Your questions, answered.

You spend one relaxed evening enjoying a round of 10 to 15 five-minute mini-dates with other local singles. After the event you simply log in and pick the people you’d like to see again. The moment two people choose each other, it’s a mutual match — and we share contact details within 24 hours.

Most of our Chicago speed dating events run about $35 to $45, depending on the venue and the type of event. The exact price is always listed on each event page before you sign up, so there are no surprises.

We organize every event by age range so you’re always meeting people at a similar stage of life. The ages in an event title — for example “Singles 20s & 30s” or “40s & 50s” — are recommended. As long as you fall within the age group named in the title, you’re welcome to sign up.

There’s no strict dress code at most events, but we recommend dressing to make a great first impression — smart-casual is always a safe bet. If a special event has a specific dress code, we’ll always mention it in the event description.

We host at hand-picked bars, lounges, and restaurants right across Chicago and the suburbs — from downtown neighborhoods like River North and West Loop, to North Side spots such as Lincoln Park and Lakeview, out to Schaumburg and the western suburbs. Each event page lists the exact venue and address.

Try to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the start time so you can check in with our host and settle in. Latecomers can still join the lineup if space allows, but arriving on time means you get the full round of mini-dates.

The day after your event, you log in and select the people you liked. When you and someone pick each other, you’re a mutual match and can see each other’s contact info. We confirm every mutual match within 24 hours — no waiting on an organizer to tally results by hand.

Yes. We work hard to keep an even men-to-women ratio at every event, so everyone gets a full, balanced round of five-minute dates and equal chances to connect.

We appreciate as much notice as possible so we can offer your spot to someone on the waiting list. If you let us know at least 5 days ahead, you qualify for a refund. For genuine last-minute emergencies we can’t issue a refund, but we’ll credit your account toward a future event so you never lose your money.

Chicago First Dates is an in-person events company, not an online dating site. There are no public profiles to browse and no messaging between members. You simply sign up for an event and meet real people, face to face.

Our events are for singles. Divorced and separated people who consider themselves single and are looking for love or friendship are absolutely welcome to register.

Yes. Your registration and attendance are completely confidential. We never sell your information, and contact details are only ever shared between two people who mutually match with each other.