Ways to Meet New People

Ways to Meet New People
Get a Date by the Weekend

© Cherie
There are more ways to meet new people than ever before. Check out these nine ideas to expand your dating prospects.

Meeting new people can be a challenging thing for singles, especially if most of your friends are married. The good news is that there are more choices to meet new people than ever before. Check out one of the ideas below and maybe you’ll even have a date by the weekend!

Online Dating

Internet dating takes the guesswork out of meeting new people. After all, everyone on the system is looking to meet someone. There are sites for virtually every preference and situation, from single parents to pet lovers to religious beliefs. Brush up on your online dating etiquette, log on, and find a date!

Speed Dating

Got ten minutes to meet your perfect mate? Speed Dating works on the premise that with a scant few minutes and a room full of singles, you'll be able to find someone who you want to go out with. Using good conversation skills will help you determine if you'd like to see someone again. Best of all, unlike a regular date, if you don't click with someone, you're on to the next person before you know it.

Singles Activities

Dances, cruises, and golf events and the like designed especially for singles are available in cities across the country. Check your local paper and community center for event listings. Practice a few opening lines, and meet someone that shares the same interests as you.
Faith-based Activities

Churches and synagogues often run social events especially for singles. Check with your local religious organization for information. If you do meet someone, be sure to have plenty of ideas in mind to entice your new love interest with a date.

Activities Where You Are Likely to Meet the Opposite Sex

Sometimes the best way to meet new people is by taking part in a new activity. Things like cooking classes, mechanics courses, and book clubs all offer opportunities to be introduced to your next partner. Keep the conversation light and you'll have a good chance of seeing them again.

Blind Dates and Set Ups

Ask your friends if they know of anyone they could set you up with. Often singles are shy about asking friends for set ups, but sometimes our pals are just waiting for us to give the word. Always be polite to both your date and your friend. Never make your friend feel bad if things between you and a blind date don't work out. That way they're more likely to try again when they come across someone new – and that person could be the one.
Matchmaker Services

Why not let someone else do the work of finding your special someone? Matchmaking may seem like an old-fashioned idea, but the advent of other relationship options like online and speed dating have given it a renewed popularity. Matchmaking is largely a word-of-mouth type of service, but some matchmakers can be found in the yellow pages (under "dating"), online, or registered with certain community organizations in your area.

Lunch Dating

There are many top lunch dating organizations that were created especially for busy professionals. They arrange casual dates for lunch, brunch, or after-work drinks.

Ask Someone Out

Why not take matters in your own hands and ask out that cutie you've had your eye on? Be confident, and don't worry about getting turned down. After all, if they say no, at least you tried. But if they say yes, you've got yourself a date!.