Share This Article
You enter the restaurant and scan the crowd. Your colleagues have paired you with someone, but you have no idea who will show up. Apart from a few photos, you know almost nothing about the person you are about to meet. So you wonder if you will recognize the other person right away, or if you will approach someone else.
Your heart is pounding in your throat as you see someone staring at you from a table in the back. You try to decipher their face as you walk up to them. Hoping that this is the person you’re meeting. The person at the table seems attractive and friendly, but you won’t know for sure until you meet them. So you walk up to the table and introduce yourself. Luckily, you think as you look at each other, it’s your blind date. And your colleagues were right: it’s someone who’s a perfect match for you.
What is a blind date?
A blind date is a meeting between two people who do not know each other. Often a date like this has a romantic purpose. You have never seen or spoken to the other person and vice versa. A typical blind date is arranged by a friend or colleague, but it is also possible that a family member arranges the meeting. You have no input yourself and are completely left to the instinct of your friend, colleague or family member.
As the person on the blind date, you don’t know who the other person is or what they look like in advance. This often causes excitement and nerves, because you don’t know what to expect from the meeting and who you will meet. Blind dates can take place in different situations, such as in a café or restaurant, at your or the other person’s home, or at an event or activity.
A long history?
The blind date was the cornerstone of romance in the 90s and before. Before the internet, we had to rely on photos and the advice of others to arrange a date. And since the internet is still relatively new, the blind date has a long history, dating back to the early 20th century.
Over a century ago, it became increasingly common for people to meet each other through advertisements in newspapers and magazines. These advertisements, often called ” personals ,” were placed by people looking for a partner and answered by people who were interested.
In the 1940s and 1950s, blind dates became even more popular, especially among young people, especially students and soldiers who were away from home and looking for company. During this period, it was not uncommon for friends or family members to arrange blind dates, and these dates were often seen as an adventurous way to meet new people.
With the rise of online dating in the 90s, blind dates became less common. Since then, you have access to profiles and photos of potential partners and are no longer dependent on the mediation skills of the people around you. Thanks to profiles, blind dates are no longer necessary, because you can see in advance who you are dealing with. Nevertheless, blind dates remain an interesting way to meet new people and start relationships.
The disadvantage of online meetings is that you do not get to know the person, but a virtual character that is supported by a profile and a number of photos. This leads to all kinds of assumptions based on the photos and disappointments when these assumptions are not met. With a blind date you do not have this problem and you go back to the roots of dating – as it once was the most normal thing in the world.
How do you arrange a blind date?
Arranging a blind date is not as difficult as you think. Although it can be difficult to look for a blind date yourself, there are several ways to search for a blind date or have it arranged for you. Here are some of those ways.
Ask friends or family members for help
Your friends who are in happy relationships can help you find love. In every group of friends, there is someone who can arrange a nice match for you. Especially if you are tired of swiping apps and are fed up with uninterested matches, a blind date can be a nice change.
Share your dissatisfaction with dating apps, say you are ready for a real relationship and ask your friends if they know someone for you. Who knows, you might meet someone you wouldn’t choose yourself, but based on your friend’s instincts it might still end up in a new relationship. Most singles are bad at choosing a partner and that’s why it can be refreshing to have this done for a friend.
Use a relationship counselor
There are matchmakers who specialize in arranging blind dates for others. It is their job. In exchange for a fee, they will help you get a blind date. These professionals will usually have an extensive intake interview with you to get to know your personality, interests and preferences. Based on the profile they have created of you, they will pair you with a match that fits.
Use a dating app
Despite the fact that photos and profile texts are the leading feature on most dating apps, there are dating apps that have a blind date function. Think of Tinder, for example, which has a Blind Date function . This function allows you to exchange messages before you have seen each other’s photos.
Blind date rule
There are no set rules for a blind date, but there are some unwritten rules.
One of the first rules for a blind date is simple. It says that you should not secretly seek out the person, so that you really have no idea who will show up. By going into it with an open mind and not being led by assumptions based on what you see ‘online’, you can experience the blind date in the original way.
Since social media profiles are within reach at the touch of a button on your smartphone, this is of course not easy. However, for a blind date, this is the most important rule to avoid disappointing yourself. Otherwise, it would be like secretly peeking under the wrapping paper on Christmas Eve and then opening the present on Christmas Day with a guilty feeling and a fake smile. In other words: if you do not follow this rule, you will ruin the surprise and the dynamics of the first meeting . Only ask for the first name, telephone number and confirmation that it is someone who – according to the others – suits you. That is all you need to arrange a blind date.
