The 3rd FIM speed dating event will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Venue address and details will be shared with confirmed ticket holders.

Arrival: While the main speed dating event is on Saturday evening, we recommend flying in on Friday afternoon to any Chicago airport. New in 2025: We’ll group you into a “warm-up pod” of 6-8 other participants; think of this as your built-in crew to grab dinner with, hang out, or explore the city on Friday night. The goal of the “warm up pods” is so that you can arrive at the main event on Saturday feeling a little more connected and knowing a few familiar faces. Arriving Friday gives you time to explore Chicago with your new “pod” mates! 

Departure: We recommend finding a departure time on Sunday evening after 5 or 6 PM CST. We’ll plan to organize a Sunday brunch (approx time will be 11 am – 2 pm CST), so best to find a departure time that enables enough flexibility to attend. 

The main event will be on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 5 PM CST sharp. Please note that due to the nature of facilitating logistics of over 1,000 individual speed dates, latecomers will not be admitted.*

Yes! We welcome anyone who identifies as Malayalee Christian, regardless of their denomination.

The standard price of the event ticket will be $349. This ticket will include all costs of dinner, drinks, venue, and all forms of entertainment, including an afterparty. Those who submit their application by the Early bird deadline of July 4, 2025 will be eligible to receive a $100 discount off the regular price.

Hotel is not included in the price of the event ticket. We will reserve a room block at a nearby hotel and share details to invited guests to book their rooms directly with the hotel.

The main speed dating event will last approximately five hours. During this time, designated areas of the venue will be reserved for speed dating sessions, while a separate space will host games, ice-breakers, and a variety of entertainment activities. 

Each participant will receive a personalized schedule outlining their speed dating sessions.. When not in a session, attendees are encouraged to mingle and unwind in the entertainment area. 

Additional events include an official afterparty on Saturday (included in the price of your ticket) as well as a Sunday brunch at a local Chicago eatery. Details of these of these additional events will be shared with confirmed participants.

NEW in 2025: This year, we’re introducing “warm-up pods”—small groups of 6–8 participants curated before the event. You’ll receive your pod and contact details ahead of time, giving you the chance to connect, grab dinner on Friday, or explore the city together before the main event.

Please note: FIM provides the groupings and introductions, but we do not coordinate the meetups. It’s a low-pressure way to break the ice, but how and when you connect is entirely up to your pod.

Since dating is entirely demand driven, the age ranges of those invited will be dependent on the preferences and criteria shared by the wider applicant pool.

No, this event is NOT an open invite. All individuals must complete the application form, and invitations to purchase tickets will be extended following a selection process. Please see the next question for more details.

The selection process will be largely demand-driven and influenced by the data we collect. Speed Dating thrives on openness; the more open an applicant identifies themselves as, the higher their chances of receiving an invitation. While we would love to accommodate all applicants, the reality of dating requires a level of curation to ensure compatibility amongst speed daters. e.g., A great applicant who would have zero or one match based on the criteria they shared would not be a good fit for the event.

This approach is done to ensure the highest success at the event and to improve the experience for all in attendance.

The selection process carefully considers various factors, including age, gender, geography, dating intentions, preferences for children, denomination & denomination preferences, dealbreakers, and other information identified in the application forms.

We will do our best to screen applicants, including a social media and online presence sweep, to prevent any unsavory characters from attending the event. Additionally, our 1:1 male-to-female ratio policy will help ensure a balanced and enjoyable event for all.

We’ll be organizing an official afterparty (included in the price of your ticket) after the main speed dating event on Saturday night, as well as another optional brunch gathering on Sunday afternoon. These optional events are a great way to continue to mingle and have more opportunities to connect with other singles.