No fakes at RSVP...

During a meeting this week with a prospective new dating agency member, we were chatting about her online dating experiences and how disappointing she had found it. Amongst the usual stories of meeting guys who didn't live up to the expectations of their profiles and pictures, she mentioned that just as her membership was due to expire she received an email from a guy who was a near perfect match to what she was looking for. As she couldn't reply to him as a lapsed member, she paid for another three months membership. Sadly, despite the interest he showed initially, she never heard from him again. Funny, that. 

This was particularly interesting as it has been reported on Channel4 last week that a large internet dating provider has admitted to using fake profiles on their sites to entice people into paying to join. They confessed that they employed some 20 people to send fabricated messages from these profiles to deceive their members and keep them paying for longer. The report focused on a "white label" dating site where many different themed dating sites share one database of members, so unless you read the small print you may not realise you have joined a variety of differently branded sites and not all may reflect your taste or requirements.

There is no denying that lots of people turn to internet dating when looking for a partner. However, many discover the experience to be impersonal and disappointing at best and some fall victim to scammers and unscrupulous people pretending to be someone they are not. Many of our members here at RSVP have told us they prefer the personal approach that we provide and that our joining process, which includes meeting all of our members face-to-face, helps them to feel safer and better prepared for their dates.

One of our primary aims at RSVP is to provide a professional, personal, confidential and honest service. We want our members to meet a new partner. Many have shared stories of their positive experiences of RSVP with their friends. With over 20 years experience behind us and many successful, lasting relationships formed, we have absolutely no need to use fake profiles or to hide behind someone else's brand. RSVP members really are who they say they are.

Happy Birthday RSVP

Last weekend to help celebrate our 20th birthday, the staff here at dating agency RSVP held a black tie birthday bash at the beautiful 4 star Ardencote Manor Hotel & Spa, Claverdon, Warwick.

Members both old and new were invited to enjoy the evening alongside staff, with all the ladies looking beautiful in their ball gowns and the gents extremely smart in their dinner jackets.


RSVP's very own Birthday cake!

It was great to catch up with old members who had met through RSVP, telling us with great excitement their forthcoming wedding plans and other news! It was also a great way to meet new members and we also had a great mix of age groups, with all levels of membership represented: Neon, Gold and Platinum.

Celebrations carried on long into the night with members enjoying each others company and staying on the dance floor all night! It was also great to hear that there were some successful matches resulting from the evening, proof again if needed, that if you get out there attending events your ideal partner could be just around the corner!

Now that Christmas is fast approaching there are plenty of other singles events to get booked on to, including the RSVP Christmas Party Night at the Sibson Inn and New Years Eve Dinner Dance at Staverton Park. These are just some of the many events available in our October-December 2012 RSVP Event Calendar.

Why it's worth keeping your phone out of sight on a date

I'm sure that all you avid daters keep up to date with the latest publication of the The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the international journal that publishes research on social and personal relationships. But just in case you missed the last one issued in September, it gave some very good advice about why you shouldn't look at your mobile phone during a romantic date.

That's obvious, I hear you say, I know I should be focusing on my date 100%, you've mentioned it enough in the RSVP dating blog. Well the research discovered that it's not just the fact that you will appear rude by checking your messages or the time.

Psychologists have discovered that the mere presence of a mobile phone or device may influence what your date is thinking about too. When they spot the device, their mind can start wandering and they begin to think about other people and events outside of the immediate social context.

When you are on a date with someone you fancy - or even at one of RSVP's many singles events, you should be trying to create a connection between the two of you so that your date wants to see you again. Like living organisms, relationships have a beginning, a lifespan and an end. They tend to grow and improve gradually, as people get to know each other and become closer emotionally. The beginning of a relationship is the most fragile, as the connection between you is so slight, it can break at any time. This is the stage when first impressions are so key. A vast amount of research has been done to look at how you can influence the success of this stage. You really can make a difference.

So, remember when you glance at your phone to check the time, not only will they think you need a lesson in manners, their mind will also start to wander and they'll start thinking about other things. And don't place the phone on the table where it can be seen - even the presence of a phone or i-pad in eye-shot can interfere with the connection you are trying to make with your date.