If you follow the rules of a blind date, you can meet someone without the fantasies and assumptions that are based on incomplete information. You get to know the person in a way that you can’t on a dating app . Unlike text messages, you hear the voice and see the person in moving images. You know immediately who you are dealing with – that’s the charm of a blind date.
ALSO READ: 35 Playful Dates to Keep Your Relationship Alive
What is a blind date like?
In today’s world, there are virtually no real blind dates anymore. Unless your date lives under a rock and leaves no traces on the internet, you can find out a lot about someone on the internet. All you have to do to find out basic information about someone is Google their name. When you go on a blind date, that’s not the case.
The most important characteristic of a blind date is that both parties start with a clean slate. You know nothing about the other, the other knows nothing about you. This has advantages but also disadvantages. A blind date can evoke a mix of tension, nerves and excitement, depending on your experience with dating and the expectations you have of it.
Scenarios or not
A first date is uncertain. You don’t know what to expect, which makes you think of all kinds of scenarios in advance. In your mind, you have already played the date over and over again, while the actual date is not planned until the weekend. You think about what the other person might look like, how they will react when you meet, what to say and how to end the date if they are not your type. If you know yourself to be a ‘scenario thinker’, this can go both ways on a blind date.
Some people find that a blind date is less pressured and therefore less stressful than a regular date. The difference with a regular date is that you don’t have the same expectations. Or in other words: you don’t have high expectations of the person you’re going to meet. Others have a bit more trouble with a blind date, because the ‘not knowing’ makes them think even more in scenarios.
ALSO READ: One-Sided Relationship? 22 Signs It’s Coming from One Side
It can be uncomfortable
The most important aspect of the blind date itself is that it can be quite an awkward situation for both parties. Since you have never met the other person, you do not know what the other person looks like. In addition, you know almost nothing about the other person. The fact that you know nothing about each other can be awkward. Imagine walking up to a random person and starting a conversation. For introverts, this might be the last thing they want to do voluntarily.
A blind date can therefore be an awkward experience with awkward moments and awkward silences. Fortunately, you can always fall back on the person who brought you together. This way, you at least have a conversation starter ready to open the uncomfortable conversation.
ALSO READ: Is He The One? Not If He Does These 25 Things
7 tips for a blind date
Whether it’s a friend of a friend or an acquaintance of a colleague, blind dates are never easy. To better enjoy the blind date and have more success, here are some tips that can help you.
1. Don’t expect too much
A blind date is a normal meeting between two people. It does not mean that you will meet the love of your life right away or that it is love at first sight . Such a meeting is rare. Only a few people experience it – not during normal dates and therefore not on a blind date.
2. Don’t be too quick to judge
You can’t find out everything about a person during a first meeting. This is even more true for a blind date than for a normal date. So don’t be too quick to judge. Chemistry can grow. You can also find someone you don’t know more attractive if you get to know them better.
ALSO READ: Couples Have More in Common Than We Think’
3. Prepare yourself
It is harder to prepare when you don’t know someone yet. You don’t know what their interests are and what to talk about. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare. For example, you can go through a few questions that are important to you in advance. These questions can come in handy if you want to keep the conversation going.
4. Dress appropriately
A good first impression is crucial on a blind date. Make sure your clothes match what you are going to do, take the time to fix your hair and shower before the date. After all, it is not just about whether you find the other person attractive, but also about presenting yourself as attractive as possible.
5. Arrive on time
Nobody wants to wait long for a date. You don’t want that, the other person doesn’t want that. If you want to make a good impression , you want to arrive at the agreed location on time.
ALSO READ: 114 Best Date Ideas for First, Second and More Dates
6. Ask interesting questions
How are you, what do you do for work and what are your hobbies? If you have been asked these questions, do not get stuck on the superficial questions for too long. Although these questions give you more information about the person sitting opposite you, they do not give much insight into the personality. Therefore, ask more interesting and personal questions for an interesting conversation.
7. Be a listening ear
Asking questions shows that you care, but listening tells you everything. What you want to find out is if you have common interests. Do you laugh at the same things, have a similar sense of humor, and is there a match in lifestyle?
Overall, a blind date can be an exciting and interesting experience if you are open to new people and experiences. However, it can also be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. Despite all the challenges and obstacles, it is a chance to meet new people and challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. And every time you open yourself up to new contacts, you bring yourself closer to the love of your life.
P.S. Are you already following Gistinger.com on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter?