Dinner dating
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
June 10, 2012 1:28am CST
Today I read about something called dinner dating. It is a kind of group date where 18 singles (9 woman and 9 men) participate. There are 3 tables with 6 people. At first they eat one dish and while they eat they have the chance to talk to the other people at their table. After the first dish the women stay and the men swap tables. They eat the main course and talk to the new people. When it is time for dessert the men swap tables again and the people who haven't met yet eat dessert together. When the evening is over every woman has met 9 men and every man has met 9 women. It is a bit like speed dating where you talk to many people on the same night, but you have more time to talk to the different men/women.
What do you think about this kind of date? You would you like to try it? Or do you prefer to go on an "ordinary" date where you are alone with your date?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@Suebee (2013)
• Canada
10 Jun 12
If I was single and looking for a partner, sure I'd try it. Sometimes it's hard to meet people and this sounds like wonderful way to do it. I've never tried speed dating or even a blind date, but then again, I haven't been single for a long time either.
It depends on the circumstances as well. I might feel a bit out of place, eating with 17 other people who I don't know at all, but if I had a friend who wanted to try it with me then I would feel more comfortable knowing at least one other person there.
I think it's a way to get to know people with "no pressure". If you meet someone you're interested in or someone who is interested in you, you can pursue it if you wish but if not, oh well, you had a nice dinner out with a variety of people. To tell you the truth, it sounds like fun to me!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
11 Jun 12
That is also what I thought. You might not meet a new partner that way, but you have the chance to meet many different people and you can talk to them, have a nice dinner together and maybe find some new friends. I enjoy meeting new people so that part of the arrangement sounds interesting to me. I haven't tried it and I am married, so I am going to try it, but I might have tried it if I had been single. Maybe out of curiosity or just because I wanted to experience what it was like. I imagine that it could be a little annoying that you only get a short time to talk to each person. If you really get along with someone you will be forced to end the conversation and talk to someone else when the men swap places.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
11 Jun 12
Yes, that is true, that would inspire people to get together after the dinner date and continue the conversation. I have never tried speed dating, but I think that dinner dating is better than speed dating. I would also choose that instead of speed dating if I was single. Or maybe I would try both. I think that speed dating is more popular, because it takes place in many different cities in my country. Dinner dating is only in Copenhagen I think, but that might change in the future.
@Suebee (2013)
• Canada
11 Jun 12
But being forced to cut the conversation short is half the fun of it. That means that you'll have to get together again to continue, lol. I think it sounds like a great idea, more interesting than speed dating (although I have never tried that either). It's definitely something I would try if I was single.
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@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
10 Jun 12
It is good idea for people who want to find their partner since they don't have much time for finding their partner themselves.
However, i am not interested with it. I still prefer to date 1 person only. Can have a coffee meeting or dinner together and talking to understand more...Life is short but sometime we need more time for dating.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
10 Jun 12
I understand wha you mean. Personally I have only tried "ordinary" dates where I spent the night with one person. I think that the advantage about an ordinary date is the fact that you are able to spend more time together. I think that dinner dating could be a way to meet to new people and that is a good thing, but what if you really enjoy the talking to one of the people that you meet. You wouldn't be able to continue the conversation and you would be forced to talk to someone else when it was time to swap tables. You don't really have enough time to get to know eachother well, so I guess it is a bit like speed dating where you talk to many different people for a short time and have to decide if you want to meet them again.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
11 Jun 12
I haven't tried speed dating or dinner dating, but I wonder what it is like and whether you are actually able to find out if you want to meet again after such a short meeting. It does give you an impression of the other person, but you have to get to know him or her better before you get involved in a serious relationship. I guess the people who participated in this kind of dating go on a "real" date later on. I think that would be the logical thing to do because that would give them the chance to talk in private and talk without interruptions.
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
11 Jun 12
Ya, you are right. In the speed dating, if i like to talk with this guy but after that i have to change place and talk with another guy, that time maybe enough for just saying hi, how are you? only...and they have to keep contact numbers and then decide to go to ordinary date with which guy.
It is nice to know many guys in a day, but dating to get in a serious relationship, we all need ordinary dating, i think.
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@snam23 (3157)
• United States
10 Jun 12
That is very interesting indeed. Certainly a new take on the good old speed dating. I think I would try it once to see what it feels like but I don't think I would use it to meet women I would date but to just meet new people in general. But I prefer normal ordinary dates. I think having multiple people on a date ruins the alone time you get to spend with the other person and also ruins the romantic aspect of it.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
10 Jun 12
Yeah I know what you mean. I like meeting new people also but since I'm not very good at it, this would be a great way to do so! It seems more like a team bonding experience than a date though. But an interesting experience nonetheless. I wonder where you would find all those people or who would organize it though. It must be pain to match everyone's schedules.