If you want more hints and tips on how to make your date go well, have a look at RSVP's dating tips and advice site.

And if you want to read more about the psychology of why and how we fall for someone, the book Falling in Love: Why We Choose the Lovers We Choose gives a great insight, with some real research to back up the statements it makes – well worth reading.

New Calendar Highlights

Well we certainly won't forget 2012's 'Summer of Sport' with fantastic British success in so many categories of this summers amazing Games. If you have found yourself inspired to try something new, why not give an RSVP Singles event a try? Our new October-December 2012 calendar has just been sent out, full of exciting social events and activities for you to try alongside fellow like-minded RSVP dating and singles events members. Why not have a go at events such as:

• Yachting & Kayaking at Rutland Water
• Shooting at Long Acres
• Walking Weekend in The Long Mynd Hills
• Taster Microlight Experience

With Christmas fast approaching, get into the festive spirit at the RSVP Christmas Party Night. Taking place on Saturday, 1 December at the Sibson Inn, near Peterborough, enjoy a sumptuous three course meal with wine and disco until 1am. The dinner is exclusive to dating agency RSVP; we will then join with other parties for the dancing afterwards.

Struggling for New Years Eve? Dating agency RSVP has this covered! Enjoy a Dinner Dance at Staverton Park, Daventry, Northamptonshire. A champagne reception is followed by a delicious dinner with music from a live band and disco. Price includes overnight accommodation and full use of the hotels facilities, including pool, spa, steam room and golf course.

If your not already a member of  dating agency RSVP don't panic, all you need to do is request a sample RSVP singles events calendar, look through and see what takes your fancy! You too could be enjoying fantastic hosted single events and activities amongst fellow like minded singles. Or, you can also book onto an open taster event, designed to accomodate non members, experience for yourself an RSVP singles event before becoming a full member.

All of our singles events are hosted by an experienced RSVP dating and singles events member, who will guide you through your first event, making the experience that bit easier and more enjoyable. So dont be nervous, request a calendar and start enjoying life as an RSVP singles events member!

Dating Disasters

I was asked to speak to BBC West Midlands Radio last week about dating disasters and the biggest turn-offs for men and women. I think most of our dating members at RSVP are pretty intelligent and clued up about dating, so most of my stories of horror come from the experiences our members have had before they joined RSVP. That is one of the big advantages of joining a dating agency. Any good dating agency should be aiming to help you be as successful as possible in meeting the person of your dreams. Here are some of my top tips that I give to new members going dating with RSVP.

1. Be realistic and set yourself realistic goals when meeting someone for the first time. By keeping your cool and not setting unattainably high expectations, you avoid disappointment. Instead, your goal should be to have fun and see if there's any potential chemistry.

2. Make the first date a meeting for coffee or a drink. Keep the meeting light and relaxed.

3. Make an effort with your appearance. Don't come straight from the gym or garden. Wear something relaxed but that shows you have actually thought about the other person before you came to meet them. If you want some help with what to wear, RSVP's own image coach has plenty of useful tips.

4. Keep the conversation light; talk a little and then let your date talk. Ask your date lots of questions about them. DO NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR EX PARTNER.

5. Avoid taking calls on your phone or texting whilst out with a date - it's just plain rude! The person you are sitting with is going to think you aren't interested in them.

6. Be prepared to give the person a chance. Don't judge them by one statement that annoys you when you really don't know the context. Remember they are going to be as nervous as you are and it is normal to be nervous!

7. Play it cool and never come on too strong. Wait to see if your feelings are reciprocated before you declare your undying love. And don't bombard someone you've just met with text messages and calls - it scares them off.

And please remember not to lose sight of the fact that the people you are meeting are real people with real feelings just like you. At the very least, enjoy having coffee with someone new and give them the courtesy of listening to what they have to say for a couple of hours. If you find that there's no chemistry at the end of the date, then be polite but honest. One of the biggest moans I hear from RSVP dating agency members is that the person they saw on a date says they want to meet again and then disappears.

