Just to make things clear, when it comes to Grouper, we’re not talking about the fish. It’s actually a dating site (or as they prefer, social club) that sets you and your two best friends up with another group of three friends.
How it works
After you apply for membership (don’t worry, this isn’t an elite club that only Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf can get accepted into), Grouper will match you with someone else using your Facebook profile. But, they’re not checking out how hot you are, rather, they set you up based on age, educational background, profession, interests, and lifestyle. On top of all that, they also ask you what you’re looking for—from older guys, to just about your age, to youngins’ if that’s what you’re into. Although the site doesn’t mention any age requirements, it’s most likely a 21+ kind of deal, since Grouper typically sends you to a bar to meet up with your dates. On that note, once matched, you invite two wing-women to tag along and the guys do the same. After that, you pay Grouper $20, they pick a restaurant or bar, and then set you all up with a round of free drinks.
The pros and cons
So what makes Grouper the new hit thing in dating? Well, for starters, since it’s a social gathering of six (three guys, three girls), you don’t have to worry about being set up with a creeper. You have to be somewhat normal to have two best friends to come out with you. Even if you don’t get along with one guy, you can still have fun with the entire group… or totally fall for one of his friends, improving your chances of meeting someone (cough, cough).
On top of that, Grouper’s casual. There’s no pressure like on a blind, first date because it’s more of a group hangout than a traditional date.
As for its pitfalls? If you’re looking for something more serious and less laidback, then Grouper may not be for you—like we said, it’s more of a hangout among friends than a legitimate date. But it is a guaranteed night out where you’ll meet new people, laugh at awkward moments with your friends, and get free drinks courtesy of Grouper. It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone.
My experience
My two best friends and I went on Grouper date in late-January, knowing we had nothing to lose by trying it out. If the guys turned out to be lame, we had each other there for entertainment, a definite plus. When we found out we were selected, Grouper sent each of us a “two truths and lie” form to fill out—if you’re unfamiliar, you write down two truths about yourself and one lie and the other people have to figure out which is false (I have an irrational fear of onions, I’m 4’11, and I can bend my pinky all the way back—start guessing). The day before the big date we received the guys’ answers so that we could talk about it as an icebreaker when we first met. Other than that, all we knew were their first names—Jeff, John, and Matt.
When we got to the bar, we told the bartender we were there for a Grouper, with the reservation under my roommate’s name. He pointed us in the direction of our three suitors, and our group date began. We chatted casually about school, hometowns, and the Paleo diet (yeah, that happened) while we sipped our drinks. It was nothing out of the ordinary—to onlookers, we looked like six friends hanging out.
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But what makes Grouper dates definitely more out-of-the-box is the Grouper Gram competition. Grouper awards dates prizes (from free drinks to weekend getaway vacations) based on an Instagram picture you take and tag with their hashtag, #GrouperGram. With a love for competition, the six of us spent at least a half hour planning out what our potential award-winning photo would be, settling on all of us sharing a jumbo slice of pizza, Lady and the Tramp style.
At the end of the night, we all exchanged numbers and said our goodbyes. My friends and I didn’t have romantic feelings for any of the guys, but we definitely thought we had met three new friends to hang out with again in the future. Romantically, we didn’t hit it off. But as friends, the partnership could definitely work.
And as for the #GrouperGram contest? We’re still staying tuned for the results…
So collegiettes, what do you think about ways to get matched up and date? Let us know how you feel about Grouper in the comment section below!
*Names have been changed