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
10 Jun 12
I think that is a good way to look at it. You might not find a partner that way, but it could be a way to meet new people and you could have a nice time talking to the people that you meet. I like to meet new people so that part of it would appeal to me. Yes, it is definately a different experience to go that kind of group date because it prevents you from talking to the other people in private. You can talk about general things, but the conversation probably wouldn't get that personal since everyone is listening to you and watching you. That would be a little awkward I think, and it does ruin the romantic aspect of it like you said.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
11 Jun 12
Sounds exciting like those other reality shows.
I would consider this one rather the one "Dating in the Dark" where you go out for a date in total darkness.
You can check this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7DHObWGBrM
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Jun 12
Dating in the dark must be a very unusual experience. I can't really imagine what it is like to like to meet another person that way. In a way it could be an interesting experiment, but I am not sure that I would have the courage to participate in the one of those dating in the dark shows. Dinning dating is also an unusual way to meet new people. I don't know how many people actually find new partners that way, but even if you don't meet a new partner it could be a way to have a different experience and talk to many new people. Those things would attract me about the idea.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
10 Jun 12
hi,
quiet interesting, but its no for me, (lol), i prefer an ordinary one.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
10 Jun 12
I also think that the idea sounds interesting. I am not going to try it because I am already married, but I think that it sounds like an interesting way to meet new people. I haven't tried speed dating either, only ordinary dates (and blind dates) I don't have any friends who have tried that kind of dinner date, but I think that it could be interesting to hear about people's experiences and ask them whether they liked it or not.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
10 Jun 12
yes, i agree, it will be fun to know the experiences of other people, and know the facts
1 person likes this
@Bhebelen14 (5194)
• Philippines
11 Jun 12
Hi Porcospino, I heard about dinner dating here in my country before but I dont know if its still existing. Dinner dating in this kind of set up quiet good but I am not sure if you really have a time know better your date after this dinner. Maybe in my early age I might try it, but in my age now maybe not because I might get headache or dizzy after the date because of the swapping. I preferred to go on an ordinary date where I can talk to my date in a quiet place so that I can asked everything I want to know and watch his actions and reaction towards me. For me, dinner date with someone is a very interesting part of my life because it will give me a guide if he is sincere and honest to his feelings or not.
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Jun 12
I also wonder if you will have enough time to get to know the other person if you choose dinner dating. You will get the chance to talk to a lot of different people, but if there is someone that you really like you will only be able to talk to that person for a relatively short time because you have to swap places several times in order to meet everyone. Of course you can meet again, but you need to find out if it is a person that you want to meet again or not.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
10 Jun 12
I think this might be nicer than speed dating, although obviously it can have problems like if one person monopolizes the conversation. Still, it could be a nice way to make friends, too.
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
12 Jun 12
I agree with that, it could be a nice way to find some new friends. You might not meet a new partner, but you could still have a nice evening and enjoy the conversations with the otherĀ“people who participate in the dinner. If you participate and your only intention is to enjoy the night to talk to some new people you probably don't get disappointed. If you hope to find a new partner you could get disappointed, because that might not happen. Like you I think that dinner dating sounds nicer than speed dating. I haven't tried speed dating, but I imagine that it is hard to get an impression of the other person when you meet for such a short time.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
10 Jun 12
The idea rather intimidates me. I am not the most outgoing person, and while it'd be intresting I'd be too afraid, and after talking to nine men in the same night, I'd surely go home and pass out! My mind couldn't take it all, I'd be afraid I'd have screwed it all together!
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
12 Jun 12
I understand what you mean. Today I am not as shy and introvered as I was when I was younger, but I know that I wouldn't have liked the idea at that time. It would have been too much of a challenge for me and I would probably have been sad and angry at myself because I didn't really manage to talk much to the other participants. Afterwards I would have been totally exhaused because it is mentally exhausting to "force" yourself to be more outgoing than you really are.
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
11 Jun 12
It sounds interesting for those who like this kind of dating, and I think it is really suitable for a reality TV show. But I prefer the "ordinary" one.
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@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Jun 12
Yes, the idea would have been suitable for a reality TV show I wonder how the meetings turned out and if anyone actually found a new partner that way. It could be interesting to talk to someone who participated and hear about their experiences. Personally I have only tried ordinary dating...
@512771751 (1096)
• China
28 Jun 12
I have heard this kind of dinner dating. It is really interesting but I haven't participate. Nowadays, people have little time to know other people, maybe it is the most convience method for them.
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