Get on your bike this summer with RSVP!

Fancy getting on your bike and making the most of the summertime? If so, here at Dating agency RSVP we have three beautifully-organised summer cycle tours in our new July-September singles events calendar. After receiving great feedback from RSVP dating and singles event members about previous events ran in our last calendar we have teamed up again to organise more of these fantastic tours from London.

With events running in July, August & September, you can choose when to get out there and enjoy the summertime and with a choice of activities alongside the cycling, what better way to enjoy a day out than with fellow like minded singles on an RSVP open taster event?

Bike Ride to watch the Road Racing Cycle Event

Saturday, 28 July

You can get involved in this once-in-a-lifetime event by joining us for the day but it involves the small sacrifice of an early start! We will need to meet at Twickenham Station at 8:30am before watching the road race pass by and enjoy the excitement of the event. Then after a bit of breakfast (pay as you go) we'll cycle the traffic free roads up to Richmond Park to watch the cyclists return. A return ride and ferry to Twickenham for some riverside pubs will finish this unique day. Membership is not required for this great day out as it's an RSVP open taster event. 


Jester's Ale Pub Ride with ale tasting and afternoon tea picnic

Sunday, 12 August

Meet us at Putney riverside at 10am for  12 mile historic bike tour along this London Boat Race river route crossing the river 4 times (some steps) passing the houses and pubs of this old part of London. A pub lunch, "shots of ale" taster, afternoon tea picnic in a stately home park and riverside pubs will finish the day. Membership is not required for this great day out as it's also an RSVP open taster event.

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Windsor Castle Country Ride and afternoon tea picnic

Saturday, 15 September

This 20 mile ride is for those that requested a longer cycle and involves meeting at 9:30am at Hampton Court Train Station. It's a great ride from Hampton Court to Windsor past quaint locks, country villages, a Royal farm Shop and finishing with an afternoon tea picnic overlooked by Windsor Castle. You are then able to return home by train from Windsor about 5pm.


If cycling is not your thing don't panic, with such a great selection of other events to choose from why not come along and enjoy all the thrills and spills of an RSVP singles event near you?

New RSVP Calendar Highlights

We have now certainly entered 2012's 'Summer of Sport' with the European football underway and tennis, golf and the much-anticipated Games themselves all around the corner! What better way to enjoy all of these historic sporting events than by booking yourself onto an RSVP Singles event and enjoying the atmosphere alongside fellow like-minded RSVP dating and singles events members?
The good news is that we have just sent out our new July-September 2012 calendar to members, which is full of exciting singles events for you to come along and enjoy such as:

• Bike Ride to Watch the Off Road Cycle Event
• Great Summer Garden Party
• Newmarket Races with Behind the Scenes Tour
• Weekend Escape to Norfolk

One event RSVP members will not want to miss is our Exclusive 'Happy 20th Birthday, RSVP' Ball at the Ardencote Manor Hotel. This promises to be a night to remember, so why not join us for our black tie birthday bash at this beautiful 4 star Spa Hotel and enjoy a sumptuous three course dinner with wine, followed by dancing until late?

Dating agency RSVP has also included a Weekend Escape to Norfolk in our new calendar. Starting on Friday, 21 September enjoy 2 nights bed & breakfast in the Royal Hotel, Mundesley-on-Sea. There are various possible activities for the weekend including:

• Nostalgic journey aboard a real steam train
• Great Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach
• Stroll along the beautiful Norfolk coastline
• Boat trips along the stunning Norfolk waterways

If you're not already an RSVP member don't panic, just request a sample RSVP singles events calendar, look through and see what takes your fancy! Join now and you too could be enjoying a fab summer of superb events and activities. Or, you can also book onto an open taster event, which are open to non members and are a great way to experience an RSVP singles event!

If you are a little nervous about attending an event, don't be, as all of our singles events are hosted by an experienced RSVP dating and singles event member. The hosts will help ease you through your first event and impart some words of wisdom to make your first experience that little bit easier and more enjoyable.