Best 10 Types of Dating Methods

Whether you’re hoping to meet your future spouse or just looking for a bit of fun, there are loads of ways to date. Perhaps you want to start online, keep it casual, or experiment with blind dates. Maybe you just want to meet for sex, to try out speed dating, or perhaps enjoy a double date with a friend. The good news is there are plenty of ways to date. Also, there are lots of different types of dating websites in Canada, to help you find the dates you want. Check out these Best 10 types of dating methods and start your adventure now.

Casual dating

Practically all types of dating sites in Canada lead to casual dating, at least at first. When you’re casual dating, you are free to date as many or as few people at a time as you wish. Casual dates are typically one-to-one. They usually consist of the first, second, and even third date that you may have with someone. Casual dating can quickly turn exclusive when you find a good match, however. Although dating can let you be fairly non-committal, it’s important to be clear about your intentions from the outset.

Online dating

This is the most modern of all dating and is fast becoming the most predominant. There is no single way to ‘online date’, as there are many types of dating sites in Canada. This includes free sites, which are financially smart, or subscription sites that help sort the wheat from the chafed. The latter type of dating site can be costly, but it does a lot of the hard graft for you, by linking you up with people that might actually interest you. Online dating also gives you the time and space to make an informed decision about whom to date.

Double dates

There are certainly equal amounts of pros and cons to this type of dating. Double dating means you get to take a trusted friend along with you, giving you the security and safety that you don’t get from a standard blind date. However, if you end up with a wrong ‘up, but your friend gets Mr or Mrs. Right, it may be hard for you to leave. Double dates can be a lot of fun, however, and it’s not unheard of for couples to ‘switch’ around the intended pairings, as long as all parties agree, of course!

Group dates

A group date is ideal for sociable types who enjoy the buzz of a crowd. But it’s equally good for those who find one-to-one, or even double dates, a bit intense. Unlike double dates, where the match-ups have been determined, group dates can have a more fluid concept. Without pre-determined couplings, anyone is free to find out more about another person in the group. This type of dating also lends itself well to alternative types of dating relationships, including open relationships and polyamory. Group dates also work well with those who have fluid sexualities.

Speed dating

Of all the kinds of dating out there, this one was probably the most flash-in-the-pan. It still exists, of course, but is not nearly as commonplace as it was in the naughties, before it was quashed by online dating. At a speed dating session, there are upwards of 15 potential mates. You meet each one for 3 minutes before moving on to the next. When the buzzer sounds, one of you will move to the next table, and one remains seated as a new ‘date’ arrives. At the end of the session, you pick your favourites, and if the same person has picked you, it’s a match!

Blind dating

According to our Dating Ranker team, this is the most unusual dating way. On a true blind date, you will never have met, spoken to, or even seen the individual before. You might even be looking for the man with the red rose. Blind dates are often organized by well-intentioned friends who think you’re simply ‘perfect’ for their cousin, colleague, etc. In the modern world, you would be hard pushed to go on a pure ‘blind date’ anymore. As soon as you have someone’s name, you can look them up online.

The biggest advantage of a blind date, however, is the thrill of meeting someone entirely new. Some kinds of dating sites even offer photo-less profiles, so when you do meet in person, it’s actually like the traditional type of blind date.

Serious/exclusive dating

So you’ve had two or three dates and everything has gone swimmingly? Perhaps you are at the point where you don’t want to date anyone else because you think this might be it. At this juncture, you’ve moved onto one of the different kinds of dating, known as exclusive dating. After a few more dates, it might even become a relationship, although there are no hard and fast rules about when this happens. For many of us, this is the most special part of a relationship. It’s the falling in love bit, and it can be truly special. Exclusive dating is also the right time to meet the family, and for many, it’s when a relationship becomes physical.

Sexual dating

This is one of many types of online dating. Sexual dating is ideal for anyone who wants no-strings, or sexual encounters. However, it’s not uncommon for sex dating to result in something long-term and meaningful. But it does mean that all parties know what they’re getting into. Sexual dating can be fun, and a healthy way to enjoy an adventurous sex life, but you should always be careful. Meet in a public place, and if someone doesn’t match their photo, take this as a red flag. Find out a little about them on social media first, and always tell a friend where you will be. Safe sex and sexual health knowledge are key to good sex dating.

Long-distance dating

This kind of dating occurs when partners live too far away to meet up in person regularly. Unlike a long-distance relationship, which is a committed long-term partnership, long-distance dating takes place early on in an affair, like any dating. It’s obviously quite unusual, but it can occur when you’ve met online and just have far too much in common to let the opportunity pass. Most types of dating websites will ask you to limit your search or potential matches by area, but allowing a larger area does create a better chance of meeting ‘the one’. Even if they live hundreds of miles away. Long-distance dating usually involves a lot of video calls and occasional in-person dates.

Intimate dating

This kind of dating does not necessarily have to be exclusive, but it’s when you share intimacy with the same person. Unlike sexual dating, which usually involves meeting different people for one-off events, intimate dating happens when you begin a sexual relationship with someone. Those who are intimate dating usually know what is going to happen at the end of the date, but never take this as a given. There are different kinds of dating sites that can help you form intimate relationships with others. The best places for intimate dating include a candlelit restaurant, a late-night movie theatre, or even a steamy dance class.

Time to start dating

There are many ways that romance can blossom. And even if you’re not looking for the one, you can still have fun whilst dating. Weighing up the pros and cons of each 10 types of dating is a great place to start. Think about what’s most important to you, and what you feel comfortable with. In 2022, most Canadians will head online for dating, so this is a great place to start. Luckily, there are loads of types of free Top 10 dating sites, so it’s easy to choose one that suits you best.