How to find ‘The One’ without the endless swiping of modern dating

IF ‘window-shopping’ for love online has left you cold, take heart. This Sydney company is taking romance back to its unfiltered basics — and it’s working.

Soiree Events is a Bondi-based social experiences company offering modern dating with a twist. Picture: Supplied

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IF ‘window-shopping’ online for love has left you cold, take heart. You can still find ‘The One’ without the endless swiping of modern dating.

A Sydney social experiences company is taking romance back to basics, reviving the dinner party as a way for singles to mingle.

Paddy Millington Buck and Suz Klean started the roaming three-course dinner parties Sydney Soiree to break people out of their online dating bubbles. It’s been so successful, they’ve just celebrated their first wedding.

“There’s been a real growth of our company predominantly because people are getting fatigued online — Tinder, Happn, Bumble, it’s not real life connections,” Paddy said.

“What Sydney Soiree does is that human interaction, that face-to-face connection, which we really actively encourage and which is why it works so well in a dating sense.”

Hosts prepare a three-course meal and stay in one location while guest groups provide the wine and travel to three host locations for a different course.

For the jaded singleton, there’s a lot to recommend a Sydney Soiree.

Firstly, you don’t have to go it alone. Participants sign up as a group of four (men or women) to become either hosts or guests. Hosts prepare a three course meal, while guests provide the wine and are chauffeured between host houses for a different course, each lasting 1.5 hours.

So during an evening, your group of girlfriends, for example, will enjoy a course at three homes with three groups of guys. That’s up to 12 potential matches.

“Ultimately we don't exclusively market ourselves as a single event but the reality is, it does appeal more to single market because you’re meeting 12 people that you’ve never met before,” he says. “What we do find is some girls and guys will go on the events to ‘wingman’ their friends because it’s as much about the dating experience as it is about spending time with your mates.”

Soirée Events combines a love of food, wine and socialising and creates a unique experience that’s great for meeting new people or finding ‘the one’.

Sydney Soirees are held every four months with up to 300 people taking part at dinner parties across the city. An after-party is thrown at the end for all guests, providing another opportunity for sparks to fly.

The average age range is 27-35 and participants are mainly working professionals, however older age ranges have now started signing up.

NEED TO KNOW

● Sydney Soiree is organised once every 4 months (Feb, May, Aug, Dec)

● Typically 300 + guests take part (70+ groups/12 + individual dinner parties)

● Which gender hosts (in their own home) is alternated for each event

● Typically Eastern Suburbs/City based

● No individual tickets are sold, groups of 4 only

● The dinner party runs from 6pm – 10.15pm. The after-party 10.30pm – late

● The company matches groups based on age, profession, and their personality and interests reflected on Facebook profiles.

● Sydney Soiree is not exclusively a “singles event”, anyone and anyone can take part in their group (as long as suitable group matches can be found)

● Contact [e-mail] or 0421 204 131