This post contains a sponsored inclusion of La Crema, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
"Making friends as an adult can feel tough. Making the first move in a potential friendship takes vulnerability and practice to put yourself out there. Not to mention the schedules that need to align to actually meet up in person. But what happens when you are partnered and want to make friends with other couples? Maybe youâre new to a city or neighborhood, maybe youâre the first of your friends to become parents and want to connect with other couples in a similar life stage, or maybe you just generally want to expand your social circle. Whatever your situation is, weâre here to help.
With advice from two experts, weâre sharing more about the benefits of becoming friends with other couples as well as some ways to get started.
How to Make Couple Friends
The Benefits and Challenges of Making Couple Friends
Not only is it fun to socialize with other couples, but seeing how other couples handle tough topics like parenting, distributing unpaid labor, caring for aging parents, etc. can offer assurances and new perspectives for your own relationship. âCouples with couple friends are getting support and validation from other peers,â said Dr. Laura Dabney, a psychiatrist based in Virginia Beach, VA. âItâs also a way for people to have friends of a different gender without inciting jealousy or concern in the other partner (as long as all communication between the different genders remains transparent, which I recommend).â
âBuilding meaningful connections is vital for our emotional well-being and ultimately how we show up as parents,â said Jennifer Whyte, CEO and Founder of MomieGo, a friend-matching app for parents.
Of course, in the early days of parenting, itâs hard to find time to dedicate to each other, much less another couple. Not to mention the other unique challenge of making couple friendsâinstead of finding a match between two people, youâre seeking a connection with four. Hereâs how to get started.
How to Meet Other Couples
Again, itâs not easy to âmake the first moveâ toward a new friendship, so Whyte offered this conversation starter, âI hope this doesnât come across as lame or weird, but we genuinely enjoy your company and thought it would be great to plan a double date. What do you think?â
âAcknowledging the awkwardness can actually help build deeper connections with other couples,â she said. âBeing honest about feeling awkward and using humor to lighten the atmosphere can make the situation more comfortable. Showing vulnerability⊠is appreciated and your willingness to admit these feelings [is something] every human can relate to.â
Some opportunities to meet other couples can also register lower on the awkward scaleâlike auditing your individual friends and acquaintances. Is there a coworker your partner is always talking about? Do you have a budding friendship with a parent at pickup? Knowing half the parties involved already click as potential friends can be a helpful starting point. Of course, if youâre new to an area, you will have to make more of an effort. Here, weâre sharing more six ways to meet and get to know other couples.
1. Host a Casual Happy Hour
Much like dating, happy hours require less commitment than say a double dinner date. Invite another coupleâor a few neighbors or classroom parentsâto your home for a low-key get-to-know-you gathering. Be sure to have a selection of nibbles and drinks, including non-alcoholic options, for guests to enjoy.
When offering wine options, it also helps to have multiple bottles of red and white on hand, especially when youâre just meeting another couple and donât know their preferences yet. If youâre looking for a wine youâd feel good about sharing with new potential friends, we recommend editor-favorite brand La Crema. Elegant and elevated, La Cremaâs varietals are born from the worldâs preeminent wine-growing regions and are a brand we reach for when it comes to serving a high-quality wine worthy of that first impression. While they have plenty of bottles to choose from, you can most certainly count on their Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to get the good vibes going.
La Cremaâs Chardonnay offers a juicy, lingering finish sure to make a splash while their Pinot Noir is a cherry-meets-cacao medley thatâll keep them coming back for more. Pro tip: If youâre really not sure of their preferences, you can also pick up La Cremaâs Monterey Pinot Noir RosĂ© and use code LCEVERYMOM to receive 15% off and free shipping when you order four or more bottles or their Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc through InstaCart to get it delivered to your door ASAP!
La Crema
Juicy with subtle hints of oak, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay pairs well with seafood, chicken, vegetables, and tart sweets.
La Crema
Bright, bold, and smooth, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir pairs well with apps like bacon-wrapped dates and chocolate treats.
2. Attend Couple-Friendly Events
A non-profit fundraiser, a company happy hour, or a club holiday party are all couple-friendly events primed for mingling with and meeting other couples. Just remember to exchange contact information if you or your partner really click with someone.
3. Host a Game Night or Attend a Trivia Night
A little competition can bond people together. Hosting a game night or heading out for a trivia night can be a low-key way to get to know another couple, with plenty of opportunities for natural conversation starters.
4. Join a Team Together
Sports fan couples might consider joining a local team or a league together. Dodgeball, softball, pickleball, paddle ball, or even bowling could be natural ways to connect with other couples on an ongoing basis.
5. Try Outdoor Activity Clubs
For active couples looking to meet other active couples, you might join a running club, hiking club, biking club, or even train together for a local race. Socialization is often part of the after-celebration, so even if you canât talk that much while bike riding, there will still be time to connectâand you know you already have one shared interest.
6. Utilize Local Social Media Groups and Meet-Up Apps
As with everything, thereâs an app for meeting other couples with similar interests. You can post in a local Facebook group or seek out couple âmatchesâ via a friendship app like MomieGo, Meetup, or Nextdoor.
Nurturing Friendships With Other Couples
Again, it takes a lot to put yourself out there the first time. And if you click with another couple, an easy way to keep the connection going is to follow up with a group text and put together your next plan. âMention that youâve had so much fun hanging out as couples,â said Whyte. âAcknowledge the things you appreciate [about them]. It can strengthen bonds between friends.â
If only one half of a partnership âclicksâ with someone in the other coupleâwhich Dr. Dabney said is so commonâshe suggested, âthe couple to talk honestly about their reactions to each of the other people in the other couple, and then to agree on how many outings they are willing to engage in to determine if this poor reaction âsticks.ââ
If it wasnât quite a match, try not to feel discouraged. The stakes are a lot lower for couple friendships than dating relationships because youâve already found your personâcouple friendships are a bonus! Congratulate each other for stepping out of your comfort zone and meeting some new people. Putting yourselves out there is the first step toward finding a connection.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of La Crema, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.