Because lockdown love could be the best love story of all.
The coronavirus pandemic has made single life and dating seriously evolve. We’ve had to reinvent ourselves by thinking outside the box and finding creative ways to connect with people and date virtually. The only good thing is that the pandemic has made online dating more acceptable. Video calls, online messages and socially distance walks are about the height of excitement during a lockdown. Though, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to date during lockdown in Christchurch, and what creative things you can do to connect with your date more.
1. Bumble
In 2021, Bumble reigns as the top dating app in New Zealand. It has a 97% success rate globally, where women are in charge of making the first move. Sound scary? Well, there is something empowering about a woman writing to a man first, and it takes away the traditional stigma that men should always make the first move. Bumble also has a section for meeting people in your industry and friends in your city.
2. Other Apps
For young women too scared to make the first move, Hinge or Tinder could be your best option. Hinge is technically for more serious relationships and love affairs, while Tinder has a reputation for hookups and casual meets, so if this isn’t what your looking for, you might be left hurt by a tinder-playing beast. Likewise, Moms For Flirt is another popular app in New Zealand, which is mainly for mature people, over 40s, looking for some flirtatious adventures and a great discussion. Equally, popular website Findsomeone has over 400,000 NZ-based members and NZDating is another website keeping mature singles happy.
3. LGBTQ+
One of the disadvantages of dating here is that many people are just after something casual. With lockdown looming, it could be a great way for you to start something serious by investing more time in a virtual relationship. For instance, Grindr is popular worldwide for single gay men, while paid dating website, EliteSingles helps gay women to find the perfect balance of love with a busy professional life.
4. Virtual First Dates
Say you’ve found someone you like on one of the dating websites, now it’s time to plan a virtual lockdown first date. Creative date ideas includes going for a walk together on camera, playing trivia games or a personality test to get to know each other better, while those who get nervous for first-dates, could suggest a cocktail-making competition or ordering the same takeout over a discussion paired with plenty of alcohol.
5. Further Dates
If your first date is lucky enough to get a second or third virtual date with you, this time you need to kick things up a notch. Opt to cook a meal together and see who has the best cooking skills, have a bake-off which will provide some epic laughs, order each other a delivery dinner without telling one another what was ordered, and watch comically as your lover must eat it, have a movie night on video, the list is endless. Be sure to do something creative and thought-provoking.
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6. Plan Ahead
Once you’ve realised you like the person you’ve been lockdown dating, it’s time to excitingly plan ahead for your first physical meeting. Lucky for you, we’ve already listed the Most Exciting And Memorable Date Ideas In Christchurch here.