The holidays are almost here! You can almost smell Christmas in the air (it might be all of the fir-scented candles, but whatever), and the stores are packed with shoppers—and so are online dating apps where people are shopping for a significant other!
There are so many cozy nights to be had with holiday movie marathons and peppermint-flavored everything, and singles are looking to mingle. But dating can be hard this time of year! How do you balance your dating life with family dinners, office parties, and so many other festive traditions?
We put together a guide that will be your definitive go-to on how to be more successful at online dating during the holidays. It doesn’t matter if you’re frantically swiping for a NYE date or hoping to meet someone who makes you want to buy matching ugly Christmas sweaters—it can be done. From picking the right dating app to creative date ideas, here’s how to sleigh (get it?) your online dating game this festive season!
Understanding the Holiday Dating Landscape
Yes, the holidays bring joy and cheer, and with those emotions comes a big uptick in dating app activity. The cold weather ushers in the cuffing season, and it’s sprinkled with a little holiday magic. But why exactly is that?
Increased Activity
It’s a fact: dating apps see a huge spike in usage from late November through New Year’s Day. People have more time off, the festive vibes are contagious, and, who wants to hear from their relatives that they should find a boyfriend or girlfriend or be interrogated about why they’re still single?
Seasonal Motivations
The holidays can be equal parts heartwarming and emotionally charged—some of us want companionship to ward off seasonal loneliness, which is a very real thing, and others are just itching to share their fav holiday traditions like building gingerbread houses or singing Christmas carols on a karaoke machine. And then there are all of the parties—what’s better than showing up with a date on your arm to make the office gossip a little more bearable?
Cuffing Season Phenomenon
Hello cuffing season! This is the time when people are craving short-term relationships so they can get through the colder months and holiday chaos without having to go it alone. Look, not everyone’s looking for “forever” right now, but if you get this seasonal kind of mindset, it can help you manage your relationship expectations.
Choosing the Right Dating App for the Holidays
Depending on what you are looking for, you need to know where to look—especially during the holidays! Finding the right dating app for you all depends on what you’re looking for.
Assessing Your Goals
Are you looking for someone to roast chestnuts with and then bounce when Jan. 2 rolls around or do you want a long-term relationship that lasts until the next holiday season? Knowing what your dating goals are makes it so much easier to pick the right app!
Our Top App Recommendations
- eharmony: If you want a long-term romantic relationship, eharmony was literally made for this. You can read our eharmony review to see if it’s the best fit!
- Elite Singles: This dating platform is best for both sides of the coin—you can find long-term and seasonal connections, and it’s made for professionals. Want to know more about this elite app? Read our complete Elite Singles Review.
- Christian Mingle: This dating app is the best of the best for faith-based dating during the special season. Find out more in our Christian Mingle Review!
Feature Highlights
Keep a close eye out for apps that have holiday-specific features. Some, like Hinge and Bumble, will have festive prompts like “What’s your favorite holiday movie?” or what’s your “All-Time Favorite Christmas tradition?” Other platforms, like Tinder, focus more on location-based matching, which means it’s easier to connect with people who are in your area—they might even be going to the same holiday events!
Optimizing Your Online Dating Profile for the Festive Season
Your dating profile is basically like your annual holiday card—it’s the first impression you send out to all of your potential matches, so you should make sure it’s a memorable one!
Seasonal Photos
Think chunky, cozy sweaters, snowy backdrops, or posing with a mug of hot cocoa by a fireplace. You get extra points if you have a pic with your pet, and level up if you and your dog have matching festive sweaters.
Profile Updates
Talk about all of your favorite holiday activities, whether that’s decorating the tree, watching Elf 24/7, or baking and decorating Christmas cookies. This makes it a lot easier for matches to start up conversations!
Crafting Engaging Bios
Add something festive to your dating profile bio! You could say something like, “Looking for someone to argue with over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie” is fun and shows off a little of your personality. And Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie.
Effective Communication Strategies
The holidays have no shortage of conversation starters, so there’s really no excuse for dull or ho-hum chats.
