Forget dating apps: you’re better off meeting the person of your dreams at your local pub, your best friend’s wedding, at the supermarket, or at work, according to Asda.
A nationwide study has revealed that meeting someone in real life will most likely lead to a happy relationship, with more trust and a deeper friendship. In fact, as many as 44% of couples surveyed – who met in person away from dating apps – consider themselves in a long-term, committed relationship, compared to just seven per cent who met online. What’s more, as many as 62% who met IRL describe themselves as “extremely happy”, compared with just 51% who met on a site.
Meeting your other half in person is also more likely to lead to a trusting relationship. Seventy-one per cent say they “trust their partner 100%”, compared to 63% of those who met via an app. And those who met through friends, work, at the pub or supermarket, are also more likely to describe their relationship as a “deep friendship” (66% compared to 59% of online meet-up couples).
Where and how to meet
Eighty-one per cent of singles say they’re open to meeting someone while walking the dog, grabbing a coffee, or doing the weekly shop. In fact, 64% admit there’s someone at their local supermarket they fancy. There’s also comfort in familiarity. Meeting through friends gives people common ground, with 30% saying it helped break the ice, while 33% feel in-person connections are simply more meaningful. Yet, while the opportunity is there, making the first move isn’t always easy: more than eight in 10 admit they feel shy asking for someone’s number.
Why else should singles meet in person
Many say it’s easier to get a genuine first impression without filters, with 68% highlighting this as a benefit. Then there’s over half (56%) that say meeting face to face helps spark that all-important chemistry. Being able to make proper eye contact also matters, with 51% saying it helps them feel more connected from the start. And for the sensory romantics, it’s the real-life details that count, from catching a hint of perfume or aftershave (19%), to hearing someone’s voice as it really sounds (37%).
So, the next time you go to open that app on your phone just stop and think – why not get physically out there to find the person of your dreams? Because before those of us had tech and apps we managed just fine…
