What is Slow Dating?
In the past, most people met their partners through friends, at a bar, or at a party – no apps involved. We try to create that friendly, relaxed atmosphere by organizing small group hangouts and encouraging you to live in the moment. Unlike meetups or hanging in bars, everyone at our events is single and open to chat. Our events are focused on one key concept: relax and be yourself!
šØNo awkward 1-on-1s – you hang out in small, mixed-gender groups so it feels like chilling with friends.
š30-40 minutes per group, enough time to loosen up and go beyond small talk.
š« 50/50 gender balance at our hetero events (Queer events are coming soon.)
š§Free snacks homebaked by your host every time!
ā¤ļø No pressure to make a move. Ā Put your phone away! There’ll be an opportunity to match with anyone you’re interested in after the event.
Here are our most frequently asked questions:
General:
- How do you make sure it’s 50% men and 50% women?
- Should I come alone or with friends?
- I will need to arrive late or leave early. Is that ok?
- š¶ Can I bring my dog?
- Will there be food?
People at the event:
- What age are the people attending Slow Dating?
- How many people will be there?
- What language is spoken?
- Have people successfully met partners at Slow Dating?
Matchmaking:
- Should I ask for peoples’ numbers or wait until the ‘matchmaking’ after the event?
- Can I match with people i want to meet again ‘as friends’?
Future events:
General FAQs
How do you make sure there are even numbers of men and women?
We carefully plan the guestlist to make sure there are even numbers. There are 12 spaces for men, 12 for women. Once all seats for the gender are full, signups closed, and people go to a waitlist. If someone cancels, we give their spot to someone (of the same gender) from the waitlist.
Weāre sorry we send you so many reminders and make you confirm participation: it is a little annoying, but this way, we know who is coming and can ensure it is 50/50 š
Should I come alone or with friends?
80% of people who come to our events come alone ā itās a very social event and you will quickly meet new people who are eager to chat!Ā
If you want to come with a friend, that’s also great. Make sure your friend also signs up so we canĀ send them the invite. Please donāt invite people who aren’t signed up/on the guestlist. We wonāt have enough seats and snacks for them, and it could throw off the gender balance. Thatās one of the reasons we need to plan the guestlist in advance š
Is it ok to arrive late or late early?
We hate to sound super anal about it, but… we only recommend attending the event if you can commit to the full scheduled time. If you leave early or arrive late, you have less time and don’t get to meet everyone. Also, the event is planned to be 50% men and 50% women.. so if somebody is missing, it disrupts the balance of the group.Ā If you’re busy.. don’t worry! There’ll be other events. Sign up to get notified about them.
Can I bring my dog?
Even though we love dogs, we do think it’s a little easier to leave them at home. Some venues may be fine for a dog.. but some could be a little overwhelming. With 20-25 people, it can be noisy, you can get distracted chatting, and men move table every 45 minutes (so it isn’t very easy for the dog to nap or relax). If your dog is very social, and it’s an outdoor event, it could be fine. But please consider your dog’s stress before bringing them.
Will there be food?
Your host will bring free homebaked food, usually muffins, brownies, cookies, or other snacks. We go to different event venues all the time, so the food on offer can vary. We will give you more information after signing up.
Will there be vegetarian, vegan, allergy-friendly options? We generally try to choose places with a diverse menu, to satisfy different tastes and needs. We will provide you with the venue’s menu in advance so you can make sure they have something for you.
People attending Slow Dating
What age group is the event aimed at?
It varies from event to event, but the biggest group is usually 30-somethings. The age range is usually around 25-42. If youāre a little younger, or older, but comfortable meeting people in that age range, itās still all good!
If you think thatās not your scene, please stay tuned. Weāll be organizing aĀ Student NightĀ (younger crowd) andĀ 45+ eventĀ in the next few months.
How many people will be there?
There will be approx 22 people, split over 3 tables. Men will move tables every 30-45 minutes. By the end of the event, you will have met everyone.
What language is spoken at the events?
For now, our events are run through English. We usually have a wide mix of nationalities and people from across the world. We also plan to run events in German next year.
Have people actually met partners from Slow Dating?
Slow Dating was born in August 2024, so it seems a little soon to say if any marriages started here.. but we have had plenty of people go on dates! If you meet anyone from the events again, please stay in touch and let us know how it went.
Matchmaking:
Should I ask for people’s numbers at the event, or wait until the ‘matchmaking’ round afterwards?
We encourage you to live in the moment, put your phone away, and just feel the vibe. If you think you really hit it off with someone, there’s no rule against asking for their number. But there’s no pressure to! Your host will email you about online matchmaking immediately after the event, and you’ll be able to express your interest in people then.
Can I match with people āas friendsā?
Yes, we encourage you to do that š You can match with anyone, it doesn’t matter if they are male or female. Lots of people met new friends at our events, and some have even started group chats to stay in touch with their table.
Future events:
When is the next event?
Check out our Events page. If there’s nothing there, sign up to get notified about future events.