We love online dating! There are many benefits to meeting someone online. However, there are a lot of disadvantages to finding someone on a dating app. Some people have had bad luck with online dating and don’t want to deal with it anymore.
We get these questions A LOT:
“How do I find someone without dating apps?”
“How can I find a man without online dating?”
“Where are places that I can meet people that aren’t a dating app?”
“How can I meet women offline?”
Places To Meet People That Don’t Require Online Dating Apps
To help you out, we found out where real couples met that weren’t on online dating sites. We found that most people met organically at school, work, parties, and online activities that weren’t focused on dating. There were also a ton that DID meet online (just in case you were wondering). Hopefully, this list gives you some inspiration for where you can start looking for your special person.
The biggest takeaway from our research was that you can meet the love of your life anywhere! It doesn’t have to be somewhere special or unique. You can find true love in a bar, in a parking lot, or at a friend’s birthday party. Just keep your eyes and mind open to new possibilities.

100 Ways Real Couples Met Each Other
- While in high school
- At a coffee shop
- At a bar
- Where one of them worked
- Lived in the same apartment building
- At work
- At a dance club
- During a house party
- It was their sibling’s friend
- At a wedding
- While attending a concert
- While online gaming
- During kickball league
- In elementary school
- Set up by a friend
- At a library
- Line dancing
- At a costume party
- Playing in a marching band
- While traveling abroad
- An online forum
- At a Christmas party
- On a blind date
- Playing rugby
- Through DeviantArt
- Friend of an ex
- Playing Dungeons and Dragons
- At a truck stop
- Doing karate
- While volunteering
- At Comic-Con
- At a friend’s birthday party
- LAN gaming center
- On a film set
- In a smoking area
- At a baseball game
- During a golf tournament
- They were roommates
- At a Japanese fall festival
- Their best friend was dating the other’s sibling
- Wave Gothic Festival
- In a tattoo shop
- Grew up on the same street
- In a cave (during Caving Club)
- At a Doctor Who club
- On the bus
- At college/university
- They were lab partners
- On Twitter
- On World of Warcraft
- While attending summer school
- At band camp (seriously)
- At a music festival
- His boss set him up with his daughter
- In a hot tub
- A networking event
- On a train ride
- At the grocery store
- They lived by a family member
- In a Creed fan chatroom
- On a field trip
- While playing pool
- At the arcade
- At the beach
- They got into a car accident
- At an acting class
- Attending a soccer game
- In Theater Club
- In church choir
- On a plane
- At summer camp
- Performing in a play together
- During Oktoberfest
- His mom met her and told her to look him up
- While studying abroad
- Worked at different places in the mall
- In a support group
- He was her tutor
- While out at a restaurant
- On a cruise
- Playing lacrosse
- She was his nurse in the hospital
- In a parking lot
- At the lake
- While fishing
- He was her handyman
- At church
- At a cooking class
- During a cornhole tournament
- At a wine tasting
- While hiking
- In a parenting group
- At the veterinarian’s office
- While clothes shopping
- At a swimming pool
- During a game night at a brewery
- Playing bingo
- While camping
- While speed dating
- Chess Club
Tips For Meeting Someone Offline
We came across a lot of great tips while researching where real people have met their significant other. Here are some that you can use to help you find your special someone without having to use a dating app.
- Join a club based on your hobbies. You might meet someone with the same interests as you.
- Go to parties you’re invited to. A lot of people met their significant other at parties thrown by their friends.
- Say yes to social invitations that get you out of your normal social circles. You never know when you’re going to meet someone.
- If you see someone you’re interested in, take a chance and talk to them. Otherwise, you might miss out on a great opportunity to meet them.
- You never know at what point you’ll meet the one you’re with forever. Don’t downplay relationships that start as early as elementary school.
- Don’t let distance hold you back. Plenty of couples met online (not through dating apps) and while traveling and eventually ended up together.
Meeting Someone Offline FAQ
What is the alternative to online dating?
The alternative to dating online is to meet people in person. You can do this by looking within your social circles and getting out and doing new things.
Is online dating the only way to meet someone?
No, online dating is not the only way to meet someone. Dating sites have many benefits, but you don’t have to use them to find your person. There are plenty of ways to meet someone offline. Use the list above to get some ideas.
How can I meet singles naturally?
Yes, you can meet other singles naturally. Many people meet organically through different social events and friends. You don’t have to be actively searching for a date to meet other people.
How do you date if you hate online dating?
If you hate online dating, you can date the old-fashioned way. Talk to people you are interested in when you see them out and about. If the conversation goes well, you can ask them out in person.
Where do most couples meet?
We found that most of the couples who shared where they met, met through school, work, parties, and online activities that weren’t focused on dating.
How can I increase my chances of meeting someone offline?
The best way to increase your chances of meeting someone is to get out there and do new things. The more you’re out and about, the more chances you have to meet someone. Say yes to social invitations and keep an eye out for people who seem interesting.
Conclusion
Meeting someone offline can seem difficult. However, if you keep your eyes open and get out and about, you have a good chance of meeting someone organically. To give you some inspiration, we found 100 ways that real couples met each other offline. So, just know there is hope for you if you’re wanting to steer clear of dating apps. Good luck!