testimonials
✩
testimonials ✩
hear from our members
See how Throwback Dating transformed connections into success stories.
amanda
Amanda shares her experience at Throwback Dating events and offers tips for those who feel uncomfortable in social settings.
"Whether or not you first chat with a female or a male, everybody’s just really open and interested in what anybody else has to say."
“Megan does a great job of making sure that everything is balanced so that people feel comfortable.”
"I’d love it if more guys could just feel comfortable coming and engaging in a social gathering—it may lead them to someone, or it may not. But if they never open that door, they’ll never know."
Gina
Gina shares her experience at a Chicago Throwback Dating event, where she connected with high-quality singles.
“Megan Wessels has a knack for connecting people—it’s just part of her genius. It was a great night, met wonderful people, I got a date with that gentleman and also a date with another gentleman.”
Phil
Phil reflects on the Pasta Making Class, where he made pasta and met amazing singles.
“It was a wonderful event. I met tons of great people, men and women, and also had a great time, were very well-organized, even inspired me to make pasta on my own later.”
RYAN
Ryan shares his experience at a Singles Mixer at Ambassador Chicago, where he had a great time meeting new people.
"You show up alone but you feel like you're not alone. Everyone is so laid back that you can talk to whomever you want. It was my first singles event in my life so I felt awkward at first, but had a great time."
HENRY
Henry shares his experience at the 80's Night with Sixteen Candles Band at House of Blues.
“Megan! Thank you again! Had a great time! Sixteen Candles was awesome! We had so much fun on the floor with that flood of people jumping, screaming, laughing and dancing! Thanks again for the invite. The whole night was such a success! Thank you!”
ROB
Rob shares his experience at the Poker Night for Charity in Wilmette.
“Thanks for arranging that Megan. It was way less pressurized than I thought. Everyone was so relaxed and chill it was easy to simply have fun. Everyone was very nice.“
JUSTIN
“After spending a significant amount of time navigating online dating, I often found myself feeling uncertain, confused, and frustrated… with far too much time wasted.
That’s when I decided to attend a Throwback Dating event at the Shedd Aquarium (August 2025).
Upon arriving I spent ten minutes having conversations with guests, and it didn’t take long for me to catch the eye of a particular woman who was truly alluring. I immediately sat next to her, and for the next half hour we had an incredible conversation… the kind of connection you simply can’t get through online messaging or even a phone call.
It was a truly organic, in-person meeting, just like the old days - where you can look someone in the eyes and really get a sense of who they are.
Thirty dates later (yes, 30!), I’m happy to say we’re having a blast together.
What a great way to cap off the year! Thank you Megan and Throwback Dating.”
URSULA
“I’m a 55-year-old, self-employed woman in Chicago who was looking for a serious connection, and I was thrilled to discover Throwback Dating, created by Megan.
Through the opportunities Megan creates, I met someone who is serious, handsome, fun, and a true gentleman. I was looking for a high-quality human being… someone empathetic, caring, generous, and fun… and Megan was able to connect me with exactly the right person.
Her thoughtfully hosted events bring together incredible people and create genuine, meaningful connections. I’m so grateful for this experience.”
EDEN
“To me, Megan Wessels is an angel. She has a true gift for connecting great, high-quality people.
I was skeptical at first, but after she interviewed me, she connected me with an incredible gentleman… someone with the very qualities I had been praying for. Through that connection, I found my second chance at love.
Megan brings a modern, intentional approach to organic dating, and I’m deeply grateful for the way she helped change my life.”
ROB
“Throwback Dating truly changed the course of my life.
The Throwback community helped me find myself again. Through the experience, I was able to open up to possibilities I didn’t even know existed, and I found a connection with a very special person I never would have met any other way.
I’m incredibly grateful for this community and for the way it helped me step into a new chapter of my life.”
kate
“Rob and I met at the very first Throwback Dating event either of us attended in February 2025... a small, curated charity poker night hosted in someone’s home. From the very beginning, it felt different from dating apps. In one evening, I had real conversations and meaningful connections with more people than I ever did through months of swiping. I remember thinking, I may not have met my match tonight, but I’ve met some interesting people I could genuinely see myself being friends with.
I had been married for 20 years and took several years after my divorce before dating again. When I finally tried the apps, I stayed on them for about a year - open to meeting someone, but never feeling like the process truly reflected who I was. When I met Megan and heard her vision for Throwback Dating, it felt like a relief: a way to meet people as whole humans, not dating profiles.
When I first met Rob, I felt a curiosity that made me want to get to know him better. When we finally went out a month later, I felt a strong connection that felt worth exploring. At the time, he wasn’t even looking to date... he came to his first Throwback Dating event hoping to make new friends during a difficult chapter of life. Ultimately, we spent three to four months simply spending time together as friends before ever calling anything a “date.”
That lack of pressure created space for trust, comfort, and safety to grow. We both carried past pain and understandable hesitation, but I believe the key to our success has been how the relationship has unfolded slowly and organically. We have a ton of fun together, we laugh a lot, there is a strong mutual attraction and we bring real joy to each other’s lives, and that feels amazing. It feels like a gift.”