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CMB and Getaway giving a 2-night stay to couples affected by COVID-19

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A lot of good things have been crossed off the calendar lately, from casual happy hours to some of life’s more important events, like weddings. 

Couples everywhere have been faced with the hard decision to cancel their big day. But through it all, we’ve seen them find a way to celebrate their love anyway. Some are swapping guest lists for Zoom invites and photo booths for webcams, but the end result is still the same: Two people coming together to pledge their love with friends and family there to witness (well, virtually at least). 

One such couple was Sophia and David, who met on CMB three years ago. The plan was to get married on April 25, 2020, but they spent the weeks leading up to the big day with increasing worry. 

As news about the spread of COVID-19 rolled in, the couple went from wondering if they should postpone their honeymoon to facing the reality that their wedding simply couldn’t happen as planned. 

Instead, they had an intimate backyard ceremony – just David, Sophia, and their church pastor, with 150 guests watching via livestream. Nothing went according to plan, but Sophia recounts that it was all the more special because it happened in the face of adversity. 

When we heard about their plan to pivot to a virtual wedding, our co-founders decided to surprise them during the reception with a gift. 

Watch their wedding surprise below:

 

 

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A post shared by Coffee Meets Bagel (@coffeemeetsbagel) on

 

We teamed up with Getaway to give them a 2-night stay at a Getaway cabin, and now we’re offering the same gift to up to 10 other couples whose weddings or honeymoons have been affected by COVID-19.

Gifting couples with a Getaway weekend

Has your wedding or honeymoon been derailed by the pandemic? You can apply for the opportunity to receive a free 2-night stay at one of Getaway’s cozy cabins. Picture it now: you and your partner, away from the hustle of day-to-day life, surrounded by all nature has to offer. And hey, maybe your dog is there, too. 

Sounds like the perfect mini-honeymoon, right? 

And don’t worry, the gift doesn’t have to be used immediately – only when you feel safe and comfortable with traveling. But if you’d like to escape ASAP, you can read more here on what Getaway is doing to ensure their locations are safe for guests. 

How do I apply?

If you’ve been reading along and thought something along the lines of “Hey, my wedding was affected by COVID-19,” then you’re the perfect fit – and we’d love for you to apply! 

We’re offering this 2-night Getaway stay to up to 10 couples who meet the qualifications. Here’s what you need to know about eligibility and the application:

– Your wedding or honeymoon was canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19.

– If chosen, you’ll be required to show proof of cancellation (receipt, with date of the event).

– Five CMB couples and five non-CMB couples will be randomly selected.

– Getaway Outposts are only available in these locations: Atlanta, Austin/San Antonio, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh/Cleveland, Portland, and Washington, D.C.

– One couple per Getaway location will be chosen.

And that’s all there is to it! Fill out this application – the deadline to apply is May 5, 2020. We’ll reach out if you and your partner were selected. 

There’s nothing fun about canceled plans. But seeing couples do what they can to make the best of their situation has been inspiring to us here at CMB. We hope these Getaway weekends can be something fun added to the calendar. 

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Ends May 5th, 2020 at 8:00am Eastern Time. Must be 21+, and be a legal resident of the U.S. Sponsor: Coffee Meets Bagel, Inc. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Click here for complete rules.

 

Ready to get your virtual chat on? Download Coffee Meets Bagel to text yourself a link. Or, download CMB directly from your phone: iOS | Android

Coffee Talk

‘Coffee Talk’ gives CMB Community a place to virtually meet

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Stop us if any of this sounds familiar: You’ve recently dug up never-before-used puzzles from the games closet. Your Google search history includes “How to bake ciabatta.” And checking your phone’s screen time report? Forget about it.

At first, coronavirus was simply scary. And to be honest, it’s still scary. But with social distancing and shelter-in-place becoming the new normal, life has become a little lonely – and even boring, as well.

To combat the feelings of isolation and remind CMBers that we’re in this together (at least virtually), we’ve launched Coffee Talk: a virtual meetup with the CMB community.

Coffee Talk: conversations from the couch

Sure, we may have to be physically apart, but Coffee Talk gives CMB singles the chance to get their socialization on from the comfort of their own home – cozy slippers and glass of wine optional. 

Every Tuesday and Friday at 8 p.m. local time, we’ll be hosting virtual meetups for bagels in five major shelter-in-place cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

How does it work?

Once each session starts, participants will be greeted by a CMB moderator. They’ll go over some ground rules and then kick things off with an initial icebreaker. 

From there, everyone will break into small groups of 6-8 people so they can have more intimate conversations. After about 20 minutes, we do a little bit of video-chat musical chairs and switch up groups, giving participants the opportunity to meet as many new people as possible. 

And while we’ll provide an icebreaker or two, anything goes for conversation – from dating during COVID-19, to your latest Animal Crossing tips and Netflix picks (“Tiger King,” anyone?)

At the end of the hour, we’ll bring all of the groups back together for some parting words. And if some CMB singles happened to hit it off, romantically or platonically, they’ll have the opportunity to exchange contact info via DM.

The buzz on Coffee Talk

We’ve hosted a few Coffee Talks so far and the response has been overwhelmingly positive: When surveyed, more than 90% of participants said they would join again. 

Many participants felt that chatting with people who are also getting used to this “weird new world” helped normalize their emotions. Hearing that you’re not alone in this feeling helps make it a bit more manageable. 

“I believe that CMB’s mission to create real connections is even more important in uncertain times like this,” says Dawoon Kang, Coffee Meets Bagel’s co-founder and -CEO. “We needed to be creative about how we can enable them to stay connected with one another in times of social distancing, shelter-in-place, and self quarantining.” 

