MATCHMAKING FAQS
A recommendation is the term we use when we send you details of a client who we believe to be suitable for you.
This will via email and we include their details.
You can decline a recommendation however this will count towards your offered recommendations amount – as stated on your chosen membership.
Once both parties have agreed that the recommended person is suitable we deem this as a match.
This will depend on your chosen membership package.
Premium members can expect up to 3 recommendations per month.
Elite members can expect up to 5 per recommendations per month
Whilst we will strive to find you a suitable recommendation there may be times when your preferences simply don’t match the clients on our database.
If that’s the case and we cannot find you a recommendation for more than than 6 weeks then we’ll contact you to let you know this and discuss what options we can offer.
These may include broadening your search parameters or offering you a wildcard recommendation.
A wildcard recommendation is a recommendation that may be somewhat different to the preferences you have shared with us.
You’re under no obligation to attend or agree to a date with anybody that we recommend to you. It’s completely your choice and optional.
It should be noted however that we will include that recommendation offer as one of your packages monthly recommendations quota.
This will depend on your matchmaking package.
For our Elite members you will be able to defer for 1 month.
Our Premium membership does not offer a pause feature although you can cancel your matchmaking package at any time and it will run until the your end of your subscription period.
Recommendations and matches are sent via email.
Our Elite members will also receive their recommendations and matches via a text/chat service.
We will share your name, age and an extract from the ‘About me’ section of your profile as a bare minimum.
We share additional information from your profile form that we feel is relevant however we do not share your surname, phone number, exact date of birth, address or anything additional you have told us explicitly not to share during your consultation.
We will ask all our members to provide us with 2 clear profile pictures, taken in the last 6 months. A full body shot and a head shot looking straight at the camera.
Your head shot photo is shared to Premium and Elite members.
For anyone in the candidate pool – they will not see profile pictures – the feature is exclusive to our paid members.
Yes however we do not offer refunds on this service.
You can cancel your subscription to disable your auto renewal and your subscription will still run until the end of your subscription term.
If you wish to cancel and no longer receive recommendations then please contact us.
Additionally – Elite members can pause their membership for 1 month.
We don’t arrange dates. Ratemydateni only provides an email address as a means of introduction.
It is entirely up to you whether you follow through with a date.
We ask all members to show or provide photographic identification, in addition to their profile and full body pictures. This is mandatory before they can become a member of our matchmaking service.
We do not run any sort of background checks on our clients however we do ask for a declaration of any unspent criminal offences.
We do not accept applicants with unspent criminal records.
We also ensure that we conduct a consultation with all applicants to ensure profile integrity.
After a week or two has past since there has been a successful match (details exchanged) we will send each of you a dating feedback form.
No personal questions are asked but we do ask how it went and what you think we got right or what we could do better at next time.
We’ll use this feedback to fine tune your preferences.
Yes – however you must let us know prior to the day of your consultation. Failure to do this may result in you losing your consultation fee.
SPEED DATING FAQS
Speed dating is a matchmaking process which has the purpose of encouraging eligible singles to meet large numbers of new potential partners in a very short period of time.
Booking can be done online or through a 3rd party reseller (Eventbrite, Ticketsource, Skiddle). At times we may have limited availability at the door but this is never guaranteed.
We recommend you secure your ticket early to avoid disappoinment.
We host our events in multiple venues around Belfast. They are usually bars or coffee shops and we always try to ensure we’ve a private part of the venue to ensure discretion.
When you arrive we’ll greet you at the door, confirm your booking and provide you with a ratemydateni pack. We’ll provide you with your seat number so that you can be seated when the dates start (around 8pm).
The females will remain in their allocated seat whilst the men will move one seat forward after each date until all dates have been completed.
When the event begins the host will give you an introduction about how the night will work.
You get 4 minutes to chat before we ring the bell. We then give you a 30 second to 1 minute grace period to complete your match card and for the men to move seats. We will have some breaks throughout the dating for refreshments etc.
After all the dates have been completed please return your pack to us and we then encourage you to stay and mingle and enjoy the entertainment provided.
