General FAQs & Cancellation Policy

  • TL;DR: No refunds, credits, or transfers to another event, but you can send a friend in your place.

    Due to the curated nature of our events, we do not offer refunds or credits for cancellations, and tickets cannot be transferred to a different event.

    We put a lot of care into creating the right mix of people, and a big part of what makes our events great is strong attendance. Last minute cancellations can jeopardize the quality of our events, so we’ve found that keeping tickets high-stakes helps ensure a great experience for everyone who shows up. Please keep in mind that no-shows negatively impact the experience of other attendees, so we really appreciate your commitment when you sign up.

    That said, we get that life happens. You’re always welcome to transfer your ticket to a friend that matches your ticket type! Just email us at heythere@meetirlco.com (ideally 24+ hours before the event) with their name and email. Finding a replacement means your ticket doesn’t go to waste, and it's also a huge help to us to ensure a great event.

    Thanks for understanding and for supporting our small, local business. We truly appreciate it.

  • Check out our complete speed dating guide with everything you need to know, including what to expect and instructions for setting up your profile.

  • Eventbrite’s waitlist tools are limited. We can only offer one waitlist per event, and it gets applied to whichever ticket type sells out first. If the ticket you want doesn’t show a waitlist option, select any type that does — we’ll reach out if something opens up! You can also email us on the day of an event at heythere@meetirlco.com to see if we’ve had any last minute cancellations.

  • This one comes up a lot — and the answer is: absolutely not. We’re a small, local business, and hosting quality events is extremely important to us. We work hard in the background to ensure our hetero events are nicely balanced.

  • It’s totally normal to be nervous — most people are when they try this for the first time! Remember: everyone’s here to meet new people, just like you.

    Many of our events include icebreaker games to make it easier to connect. If you're feeling shy, talk to a host — we’re happy to give you a boost or help make an intro to that person you’ve been eyeing.

    And in case you’re wondering, most people come solo — and leave with new friends. For more tips, follow us on Instagram @meetirlco!

  • Almost always, yes. Rain, snow, wind, traffic — we’re used to it in Chicago! In the unlikely event of a cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you’ll have the option to receive a refund or transfer your ticket to the new date. Typically, there will be a 72-hour window to request a refund, though this may be shorter depending on event timing. No need to message us to check — we promise to keep you informed and provide clear instructions via email if this ever happens.

  • We're flexible by a year or two, but if you're more than two years outside the range, please look for an event that better fits. People sign up expecting to meet others in that range, and we want to respect everyone's expectations.

  • For most speed dating events, we offer “wingman” tickets that allow you to join with a friend! For hetero events, you’ll bring along a friend of the opposite gender. For queer events, you can bring a queer friend that matches your ticket type.

    This is a win-win because it allows you to enjoy a singles event alongside a buddy (and save some $ on your tickets), while ensuring that we have a great mix of vetted people in the room!

    Pro tip: if you’re interested in a hetero event where your age/gender is sold out, you can usually still join if you bring along a friend of your desired gender and purchase a wingman ticket!

    Please note that we cannot guarantee that you won’t be matched with your friend during speed dating — it all depends on how you each fill out your survey. See the next FAQ question for more details.

Curated Speed Dating-Specific Questions

Joining us for Curated Speed Dating? Here’s the answer to a few questions you might have :)

  • Our app is web-based and works in any browser—no download necessary! :) Instead, find it at app.meetirlevents.com.

  • The app helps streamline the entire event experience. It will show you your assigned dates and table numbers, so you always know where to go next. After each mini-date, you’ll be prompted to select a heart if you’re interested in the person or an X if you’re not. You’ll need to make a selection before you can see your next date and table number. The app also allows you to add personal notes to help you remember each person—these notes are private and visible only to you (other guests and hosts cannot see these notes).

    At the end of the event, you’ll have one hour to revisit and adjust your selections before finalizing your matches. We encourage you to keep an open mind—if you're on the fence about someone, give them a heart! The more hearts you give, the more matches you’re likely to receive. Once the final hour is up, matches will be locked in, and you’ll see any mutual matches in the app. You’ll also receive an email connecting you with your matches so you can continue the conversation!

  • We aim for everyone to have a minimum of 8 mini-dates, but it’s possible that you’ll have more!

    The number of dates depends on the way you’ve answered your profile questions and the number of people who attend the event. Sometimes unexpected no-shows can affect the number of dates, but we’ll always do our best to maximize them!

  • Do yourself (and us) a favor and arrive during the arrival window listed in your Eventbrite order confirmation email. The timing of Speed Dating is important — if you arrive late, we cannot guarantee that you'll be able to participate, and refunds will not be given. Please note that at some venues, we may not be able to accommodate early arrivals (e.g. if the arrival window starts when the venue opens) — check your order confirmation for details. 

  • About an hour after the event, we will send out the matches via email, connecting you with the people who were a mutual match so that you can continue getting to know one another! At that time, you can also see your matches in the app. If you see matches in the app but did not receive any match emails, please check your spam folder. Remember, we have a no-ghosting policy—please be kind, communicative, and follow through on any commitments you make to other members of our community.