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Calling all singles: Love awaits you at this new matchmaking event.

In a digital age, it can be hard to come across love at first sight – but with Connect Social Central Coast, that’s about to change. True love is now easier to find thanks to the new speed dating business taking off across the region. No longer will photo-led dating apps, awkward catfishing and small talk online dominate romantic tales of the modern age.

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Speed Dating Central Coast

It’s time to reignite the burning desire for seeking authentic connections in person and building a lifelong relationship with your soulmate.
“It’s about bringing people together so that they don’t feel lonely or isolated. They have opportunities to make friendships and find a relationship,” Connect Social’s founder Lisa Longobardi told Coasties.
“It’s better than internet dating because you’re actually getting a feel for people. You can’t pick up a vibe online.”

After embarking on her own love journey a few years ago, Lisa became troubled by the fact that she had to travel long distances to find events. Scaling the Coast to attend them in Newcastle and Sydney wasn’t an ideal situation as a working, single mum, ultimately giving rise to the idea of launching her own matchmaking business. It was buried as a mere thought, due to the busyness of everyday life, before being revived in 2021 following an injury that put her job on pause.

“There was nothing on the Central Coast for single people,” Lisa said.
“Since then, I sat on the idea and was like ‘this needs to happen’.” And so, it did. Connect Social Central Coast held its first two speed dating events in March 2022 at Holgate’s Bamboo Buddha with much success.

Connect Social Central Coast

Sessions are two hours long with 12 to 20 singles – gender balance guaranteed – who chat for five-to-seven minutes, one-on-one.
There is a short break in the middle where food is provided, and all attendees have two drinks included in their ticket. The events are designed to target age groups that fall between 10 to 15 years apart to ensure people get the best opportunity to meet a compatible partner.

Singles as young as 20 years old to those aged 70 years or more can participate, and there are events for LGBTIQA+, disabilities and all abilities – so everyone is welcome. Ultimately, Lisa wants “everyone to have a really good time” and walk away with genuine, long-lasting connections.

“With speed dating, people can be really nervous, so we do some ice breakers at the start. They’re really fun and it allows people to have a giggle,” she said.
“I want to match people up for love, but friendships are also made. It’s about building that sense of community and knowing you’re not alone.”

Lisa’s favourite moment following a speed dating session is letting participants know when they’ve found a match, which is determined if both people – without the other knowing – tick ‘yes’ to seeing each other again. Contact details are exchanged, and newfound love begins to blossom, giving her the greatest comfort in knowing that Connect Social Central Coast is serving its purpose.

“The feedback I receive is that people feel comfortable and safe,” she said.
“There is still a negative stigma associated with speed dating, which I’m trying to break. In reality, people who do it are genuinely looking for in-person connections. They have had enough of internet dating and are brave enough to try something new.”

Lisa has witnessed a speed dating comeback with a significant uptake in tickets, especially with the ladies – so men, please don’t be shy!

‘Single mingle’ events are $25 and speed dating costs $39 to $45 depending on the venue.

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