Beginning with A, here are some of the #MetOnCC date ideas that could work for your next date!
#MetOnCC date ideas – A
Afternoon tea
It’s a classic for a reason! Who doesn’t love take a leisurely couple of hours to bond over a shared love of cake and a pot of tea? For Helen and Ralph it was the first meeting that started a lasting relationship.
“He was there waiting for me, and has been there for me ever since. We had tea and cakes. He dropped me home. We had a little hug. And the rest is history; nearly 20 years of it so far.” – Helen and Ralph
Read Helen and Ralph’s story here
For Alan and Jayne, their first date of a river trip and afternoon tea followed online bible studies when they weren’t able to meet in person.
“We went on a boat ride along the canal and had afternoon tea.” – Alan and Jayne
Read Alan and Jayne’s story here
An abbey visit
Photo by Mario La Pergola on Unsplash
Visiting a historical site, particularly one with Christian links, can be a great date – lots to look at as you walk around, and plenty to talk about. Churches, cathedrals and abbeys are packed with interesting features. That’s what Mike and Rebecca found when they first met.
“We met up and had an amazing date which was virtually all day ! We met up and spent ages chatting in St Albans Abbey Cathedral.” – Mike and Rebecca.
The abbey made such an impression, they built it into their wedding plans! “We are having photos outside the abbey afterwards where we had our first date!”
Read Mike and Rebecca’s story here
Adventures!
When couples find they have a love of adventure in common, anything could happen!
For Jen and Will, their love of exploring began with their first date:
“Our first ‘date’ turned out to be a lot more eventful than we’d planned! A quiet bushwalk took an interesting turn when we were confronted with a flooded river crossing and very few options. For a pair of very conservative people, William’s decision to strip down to his jocks and carry me (and his clothes) across the river raised quite a few eyebrows!”
“But it was the sort of shared experience that you don’t forget easily, and we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our day together without a hint of awkwardness. I remember William commenting at the time that if we do get married that’ll be a story to tell at the wedding. And it was!”
“We got engaged, 13 adventures later, on Boxing Day. By that point we had gotten lost in the bush together, got bogged, broken an ankle, and made at least one mad dash for the border before it closed. We felt it was safe to conclude that we do adventures together pretty well!” – Jen and Will
Read Jen and Will’s story here
#MetOnCC date ideas – B
Board game café
James “I found a really cool place. It’s a cafe. But they have like board games and card games…. I thought you know what, like, I want to do something different. I don’t want to go out for something to eat or go to the cinema or you know, I want to do something different. Where it’s light hearted. We can talk we can have a laugh.”
Victoria “It was so fun, wasn’t it? … you can choose all these games and James is like chess, and I was like Connect four for me this is kind of where the calibre here… I thought James was a proper geek like I was sat there and I remember thinking like he’s really geeky but I like you.”
Watch James and Victoria talk about their Christian Connection love story here
Bowling
If you want to be bowled over on a first date, there’s a simple way to do it! Whether you rein in your competitive side or not,
“We met in this bowling alley in London. It was a Friday night there we were trying to have a very romantic first date with blaring music from the Bee Gees and Pet Shop Boys!” – Elizabeth & Pieter
Thankfully they persevered, and got in touch to share a beautiful wedding picture!
Read Elizabeth and Pieter’s story here
David and Jessica shared their #MetOnCC love story from the very start to what is now nearly 20 years of marriage. Maybe that trip to the bowling alley was a great foundation!
“Our first date lasted nearly 6 hours as we got to know each other over coffee, a walk, lunch and going bowling!” – David and Jessica
Read David and Jessica’s story here
Boating
Debbie and Pete first connected on CC and after a successful first date on the water, their whirlwind romance developed!
“Our first date was at the boating lake in Portsmouth and things quickly developed from there. Within just a week we both kind of knew where things were going because it just felt so right and we knew that God had drawn us together.” – Debbie & Pete
Beach walk
Kate and Philip chose to first meet on a beach for a windswept walk. On her first first date in 30 years after being widowed, Kate and Philip found an immediate connection: “we walked and talked on that large expanse of beach beneath the huge golden sky. We discussed dogs and walking and the difficult years we had each endured. ”
Their immediate connection continued to involve the great outdoors! Kate said: “Philip is exactly right for me. He loves God, dogs, words, juvenile humour and walking. As a wedding present, at my request, he gave me a beautiful pair of Le Chameau wellington boots.”
Read more of Kate and Philip’s story here
#MetOnCC date ideas – C
Cycling
If the fresh air and some exercise appeals, make sure you add this to your bio! Whatever you enjoy, it’s so much easier to be found by someone who shares your passions if you spell it out on your profile. For Martine and Rob, their shared love of cycling meant a very active first date.
“We both like to cycle so our first date was a 30 miles bike ride. We stopped for lunch and tea and cake, of course. That first date was a lot of fun.” – Martine and Rob
Read Martine and Rob’s story here
Country walks
“Most of our early dates consisted of picnic lunches and walks in the countryside.” – Emma and Sam
Meeting outdoors set the tone for Emma and Sam’s early relationship. Taking a picnic and exploring at whatever pace suits you both can be a relaxing way to get to know each other better.
Watch Emma and Sam talk about their #MetOnCC story
Church
Of course, there’s always the option to put your faith in the centre of your first date and meet at a church service. For Eve and Radu it was the start of a lasting connection.
“We talked over text about our faith and arranged to meet the next week at All Souls Church, Langham Place. As soon as we met (in Costa coffee), I knew he was so different than anyone I had ever met, just as gorgeous in real life as on the site, and full of the Holy Spirit- he brought his Bible along and we discussed our favourite passages!” – Eve and Radu
Whatever you do when you meet in person for a first date – or any date! – check out our archive of date idea blogs. We’ll be adding more #MetOnCC date ideas too. Tried and tested suggestions to make connecting easy and fun.
Inspired to start dating? Find out more about Christian Connection and how to join here
