Gold Coast speed dating concept to cultivate meaningful relationships

If your love life is dry like a desert, this story’s for you. A new speed dating concept is hoping to plant the seeds for a more meaningful relationship by taking dating back to grassroots — literally.

DOES your dating life “succ”?

Do you wish there was a soulmate out there who shared your fondness for desert plants?

You need succulent speed dating.

Hosted by Gold Coast Succulents and Arthaus, the spiky social event is coming to Mermaid Beach bar Apres Surf on Wednesday night to help green thumbs meet up over a succulent bowl workshop.

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Succulent speed dating is an event where single people invited to a speed dating event where you create a succulent bowl and bond over your love of succulents. Cindy Winter from Mermaid Beach and Marty Pundyk bond over a bowl at Apres Surf at Mermaid Beach. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Arthaus concept creator Tara Hogan said the idea was cultivated after Gold Coast Succulents business owner Liam Higgins began hosting workshops at her warehouse.

“We thought it would be cool to combine our two projects,” Ms Hogan said.

“We definitely want people to hook up and get together and share their love of succulents.”

Mr Higgins said the event would give plant lovers a place to meet and bond over their fondness of the drought resistant and often fleshy plants. Many, like the cactus varieties, are spiky — but organisers are hoping that instead of things getting prickly, speed daters have an evening of harmony.

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Time to bond over your love of plants. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“If we get two succulent lovers together, that would be awesome,” he said.

“I think if you’re the type of person that can nurture and work on a plant, it’s certainly going to work to grow and nurture your relationship.”

Mr Higgins said the workshop was an opportunity for people to get back to grassroots introductions, without mobile phones and Tinder.

Gold Coast trend expert Stephen Holden said the speed dating night could be evidence of a world tired of dating apps and wanting something more meaningful.

“People have realised that they’re looking for love, not a hook-up. I think they (succulent speed dating organisers) have got it right,” Mr Holden said.

“I look at Tinder and it is to love what fast food is to nutrition. If you want something a little more satisfying, something like this is a good one.”

On arrival, singles are given a drink, snacks and an empty container with materials and plants at each station to create a succulent bowl.

At the end of the evening, patrons will take home a fully constructed succulent bowl and hopefully a new succulent soulmate.

If succulents aren’t your thing, don’t worry — Arthaus has a series of weird and wonderful speed dating nights planned.

“We just had Speed Dating Against Humanity … we’ve got another double denim dating night. There’s so many concepts which are going to happen,” Ms Hogan said.