Holiday Icebreakers
Get the ball rolling with any one of these holiday conversation starters:
- “What’s the absolute worst gift you’ve ever gotten?”
- “Eggnog: Yes please or get that gross concoction away from me?”
- “If you could only watch one holiday movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?”
Maintaining Engagement
Talk about upcoming holiday plans, your favorite traditions, or any New Year’s resolutions you swear you are going to fulfill this coming year. Sharing nostalgic or funny holiday stories will go a long way in keeping the conversation fun.
Setting Expectations
Be upfront about what you’re looking for—is it more of a casual holiday companion or do you want to start something long-term? Whatever it is, being honest will keep things super clear and stress-free.
Planning Safe and Memorable Holiday Dates
The holiday season is brimming with date ideas that one-up the usual dinner and drinks. Look below for some of the best Christmas Date Ideas!
Virtual Date Ideas
- Watch a holiday classic like Elf, A Christmas Story, or Love Actually together over Zoom.
- Have a gingerbread house decorating contest and compare your creations over FaceTime.
- Have an online holiday trivia night, or take a holiday-themed virtual cooking class together!
In-Person Dates
- Wander around a local holiday market, soak up the festive atmosphere, and maybe get each other little gifts.
- Go ice skating—falling over together is an instant, and hopefully not literal, icebreaker.
- Take a walk through neighborhoods that have over-the-top holiday light displays.
Safety First
Always meet in public spaces and let someone you trust know what your plans are. And, if you’re feeling extra cautious this season, you can stick to public outdoor or virtual activities.
Navigating Common Holiday Dating Challenges
The holidays can be a wonderful time for dating, but they can come with some hiccups that make you feel like you had a little too much alcoholic cider.
Managing Expectations
Not every holiday romance will turn into a long-term relationship, so try just to enjoy the moments you have together and don’t pile on the pressure.
Balancing Schedules
Finding time for dates amid family commitments, holiday shopping, and work events can feel impossible. Pro tip: quality beats quantity. Even a short coffee date can turn into something promising!
Dealing with Holiday Stress
Feeling like you are gonna lose it? Take a breather. Watch your fav holiday movie, go for a walk, or treat yourself to something indulgent. A happy you is the best you.
Real-Life Success Stories
If you’re wondering whether online dating during the holidays actually works, we found some real-life tales that might make you believe in Santa Claus.
- Brittany and Thomas’s Holiday Connection: Brittany and Thomas met on Upward in November. After a brief oopsie (missed message—we’ve all been there), Brittany reached out again after Christmas. Sparks flew, and the rest was history. From their first date in January to their wedding in May, their love story is proof that timing really is everything.
- Ken and Jane’s Long-Distance Romance: Ken and Jane met online during the pandemic. With travel restrictions keeping them apart, they bonded over marathon Zoom calls. Jane finally visited Ken during the Christmas holidays, and their relationship blossomed. They’re now happily married, showing that love knows no distance.
- Nina and Jessie’s New Year’s Day Match: Nina matched with Jessie on New Year’s Day—talk about starting the year right! Their connection was immediate, and their relationship has stood the test of time. Seven years later, they’re still happily married.
Conclusion
If the festive bug has bitten you and you want someone to share the season with, you should definitely hit the dating apps! Chances are pretty good that you’ll find someone who also loves to listen to nothing but Christmas music and possibly someone who likes eggnog (we can’t make any promises on that one).
Look below for a quick recap of everything we went over:
- The holiday season is prime time for online dating—activity spikes, and so do your chances of finding someone really special.
- Tailor your dating profile with seasonal touches to stand out and get noticed.
- Get creative with date ideas, from virtual movie nights to strolling through holiday markets.
- Remember, not every holiday romance will last forever, but that doesn’t make them any less fun.
If there’s ever a time to put your arms around online dating, it’s now. The holidays are a mix of magic and opportunity, which is perfect for finding someone who makes your season ever brighter.Ready to start your very own holiday love story? You can check out our homepage for the top dating app recommendations and cheers to making this festive season unforgettable!
