Casual dating site: relaxed dating without the pressure of a relationship

Would you like to meet new people and go on good dates without heading straight for a relationship? A casual dating site lets you get to know singles who also want to keep things relaxed and see what develops first.

With casual dating there is no fixed destination agreed in advance. A few dates in, it might turn into something more. Or it might stay a nice bit of company. Both work perfectly well, as long as you are honest with each other about what you expect.

On 4Match you can say what kind of contact you are after, browse profiles and decide for yourself which singles you would like to get to know.

Start casual dating

What is casual dating?

Casual dating usually means seeing someone without agreeing up front that it is heading towards a steady or long-term relationship.

You get to know each other, meet up and see where the contact goes. That leaves room to enjoy an evening out without having to work out on the first date where the two of you will be in a year's time.

Casual still comes with ground rules

Respect, honesty and clear boundaries matter just as much when you are dating casually.

Worth talking about, once it becomes relevant:

• Whether you are both seeing other people;
• Whether either of you expects exclusivity;
• How often you want to meet up;
• What kind of contact you are each looking for;
• Where your boundaries are;
• What you will do if feelings change.

What feels casual to you can already feel fairly serious to someone else. That is why the conversation matters more than the label.

Casual dating is not the same as friends with benefits

With friends with benefits, the emphasis usually sits on a friendship that also includes physical intimacy.

Casual dating is broader. You might go on several dates, do things together and take your time working out whether romantic interest grows, without pinning down a relationship.

And it is not a one-night stand either

A casual date does not have to be about sex at all.

You might go for a drink, have dinner or head to a gig. Afterwards you simply decide whether you want to see each other again.

Casual describes the expectations around the relationship. It says nothing automatically about what happens on the date itself.

Casual online dating on 4Match

Casual online dating gives you the chance to read through profiles at your own pace before you decide to message anyone.

That way you can see which singles you find attractive, which interests you share and whether someone is looking for roughly the same thing you are.

Be clear that you want to date casually

Not after a steady relationship for now? Say so.

It saves someone starting off with completely different expectations.

You could mention that you:

• Are up for good dates;
• Want to meet new people;
• Are not looking for a steady relationship right now;
• Would rather find out first whether there is a spark;
• Do not want to put pressure on where things have to go.

A casual profile can still be personal

Dating casually is no reason to leave your profile at a single line.

Tell people:

• What you enjoy doing;
• Which hobbies you have;
• What music you listen to;
• Whether you travel or play sport;
• How you spend your free time;
• Who you find attractive.

Even with casual online dating, the person on the other end wants to know who they are meeting.

Use recent photos

Pick clear, recent photos where you are easy to recognise.

New profiles and photos on 4Match are checked manually.

Why use a dating site for casual dating?

A dating site for casual dating helps when you specifically want to find people who are not expecting a traditional relationship straight away.

You can learn a fair amount about someone beforehand, which makes it easier to decide who you would actually like to meet.

Meet singles outside your usual circle

Work, sport and friends do not always put many new singles in front of you. Dating online widens the pool to people you would probably never have crossed paths with.

You can also search on the things that matter to you.

For example:

• Age;
• Where someone lives;
• Interests;
• Sport;
• Lifestyle;
• Physical preferences;
• What they are looking for.

Casual does not have to mean shallow

A personal connection can still count for a lot, even when you are not looking for a partner.

Maybe you want someone with the same sense of humour, someone to do things with, or simply a person you find easy to talk to.

What you are looking for can change

Relaxed dating might suit you now and feel different in a few months. Or you meet someone unexpected and find that you do want something serious after all.

That is fine.

The main thing is staying honest once your expectations shift.

Casual dating covers more than one kind of contact

Not every casual dater wants exactly the same thing. So rather than leaving it at the words casual dating, it helps to spell out what you personally mean by it.

Good dates without obligations

Perhaps you mainly want to meet up now and then, whenever you both feel like it.

Think of:

• Going for a drink;
• Dinner out;
• A gig or a concert;
• A long walk;
• A festival or an event;
• Training or playing sport together;
• Something spontaneous.

Dating first, defining later

For some singles, casual mostly means they do not want to define anything yet.

You might see each other a few times and realise there is more there. Or find that the spark is not strong enough.

That open ending is exactly what draws plenty of people to casual online dating.

Seeing more than one person

Where exclusivity has not been agreed, people who date casually may well be meeting other singles too.

So do not assume that someone is only dating you.

If that starts to matter to you, bring it up.

From chatting online to a first casual date

Found someone on a casual dating site and the conversation is flowing? Suggest something low-key for a first meeting.

Low-key first date ideas

• Coffee;
• A drink at a pub or bar;
• Lunch;
• A walk through town;
• A market;
• A museum or an exhibition;
• Something built around an interest you share.

The advantage of keeping it simple is the lack of pressure. Enjoying yourselves? You can always stay longer or line up a second date.

A good date does not have to lead anywhere

The evening might have been enjoyable without any romantic attraction on your side. That happens.

A pleasant first meeting is not a reason on its own to agree to a second one.

It works the other way round too: a casual introduction can turn out far better than you expected.

Staying safe while dating casually

• Meet in a public place the first time;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going;
• Sort out your own transport;
• Do not hand over your exact home address straight away;
• Do not let anyone pressure you into anything;
• Never send money to someone you only know online;
• Respect each other's boundaries.

A match, a flirt or an earlier date never obliges anyone to do something they are not comfortable with.

Start casual dating on 4Match

Looking for a casual dating site where you can meet new singles without the pressure? Create a personal profile on 4Match and set out the kind of contact you are after.

With casual online dating you can take the introduction slowly, look through profiles and choose for yourself who you meet.

Maybe you just want good dates with no relationship attached. Maybe you would rather see what develops. And sometimes a casual introduction quietly turns into something more serious.

Nothing about the ending has to be settled in advance. As long as you are both honest about what you are looking for, the contact can grow at its own pace.

Meet singles for casual dating

• Create a free personal profile;
• Say that you want to date casually;
• Tell people who you are and what you enjoy;
• Browse singles who fit your preferences;
• Start a proper conversation;
• Talk about expectations when it becomes relevant;
• Arrange a date once the interest is mutual.

Start casual online dating