By Kristin Sokol - Director of Online Dating Strategy
General Conference weekend is inspiring for everyone, but for singles it means more than just spiritual nourishment; it’s a conglomeration of the dating pool and an opportunity to meet faith-centered men or women.
Here’s five creative ways YOU could find the love of your life during General Conference weekend.
1. Go alone to the conference center. It may sound strange, but showing up alone allows you to sit anywhere. Put yourself next to (or near) a person you find attractive. Before you sit, scan for wedding rings or obvious signs of commitment. Double your chances of meeting someone by filling a seat gap and having people on both sides.
If you end up next to a married person, don’t worry. Work into a conversation that you’re trying to meet faith-centered people and hoped this would be a good opportunity. Chances are they have a single friend they could introduce you to. Married couples are highly motivated to match make their friends.
Don’t have a ticket? Don’t worry. Call your Bishop or put a plea out to your friends on facebook. One ticket should be an easy score. If you can’t find one, don’t fret. Hit up the standby line and enjoy another opportunity to meet likeminded singles, just choose your line carefully.
2. Throw a Priesthood session after-party. Who could resist a good time after-party on Saturday night? Make it an ice cream social, minute-to-win-it extravaganza, dance party, karaoke night, etc.
Send the invitation to your social media friends asking them to invite one other friend or relative of the opposite sex (preferable someone you don’t know). Have a sign-in at the door so you can friend interesting prospects on social media afterward.
Often the love of your life is only two degrees of separation from you. Even if your future spouse doesn’t come, meeting his or her friend is very useful!
3. Administer a dating survey. By yourself or with friends, create a short LDS dating survey. Make your questionnaire a short screener to see if participants might be a match for you or a friend.
Be near the grounds of the Conference Center when the Conference (or Priesthood session) lets out. Approach people who you think would make a great date for you or one of your friends. Introduce yourself and ask them to take the survey.
Sample questions ideas include: personality type, silly LDS pop culture, past relationship or ideal date related questions. Be sure to ask name, age, marital status and contact info.
If they answer to your satisfaction make the final question include an invitation for a milkshake, smoothie or an introduction to a friend.
4. Host a +1 conference viewing buffet. Send an invite to your friends on social media for a conference viewing buffet where each invited guest brings a friend or relative of the opposite sex.
This can be a breakfast or lunch buffet. Pot luck is fine if you don’t feel like feeding 25 people yourself. Collect names and emails offering to send recipes for those interested. Use that info to connect with interesting singles after your gathering.
Spending several hours together being fed physically and spiritually is a great way to widen social circles and get know new people.
5. Utilize Bold Eye Contact. If a faith-centered person is tops on your list, a General Conference session is a pretty great place to meet someone who values faith in their life. Be on the grounds of Temple Square or the Conference Center during any or all sessions.
Make bold eye contact with those who are attractive to you. Don’t be afraid to let your look linger a bit longer into a smile or even a coy wink. Send a strong non-verbal invitation to approach and let the spirit direct from there.
“Chance” meetings can and do happen. Online dating is very effective at helping people meet, but it’s NOT making ALL the matches these days. Never underestimate the power of being in the right place at the right time.
Tune in to KSL Radio to hear The LDS Matchmaker Team with Amy Iverson answering your questions between conference sessions this weekend!
About the author: Kristin Sokol is the Director of Online Dating Strategy for The LDS Matchmaker. She’s also a published author and contributor for KSL and the Deseret Digital Media family. She’s made many guest appearances on KSL Radio and TV. Kristin met her awesome husband Steve as a result of Online dating more than a decade ago. Together they have two beautiful daughters.
Tags: #love, #life, #date, #dating, #conference