Blind dates have a reputation. The awkward silences, the polite smiles, the “I’ll get this one” as you make your escape before dessert. It’s no wonder a lot of single Christians are sceptical. But what if christian blind dates — a properly arranged one, with someone who actually shares your faith — could be the start of something real?
That’s exactly the question SALT set out to explore when we launched Third Wheel Dates, our Christian blind date show on YouTube. And after four marriages and counting, we think the answer is a fairly resounding yes.
Here’s what we’ve learned about Christian blind dates — why they work, why they’re different, and why they might be more worth trying than you think.
What is a Christian blind date?
A Christian blind date is exactly what it sounds like: a first date between two people who haven’t met before, arranged because they share a Christian faith. Unlike a typical blind date — which might be set up by a well-meaning friend who thinks you’re both “nice” — a Christian blind date starts with something genuinely meaningful in common.
Faith shapes how people live, what they value, how they think about relationships, and what they’re ultimately looking for. When two people share that foundation, even a first meeting has something real to build on — before anyone has said a word about hobbies or career aspirations.
That doesn’t mean Christian blind dates are pressure-free. The nerves are still very real. But they tend to start from a different place.
How Third Wheel Dates works
Third Wheel Dates is SALT’s blind date show on YouTube, where we arrange first dates between single Christians and film what happens. There’s no script, no manufactured drama, and no rose ceremonies. But there is Lauren Windle crashing the date and also helping conversation along.
Sometimes it’s awkward. It’s often funny. Sometimes it’s moving. And sometimes — four times so far — it’s the beginning of a marriage.
Episodes are available on the SALT YouTube channel. If you haven’t watched one yet, they’re well worth an hour of your time — not just for entertainment, but for the reminder that real Christian connection is genuinely possible.
Why Christian blind dates are different
Shared faith changes the dynamic
On a standard first date, both people are essentially strangers navigating small talk, hoping to find common ground. On a Christian blind date, there’s already a shared reference point that matters more than most: a relationship with God, a set of values shaped by faith, and a shared understanding of what a relationship is ultimately for.
That doesn’t dissolve the nerves, but it does give the conversation somewhere real to go. Questions about faith, church community, how God has moved in someone’s life — these come up naturally rather than feeling like an interrogation. And because both people have agreed to be on a Christian blind date in the first place, there’s no awkwardness about the faith dimension at all.
The stakes are lower than you think
One of the things that makes Third Wheel Dates so watchable is how normal it is. These aren’t perfectly matched couples on a reality TV set. They’re ordinary single Christians, doing their best, trying to be themselves, and seeing if there’s a connection.
That normalcy is reassuring. Christian dating can feel like it carries enormous weight — the idea that God has “one person” for you, that marriage is a serious commitment, that you shouldn’t date casually. All of that can make a first date feel like an audition rather than a conversation. A blind date, paradoxically, can take some of that pressure off. You didn’t spend weeks building expectations. You just turned up.
It gets you out of your own way
Most single Christians have a list — consciously or not — of what their future spouse should look like. Height, denomination, music taste, sense of humour. Blind dates bypass all of that. You meet someone without the filter of a profile or a mutual friend’s description. What you’re left with is just the actual person.
Several of the couples who’ve come out of Third Wheel Dates have said something along these lines: they might not have matched with each other on an app, but in person, something clicked. That’s not a reason to abandon your values — but it is a reason to keep an open mind.
Four marriages: what the numbers tell us
Four marriages from a blind date show is remarkable. To put it in context: most first dates don’t lead to a second. Most second dates don’t lead to a relationship. And most relationships don’t lead to marriage. The fact that four couples who met as strangers on a camera date are now married speaks to something more than luck.
It tells you that Christian blind dates, when approached with the right spirit — open, genuine, faith-centred — can work. Not always, not easily, and not without nerves. But they can. And trusting a friend to match-make you is a really valid option.
It also tells you something about the value of intentionality. Every person who has appeared on Third Wheel Dates chose to show up. They said yes to something uncertain, something vulnerable, something that required them to step outside their comfort zone. That kind of openness is, it turns out, a pretty good foundation for a relationship.
The awkward bits (because there are always awkward bits)
We’d be doing you a disservice if we made Christian blind dates sound like a fairytale. They’re not. Some of the episodes on Third Wheel Dates are genuinely, warmly, relatable in their awkwardness.
There are pauses that go on slightly too long. Questions that don’t quite land. Moments where one person is clearly more interested than the other. That’s real, and it’s fine. Dating is awkward. Christian dating can be especially awkward, for all sorts of reasons: the weight of expectation, the smallness of church community, the feeling that everyone is watching.
What Third Wheel Dates shows is that you can get through the awkward bits. You can laugh at them. And sometimes — not always, but sometimes — you get through them and find something genuinely good on the other side.
SALT was built on this very idea. Our whole mission started with the observation that meeting other Christians who love Jesus shouldn’t have to be so awkward. We haven’t eliminated the awkward. But we’ve made it a little more fun to navigate.
Should you try a Christian blind date?
If you’ve been thinking about it, here are a few reasons to say yes.
It gets you out of your own head. Dating apps can become a hobby in themselves — swiping, filtering, crafting the perfect opening message. A blind date strips all of that away and puts you face to face with an actual person. That’s scary. It’s also refreshing.
Shared faith is a genuine head start. You’re not starting from zero. The most important thing you have in common is already established before you sit down.
The worst case is a funny story. Not every blind date leads to a relationship. Some lead to a nice afternoon and a good anecdote. That’s not failure — that’s just dating.
The best case is a marriage. Four times and counting.
How to arrange a Christian blind date
You don’t need a camera crew. Christian blind dates can be as simple as two friends agreeing to set you up with someone from their church, small group, or wider faith community — without giving you too much information about each other first.
Or if you’re interested in the opportunities SALT are investing in to help singles meet, date and marry, reach out to love@be-salt.com
FAQ: Christian blind dates
How do I find a Christian blind date? The easiest routes are through trusted friends in your church or Christian community, or through a faith-based dating app like SALT. Ask someone who knows you well to set you up with someone they think might be a good match — without telling you too much about each other first.
What makes a Christian blind date different from a regular blind date? Shared faith. On a standard blind date, you’re hoping to find something in common. On a Christian blind date, the most important thing you have in common is already there before you start. That gives the conversation somewhere real to go from the very beginning.
Is it okay for Christians to go on blind dates? Absolutely. There’s nothing unbiblical about meeting new people in an intentional, structured way. Many couples in the Bible met through unexpected or arranged circumstances. What matters is the spirit in which you approach it — openness, honesty, and keeping God at the centre.
What is Third Wheel Dates? Third Wheel Dates is SALT’s Christian blind date show on YouTube, where single Christians go on filmed first dates with someone they’ve never met. To date, four couples from the show have gone on to get married. You can watch episodes at youtube.com/@be_salt.
Can I appear on Third Wheel Dates? Get in touch with the SALT team at love@be-salt.com if you’re interested in being part of the show.
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