If you're seeking a new partner and a meaningful relationship, the options for finding someone in 2024 appear to be dwindling and are far less abundant than they once were. Dating apps are officially in decline according to British Government statistics from Ofcom: Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr have all lost large numbers of users – with Tinder reporting the heaviest losses, with more than 600,000 people having defected away. Bumble’s loss of 280,000 users led to them having to issue a profits warning to their shareholders in August, with the consequence of a 30% crash in their share price.
The feedback from consumers is that they want to meet people in a more traditional way on a face-to-face basis, and many have turned to personal matchmaking companies, but with some London based companies like Raya and The League charging up to £35,000 according to The Times, and Mayfair-based Gray and Farrar up to £100,000 for their top headhunting product, we know that can only be for the mega wealthy. It certainly puts our own prices of £1,495 up to £5,995 in perspective, proving that if potential clients are prepared to look outside of London, then there are opportunities to be had, and RSVP really does offer outstanding value for money.
The question we must ask is, “Is there even better value for money out there?” The answer is a resounding yes, and it lies in a form of dating that’s often forgotten and overlooked. In truth, it’s one of the most successful methods for creating meaningful matches and delivering outstanding results—all while offering exceptional value to consumers. You may have already guessed: we’re talking about dating events — and they’re incredibly fun too!
Dating Event Opportunities: A Matchmaking Overview
We asked Mike Parker, formerly the owner of When the Music Stops and now Chairman of the Dating Options Group about his experience with dating events; how everything works, and why results are often very much ahead of the curve in terms of matches and introductions achieved. Says Mike “Many people seem to overlook dating events when searching for a new partner, and that in itself is an error as some wonderful successes have been achieved at our events over the years. Dating events seem to work incredibly well, quite simply as they have the significant advantage that you are able to check whether or not there is a spark and some chemistry with your fellow participants up front, which, for myself, and many others, is a fantastic advantage. Price also comes into play as attending events is often really inexpensive and offers fantastic value for money that can be rarely matched in other forms of dating.”
At RSVP, we hosted an array of delightful winter events during the fourth quarter of 2024, including:
- An art gallery visit and lunch in Central Manchester
- Crazy Golf and Lunch in Bella Italia in Nottingham
- Quad Biking Safari in Leicestershire
- A visit to Birmingham’s ‘Frankfurt’ Christmas Market
- Victorian Christmas at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire
- A Festive Christmas Wreath Making Workshop in Warwickshire
- Chocolate Tour and Christmas Market in York
- Black Tie Christmas Charity Ball in Rutland
RSVP Dating Events: What Makes Us Different?
One lovely aspect of RSVP events is that they are all carefully hosted by a member of our head office team or a senior member of the events group, and so are incredibly welcoming to all members, both established and new, which is something worth its weight in gold to many single people. So, you can attend the events with confidence and in the knowledge, you will be welcomed royally and integrated into the group.
During the year there is something truly for everyone to enjoy and we try to cater for all tastes and age groups. We have also worked on expanding our area of coverage in 2024 and will continue to expand that further in 2025 and beyond.
One of the most positive things we have done in 2024 is to appoint Hayley Vale as the RSVP Events Coordinator and Matchmaker. Hayley has taken to this role really well and has been a splendid addition to the RSVP team, putting her heart and soul into events particularly. Hayley was the Dating Options Matchmaker of the Year in 2022 and had been Runner Up in 2021, her first year in the industry, so Hayley taking over this role within RSVP has been quite a coup.
We asked Hayley, what she has enjoyed the most about taking on this role for RSVP. Says Hayley “I would say that the beauty behind events for me is that it opens members up to interacting with people who, ordinarily, they may not have come across or asked their matchmaker to match them with. It does push members slightly outside of their comfort zone, arriving to a destination with 6+ members that they have never met before, not knowing who is going to be there or how the event is going to pan out, but they have taken the chance to get out there and meet other, like minded people who share their interest for the same event.
I think that the events aspect of the RSVP Dating membership is a real perk as a lot of feedback that I have received has been that, ordinarily, that member would have sat in on a Friday night, with no plans, or that they have 'always wanted to go there' but never had the company. This opens up a whole new social scene to someone's life— something to look forward to, and both friendships and relationships are often made at events that continue long term or, on occasions, permanently.
In 2025 I am hoping to encourage members to attend events that they would not usually explore. With Platinum and Emerald memberships, they have free access to a limited number of events, so, why not try something new?
