How to Have a Real-Life Meet-Cute: 5 Tips from a Relationship Expert
Whether you’ve seen them in your favourite rom-coms or read about them in BookTok’s latest obsession, you’re exposed to fictional meet-cutes all the time.
Meet-cutes, the infamous situations where two people meet in unusual or serendipitous circumstances, can seem like a thing of the past - but is it still possible to meet someone in real life?
Here at KMA Therapy, we know you want relationship advice from the best of the best. For over 15 years, we’ve connected our clients and community with experts in their fields to get insightful and helpful tips to build better relationships.
In this article, dating and relationship expert, therapist Kimberly Moffit, shares five great tips to help you find the relationship you’ve been searching for.
5 Datings Tips to Help You Have a Real-Life Meet-Cute
These days, it can feel harder than ever to meet someone in person. While dating apps can be convenient, they can also be difficult to navigate.
It can be difficult to know how compatible you are with someone based on a few grainy pictures and some short, uninspired prompts (no, it’s not groundbreakingly controversial to say pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza.)
These five dating tips from relationship expert Kimberly Moffit can help you find real love in real life.
1. Get off of dating apps
Obviously, if you want a meet-cute in real life, you won’t be meeting them on a dating app.
But instead of redownloading Hinge again just in case your dream partner is on there, Kimberly Moffit suggests deleting the apps all together.
“It sounds counterintuitive,” shares Moffit, “But apps can give a false sense of security and turn your radar OFF when you’re out in the real world.”
If you have a phone full of matches in your back pocket, you’re less likely to slide that cute barista your number as you grab your drink.
Apps can feel like a safety blanket (and we’ve all been guilty of using them as a confidence boost before quickly deleting them again) - but if you want to find your person in real-life, you need to commit to meeting people offline.
2. Take advantage of strength in numbers
The next time you’re hanging out with a big group of friends, extend the invitation a little further and open up the opportunity for more people to come along.
You never know when you might hit it off with your friend’s cousin from out of town, or your high school friend’s hot college roommate.
“Group hangouts open up the opportunity for many connections, including friendships, to form within the group,” notes Moffit.
Whether you want to spend the day tossing a frisbee in the park or spend the night going out to a club, keep yourself open to making new connections.
3. Find extra ways to build connections
Speaking of group hangouts, it never hurts to add a little something extra to make the event special and help yourself stand out.
“Bring yummy, shareable food to group events,” shares Kimberly Moffit. “This facilitates in-person connection.”
Bring a specialty drink to your friend’s birthday party or homemade cookies to their picnic for an extra topic of discussion (and an extra opportunity to reach for the last one at the same time as your crush.)
4. Be bold
When you see someone who looks straight out of the pages of your favourite romance book, don’t be afraid to make your meet-cute happen for yourself.
If you see someone cute on your next coffee run, ask if they have time to drink your coffee together.
“The ‘at the moment’ approach is exhilarating and fun but still casual and allows you to get to know the person,” shares Kimberly.
Don’t be afraid to be bold when looking for love!
5. Just have fun
Even after you’ve met your dream partner in the check-out line of your favourite grocery store, the pressure to turn a meet-cute into a full-blown relationship can be overwhelming.
Dating can feel daunting when you expect every date to be worthy of a rom-com.
“Focus on fun, low-pressure first dates instead of huge elaborate outings,” shares Kimberly Moffitt.
You also don’t need to walk into every date with the intention of meeting your soulmate. Instead of worrying about whether the potential love of your life will like you back, focus on having a fun time with a new person.
You don’t need to spend a ton of money to have a great date, either. Something low-budget, like grabbing a cup of coffee and walking around a scenic park, can be a fantastic way to get to know someone.
Next Steps for Finding Your Dream Relationship
After reading this article, you know five ways to meet someone great in real life.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know relationships can be complicated - and they can start to feel daunting before you’re even in one.
Our experienced relationship therapists are here to help you understand how you think, feel, and act in relationships, and create a customized therapy plan to help you get the fulfilling relationship you deserve.
Register online for more information or take our free Attachment Styles Quiz to learn more about how you behave in relationships.
If you’d prefer to keep reading, check out these articles we’ve chosen for you:
- Can Relationship Counselling Help if I’m Single?
- How Does Your Attachment Style Affect Your Relationships?
- What is the Orange Peel Theory? (& 3 Things It Says About Your Relationship)
About the Author
Emily Weatherhead has a Masters in Community Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University, where her research focused on improving post-secondary student mental health. She is passionate about finding new ways to make mental health research more accessible and break down the barriers that prevent people from receiving mental health care.
