Would you want your real life to look like a Hallmark Christmas movie? Well, you’re not alone. It seems like plenty of the American dating public is hoping for holiday magic in the romance department this year.
Nearly half (48%) of the 1,000 American participants in a recent survey from the dating app Bumble said the holidays are the ideal time to meet a partner. That’s what Sarah Wallin of Bumble told Axios. Additionally, the outlet reported that more than a third (39%) of those surveyed said they enjoyed dating in the winter more than in any other season.
Increased interest in dating during the holiday season has even earned the time between October and Valentine’s Day the nickname “cuffing season,” according to Merriam-Webster. It “refers to a period of time where single people begin looking for short term partnerships to pass the colder months of the year.”
Per Bumble’s 2025 dating trends report, “research from over 40,000 Gen Z and millennial Bumble members worldwide has revealed that while dating is evolving, modern daters still feel optimistic in their search for love.”
Over the past year, Bumble said people in the dating game have been “rejecting perfection, discarding outdated dating timelines, and valuing emotional vulnerability and shared values,” as they search for partners. For those who do find love this holiday season, Bumble said people are expected to embrace “the cringe” as well as public displays of affection, rom-coms and the joy of meet-cutes as we enter into the upcoming year.
“In fact, the majority (86%) of singles surveyed agree that how we show affection has changed to include behaviors like sending memes, a playlist, or sharing inside jokes,” said Bumble.
Bumble also said 2025 is “expected to be a transitional year,” and that 64% of women are getting clear about what they need and refusing to settle for less.
Most members of Bumble – 87%, according to the dating app – were thriving in their dating lives this year. Audacy station WBBM recently reported that more than half of men who participated in another survey said they would be open to going to a fast food restaurant on a first date to save money. As for singles, Bumble said they are focused on romance, transparency, and relying on their social circles to help them with dating.
“Singles are embracing intentionality in their dating lives—being upfront about what they want and refusing to settle,” said Melissa Hobley, chief marketing officer for the dating app Tinder, which also released a recent tends report. According to Tinder’s data, people are looking for “real, unscripted moments that make dating so memorable,” in 2025.
It also offered a list of top dating activities for those looking for love. Some people in chillier parts of the U.S. might want to avoid the top activity, “beach,” as well as the seventh spot, picnics, and skydiving in the eighth spot during the holiday season. However, hiking, concerts, bowling, painting, museums, dinner dates and game nights are all good ideas to start making those unscripted moments happen.