With the news cycle constantly changing and being cut off from our normal day-to-day interactions, something as simple as a casual conversation with strangers can be the thing that turns your day around.

How do I sign up?

When you open the app on Tuesdays and Fridays before 3 p.m. local time, we’ll show an in-app announcement that will let you sign up for that night’s event. 

Remember, we’re hosting small groups to help daters really get to know one another, so that means space is limited. After signing up, be on the lookout for a follow-up email to let you know whether your spot is confirmed. If one night’s roster fills up fast, don’t let that deter you from signing up for the next one. We have plenty to talk about, so be sure to try again.

To sign up for our Coffee Talks on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. local time, open your app (and hey, maybe check your noon bagel while you’re at it.).

 

Ready to get your virtual chat on? Download Coffee Meets Bagel to text yourself a link. Or, download CMB directly from your phone: iOS | Android

Woman reading on computer

6 Virtual Date Ideas for CMB Matches

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As social distancing and quarantine life become “the new normal,” it’s easy to feel like much of life has been “canceled.” But the good stuff in life? You can’t cancel that. Here’s a recent CMB Instagram post inspired by author Jamie Tworkowski.

You see this list? Connections fall under the “good stuff” category. In fact, we might even say they fall under the category of “really good stuff.” So, sure, in-person dates are on pause. But CMB daters like you are finding creative ways to take their connections beyond chats. If you’re interested in trying something new together, ask a match out on one of these virtual dates.

1. Keep it casual with a video coffee date

A video coffee date is the perfect twist on the common video chat. How does it work? Schedule a time to video chat (Zoom, Facetime, and Skype are all good picks) to have casual conversation over coffee.

Not a coffee fan? Tea, water, or even a glass of wine will do (just maybe not for the morning; then again, you do you). There are no hard rules that say you have to have coffee or that it needs to be the morning; it just sounds better than, “Let’s Skype.” Plus, you can fill any awkward silences with a cooler-than-cool slurp of your beverage.

2. Make a throw-back phone call

For those of us used to Zooming, a phone call may seem a little…antiquated. But you heard it here first: phone calls are in. We won’t tell you how it works because we all know how to dial a number – and that’s the best part. It’s painfully simple, and there’s no need to find your best first-date outfit (because amid COVID-19 we all know it’s at the bottom of your laundry pile).

If you’re interested in talking on the phone but not so sure about giving out your phone number, consider using free-call services like Google Voice or Kakao Talk.

Pro Tip: Worried about carrying the conversation? Have a box of table-top cards on hand like the Icebreaker deck from Best Self Co to get things going. Just make sure you tell your date you’re bringing them out before you start the question party.

3. Challenge your match to a game night

Sometimes a little flying blue shell is what you need to spark chemistry. If you and your match are both into games, challenge them to a game night. Multiplayer and co-op videogames such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Castle Crashers, and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime are guaranteed fun.

But if you don’t have any gaming systems on hand, there’s no need to buy one just for virtual dates. Mobile games like Words With Friends can be a lot of fun, too, as well as the traditional Battleship (if you both have the boardgame), Pictionary, or a casual 20 Questions.

4. Try something new with an online museum tour

There’s a certain kind of person who prefers museum and gallery dates to a casual cup of coffee. If that person’s you, don’t fret over the “closed” signs. Google’s got your back with virtual museum views, and there’s always The Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. Share a screen via video chat and explore the secrets of Stonehenge, or take turns pretending you’re the tour guide by making up backstories for exhibits.

If a museum tour just isn’t your thing, the Metropolitan Opera is presenting live streams of performances as well for the near future. Looking for something a little more…exotic? It’s a date: tune in at 3 p.m. EDT for “Home Safari Facebook Live,” where the Cincinnati Zoo will share an (albeit sometimes shaky) stream of one of their zoo animals.

These experiences may not be the right virtual date for every match, but if you’re both down to try something new – it’s worth a shot.

5. Stream movies with Netflix Party

Netflix and Chill is canceled for the near future, but Netflix Party is fair game. With Netflix Party, you can synchronize video playback and group chat while you watch your favorite Netflix TV shows and movies. Swap witty commentary, or simply sit back and watch something together to discuss afterward.

Even better: Use Netflix Party to stream Bandersnatch – an interactive “choose your story” film – and take turns deciding (or debating) where the story goes.

6. Get creative with a recipe swap

Let’s be real, watching people eat over video chat isn’t the sexiest date. But, there are still a few ways to bond over a meal that are a smidge cuter. Enter, the recipe swap. To start a recipe swap, ask your match about their favorite recipe. Then, give them yours. On your own time, or via video chat if you both have ingredients available, get to cooking and see how it turns out. Take your first bite via video chat to see immediate reactions.

Fridge looking grim? Play a virtual version of “Chopped” – the show where chefs are put head-to-head to see what meal they can come up with using limited ingredients. Better yet, share pantry lists and have your match choose the ingredients for you.

Wishing for more virtual date ideas?

If you’ve exhausted this list of virtual dates and you’re looking for more, stay in the loop on our Instagram. There, we’ll post more tried and true digital dates, as well as tips for dating during COVID-19. Feel free to drop a comment or DM us about your experience – we’d love to hear from you about what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to dating during coronavirus.

Looking for someone to test out these virtual date ideas with? Download Coffee Meets Bagel to text yourself a link. Or, download CMB directly from your phone: iOS | Android