One of this year’s highlights was the RSVP summer ball that saw 60 members attend, including some members who haven't attended events since before Covid-19, and they realised how much they had missed going out. In 2025 we plan to host another ball, including all members from The Dating Options Group, as well as branch out into new areas of the country.”
So, there seems to be real scope available in the niche market of dating and singles events, and sadly now, very few companies operate there and are prepared to put the work in to plan, organise and run events of real quality; RSVP being the true exception to this.
How Exactly Do Dating Events Work?
We went back to Mike Parker to talk further about his knowledge of dating events and how they work. Mike continued “It has been great to see speed dating surge in popularity in 2023 and 2024, having initially entered the UK market way back in the early years of the new millennium. I am thrilled to see people like Speed Dater, Ditch or Date and Slow Dating enjoying success again, as this was always something that worked well and probably declined too quickly on the back of the launch of smartphone dating apps. To be able to check out that chemistry face to face, is something really powerful for participants and is something that other forms of dating can't match at the price of £20-£25. It is the same concept that we use at RSVP, although RSVP has never been in the market to offer speed dating and have tried to create a brand a little more upmarket—happier to create dinner parties, black tie balls, walks, dinner dances, drinks evenings etc, where small groups can gather and meet face to face, but away from that rigid speed dating concept and the fast-paced image that the name creates and implies. Discretion and confidentiality have also been important to RSVP members over the years, and that has also been high on our agendas, and that won’t ever change. We feel we have the balance right at the present time.”
Mike continues “As the owner of When the Music Stops, I was aware of RSVP and other highbrow dating brands, such as The Dinner Club and the quality way in which they operated. I viewed them as a little more discerning and upmarket than our speed dating competitors. They had the same advantage of being built around face-to-face gatherings to enable people to meet in that more traditional environment, but with that higher degree of confidentiality and discretion, so that predominantly, others wouldn’t know they were a singles group. To me it looked the best of both worlds. So, to get the chance in 2021 to purchase RSVP and its long history of success was really quite a dream come true, and I feel tremendously proud that a company that was first launched way back in 1992 is part of the Dating Options Group and has become our events arm. That still gives me a sense of considerable pride today, and as a veteran of running more than 1,000 events personally over the years, I do see incredible potential within RSVP as we spread our wings and create a true national entity. We have made exceptionally good progress with Hayley at the helm as Events Coordinator in 2024 and can see excellent scope for further expansion in 2025 and beyond. I am proud of not only the RSVP brand, but our team as well.”
Dating Events: Final Thoughts, and How RSVP Can Help You
The final word on RSVP and dating events goes to Kerry Whitehouse, our longest serving team member. Says Kerry “We have some amazing success stories over the years that I have been privileged to witness. Many members have met their partners through our events, and I have been part of some wonderful connections, that have ignited over a Sunday lunch or a walk on a crisp winter morning. I think that we all have an idea about the type of partner we might like to meet, and yet the reality is that the only tangible way we can test if there is true chemistry, is to meet up in person.
Our events allow like-minded, vetted clients to enjoy an activity, or try something new without the pressure of a one-to-one date, and we see people at their most relaxed. Having fun and an enjoyable time in itself makes us more attractive. Over the years, we have certainly seen some highly likely pairings come together, but also some less obvious, where couples have just struck it off and got to know each other a little better. We have also had some real wildcards too on more than one occasion! I have always felt passionate about the events for this very reason, increasing your opportunities to meet someone special whilst also having a great morning or afternoon, or a lovely evening!
So, RSVP Dating and our events have been a real success story in 2024, and we approach the New Year of 2025 with much confidence. We believe that dating events are still very much on our client's agendas currently, and that 2025 will give us the room to develop them further, adding a new mix of events, and to include new areas of the country too. We would like to see RSVP events and personal introductions operating in most major cities around the UK, and give all of our dating members the chance to attend in their own location.
If you have any questions about RSVP Dating or how we work, then we are always happy to take them, and Kerry Whitehouse has been answering them in her own friendly manner, without obligation for more than 15 years. That longevity makes RSVP stand out from the crowd in dating, personal matchmaking, and events circles. Since our formation in 1992, we have consistently proven our value and reliability, establishing a strong foundation long before many of today’s larger dating platforms emerged. So, please feel free to phone us for help or advice on 0800 774 7700, or complete our contact form and we will come back to you within 24 working hours, and often a lot quicker. We would love to hear from you!