We aim to start our introduction around 8pm. Sometimes this can be a little later if people are running late.
We recommend arriving sometime between 7:30-8pm especially if you want to grab a drink beforehand in a communal area of the venue.
We’ll still allow you to participate however you will likely have missed some of the initial dates.
In that case we recommend you try to catch up with them during the breaks.
On the night you will be provided with a match card, included in your ratemydateni pack. If you feel there is a connection you tick ‘yes’ in the ‘Would you like a second date?’ column.
If they also tick yes for you it’s a match. We will email you with all your matches the following day.
It’s then up to you to decide if you want to make the first move or not.
Your email address is only ever shared with your matches.
Most people who attend are people who would just like to meet more people and have gotten bored of the modern day way of dating (via mobile apps etc). They’re generally people who just aren’t meeting people through their work or immediate circle of friends.
It depends on the event. All of our events are arranged into specific age groups. Check our events page for all of our events and their age bands.
Whilst the age range is more of a guideline we ask that participants are usually within a year of the age range (either side). We may ask for ID before entry to ensure that the participants are within the perceived age range as we have found this leads to more matches and a better overall experience for everyone.
This is usually dependant upon the venue. On average, we have around 15 men and 15 women at each event, though this may vary depending on individual circumstances (e.g. late cancellations etc).
Yes, 4 minutes can be a long time with someone you do not ‘connect’ with. However, it is long enough to know whether you would like to invest a few hours getting to know each other on a further date.
Smart casual is best, something you feel comfortable and confident in – think what you would wear to go on a mid-week date. Although there is no official dress code at our events.
Yes, the events take place in rooms which have been specifically hired for the event.
Yes, most speed daters do come alone. Once you have registered you can have a drink at the bar and mix with other participants but feel free to come with friends too.
It’s natural to be nervous when meeting new people, especially when there’s the prospect of romance. However rest assured that if you don’t connect with one of the dates its much easier to spend 4 minutes with dates you don’t connect with than a whole evening.
A premium ticket entitles you to the following benefits:
-A Free drink – Redeem your free drinks token and have a drink on us!
–Familiar faces? Find out how many people you have met before at previous events!
–Ticket protection: Option to defer your ticket to a future event!
–Second chance date – Find out everyone who said yes to you and amend your choices to secure a match!
Terms and conditions apply
During 2019 I attended some local speed dating events and really liked the concept. The events were good fun and it completely changed my opinion on speed dating. There were a few things that I felt were missing on the night though and I thought that I could do better.
I had the idea for this business a few months before Covid19 .. and like everything else the pandemic stopped any progress.
My main aim is to provide an evening where everyone feels comfortable, has a good time on the night and finds what they are looking for.
I’ll be in attendance at every event so feel free to stick around and chat after.
OTHER EVENTS FAQS
Coffee meetups are relaxed social events held in a casual coffee shop setting. They combine informal mingling with mini speed dating rounds, giving you the best of both worlds – structured introductions without the formality of a traditional speed dating event.
Booking can be done online or through a 3rd party reseller (Eventbrite, Ticketsource, Skiddle). At times we may have limited availability at the door but this is never guaranteed.
We recommend you secure your ticket early to avoid disappoinment.
When you arrive, check in with us and you’ll receive a drinks token worth up to £5 to redeem at the counter.
Throughout the event we’ll run mini speed dating rounds. We split everyone into smaller groups (for example, tables of 4 men and 4 women) and rotate the groups so that everyone gets to meet everyone. Between rounds you’re free to mingle and chat with whoever you like.
Speed dating is more structured – you’ll have timed one-on-one dates with everyone and fill in a match card. Coffee meetups are more informal with group introductions and plenty of time for casual conversation in between. There’s no match card – if you hit it off with someone, you can exchange details directly on the day.
No, there are paid events.
We’ll still allow you to participate however you will likely have missed some of the initial dates.
In that case we recommend you try to catch up with them during the breaks.
Keep it casual – it’s a coffee shop! Just wear something you feel comfortable in.