Autumn brings cuffing season for country life daters.

Autumn sees the start of cuffing season, where singles up their online dating game in pursuit of casual companionship to cosy up with until Spring.

We know the rural and remote singles who online date with us are not the sort to be swayed by cinnamon sickly visions of kicking up leaves and endless cuddles on the sofa (not with 5am starts on the farm to consider).

But alas, a season of apple dipping, hot chocolate, dog walking, and ‘boxset binging’ dates is upon us as the darker evenings draw in.

Outside, it’s just as mushy. Even the leaves are falling for someone.

With the rural romance of it all, comes the start of cuffing season; a 5-month long season in which singles typically up their online dating efforts, each looking to unearth semi-serious, short-term partners to cosy up with until life bounces back in spring when things are reconsidered.

‘Where do I see this going long term”? is often a question asked around Valentine’s Day as cuffed connections ‘thaw out.’

A short term ‘exclusive’ relationship – high on intimacy and convenience – to help combat the bleurgh of the winter blues appeals to a lot of online daters, especially when the weather, and shorter days, makes you just want to hibernate.

Cuffing may not be as rife on Muddy Matches as is it on other dating apps and websites; our mud loving singles are so much more adjusted to outdoor life in inclement conditions, and days that start and end in the dark.

However, there are signs it does occur whilst country life dating. The everyday experiences of rural life will continue to appeal to others who find comfort and in the coping strategies of country folk.

Cuffing season may have pumpkin spiced, short term couples’ goals at its core but it also brings a chance to ‘try before you buy’ if both partners understand what they are getting into.

And it’s not necessarily about unearthing something new by way of a country connection either.

Cuffing season traditionally sees a rekindling of known connections, with singles taking the opportunity to revisit their favourites lists, mutual matches, and past messaging history to see who’s interested in bunkering down to share the colder evenings together.

It’s easier to reignite old sparks of interest, than to fire up something from scratch. This doesn’t mean standards drop, nor that tick boxes becomes more easily ticked.

Quite the opposite in fact. Cuffing puts a greater priority on bonding on common ground, shared interests, and matched outlook on life – something Muddy Matches hold dear to our hearts.

Connections are formed that are less founded on the phwoar factor, and more based on strength of character and personality that can comfort, reassure, and entertain.

The chance to chat one on one on a deeper level is far greater than on those footloose and fancy free, balmy summer’s evenings socialising.

It makes casual ‘cuffed couples’ super comfortable in each other’s company – and  that is a firm footing for any relationship, no matter how short term it is from the outset.

It’s a hang out, not a hook up. And those looking to ‘cuff’ are genuinely wanting to settle into a rhythm with someone daily. It’s often been seen as a ‘shortcut’ to the bread-and-butter bits of an everyday relationship.

We also see more singles messaging, winking, and favouriting as they put out the feelers.

At Muddy Matches, we tend to see early shoots of cuffing season around now, when our excellent value 3-month and 6-month premium subscriptions become a firm favourite with singles upping their game.