A Selborne wedding planner with a penchant for match-making aims to get East London’s lonely hearts a date for Valentine’s Day.Roelien Müller, 24, will be overseeing her first speed dating event tomorrow night, giving singles the opportunity to spend five minutes chatting to others looking for love.
She hopes the swift date concept takes off and becomes a monthly event.
While she has enough women for tomorrow’s gathering at Barcode at Beacon Bay Crossing, Müller would like to welcome more men to even the playing field.
She currently has 20 women signed up and just 10 men.
“So many of my friends are single and have been asking if I don’t know any good guys,” said Müller, who studied events management after leaving Grens Hoërskool.
“I have seen speed dating events on TV and I know they happen in the bigger cities, but I’ve not heard of it in East London. I would like to help lonely people find happiness.”
Müller, who was divorced after four years and two children with her ex, is now in a happy relationship and is keen for others to experience the same fulfilment.
“I know what heartache is and that it is difficult to meet people at bars.
“But if everyone just sits at home, they won’t meet anyone.
“I was surprised how many parents contacted me about sons in their 30s and booked them in.”
The speed dating evening, which costs R50, is arranged so that each potential couple spends just five minutes together thereby avoiding the potential agony of a long, awkward date.
“Everyone will be given a numbered badge when they arrive. Because there are fewer men, they will be seated at cocktail tables and women will move from table to table,” said Müller, who will blow a whistle at five-minute intervals signalling a change of seating.
“I have advised nervous people to rehearse a little speech about themselves and their interests and then repeat it to everyone,” said Müller, who recruits participants on her Speed Dating East London Facebook page.
Each participant will be issued with a “scorecard” upon which they can tick whether or not they would like to pursue romance, friendship or neither of the two with fellow speed daters.
“After the speed dates, everyone will drop their scorecards in a red box and then if two people are interested in each other romantically or as friends, I will call them the next day and give them each other’s phone numbers.
Open to singles aged 21 and 65, Müller has people of all ages attending tomorrow and hopes friendships will form even if sparks don’t fly for everybody.
“I wanted to have the first speed dating party just before Valentine’s Day, so hopefully some people will have dates next weekend.
“Of course the ultimate success would be if people get married – and ask me to plan their wedding day!”
Müller can be contacted on (061) 498-4814. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
EL singles take chance on love for Valentines
Roelien Müller, 24, will be overseeing her first speed dating event tomorrow night, giving singles the opportunity to spend five minutes chatting to others looking for love.
She hopes the swift date concept takes off and becomes a monthly event.
While she has enough women for tomorrow’s gathering at Barcode at Beacon Bay Crossing, Müller would like to welcome more men to even the playing field.
She currently has 20 women signed up and just 10 men.
“So many of my friends are single and have been asking if I don’t know any good guys,” said Müller, who studied events management after leaving Grens Hoërskool.
“I have seen speed dating events on TV and I know they happen in the bigger cities, but I’ve not heard of it in East London. I would like to help lonely people find happiness.”
Müller, who was divorced after four years and two children with her ex, is now in a happy relationship and is keen for others to experience the same fulfilment.
“I know what heartache is and that it is difficult to meet people at bars.
“But if everyone just sits at home, they won’t meet anyone.
“I was surprised how many parents contacted me about sons in their 30s and booked them in.”
The speed dating evening, which costs R50, is arranged so that each potential couple spends just five minutes together thereby avoiding the potential agony of a long, awkward date.
“Everyone will be given a numbered badge when they arrive. Because there are fewer men, they will be seated at cocktail tables and women will move from table to table,” said Müller, who will blow a whistle at five-minute intervals signalling a change of seating.
“I have advised nervous people to rehearse a little speech about themselves and their interests and then repeat it to everyone,” said Müller, who recruits participants on her Speed Dating East London Facebook page.
Each participant will be issued with a “scorecard” upon which they can tick whether or not they would like to pursue romance, friendship or neither of the two with fellow speed daters.
“After the speed dates, everyone will drop their scorecards in a red box and then if two people are interested in each other romantically or as friends, I will call them the next day and give them each other’s phone numbers.
Open to singles aged 21 and 65, Müller has people of all ages attending tomorrow and hopes friendships will form even if sparks don’t fly for everybody.
“I wanted to have the first speed dating party just before Valentine’s Day, so hopefully some people will have dates next weekend.
“Of course the ultimate success would be if people get married – and ask me to plan their wedding day!”
Müller can be contacted on (061) 498-4814. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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