At Chapter 2, we love nothing more than creating a little joy. As individuals who have experienced the loss of our partners, we firmly believe in our right to seek and embrace moments of genuine happiness.
Step into a world where love and resilience intertwine, as we share the extraordinary dating success stories of widows/widowers who have found a second chance at happiness.
With hearts and spirits rekindled, these remarkable individuals are navigating the complexities of loss, healing, and self-discovery. Each story is a testament to the power of hope, as they embrace the journey of opening their hearts once more.
Join us in celebrating their courage and triumph, and be inspired by the transformative power of love that knows no boundaries or obstacles. Read our Chapter 2 dating success stories below.
Ceri (54) and Neel (45) met on Chapter 2 dating site at the end of November 2022 and have been dating for three months.
They ‘met’ each other on the site a few days after they both joined and exchanged a few messages back and forth. They soon progressed to texting and met up shortly after that. They haven’t looked back.
Neel was widowed in 2020 after his partner of 20 years, Carol, passed away following a cancer diagnosis. He joined Widowed and Young (WAY) as it offered support from people who truly understood what he was going through. Neel never tried any of the other dating apps but after speaking with people at WAY he learnt about Chapter 2 and decided to give it a go. He had quite low expectations but thought he would give the app a try in order to find friendship at least.
Shortly after Neel joined he matched with Ceri and the two have now been dating for three months. Ceri was widowed in 2022 after being with her husband Bill for 30 years. She lost her husband very suddenly to a cardiac arrest and so her grief was very strong and her grief journey very intense.
Ceri tried some of the more mainstream dating apps and was left disillusioned as to the dating world. She found Chapter 2 through Google, and found the idea that there was a community that understood what she was going through comforting.
Ceri comments: “There can be some judgement as to when is too soon to start dating again after loss but there is no set time. Everyone’s grief journey is different.”
Helen and Brian met on Chapter 2.
Brian, had been with his wife for over 20 years before she passed away, the same duration as Helen, had been with her husband before he passed away. “I waited around three years before I started to explore again”, Helen says, with Brian’s situation a little more different, “Initially for me, it was four months. My wife had been having active cancer treatment for 14 years, so I lived with everything revolving around hospital appointments. However, looking back it was far too quick, so my initial dating experience didn’t work out.”
They had both separately endeavoured to move forward by using dating apps, and luckily for Helen, she went straight to Chapter 2. However, Brian initially tested out other options, “I tried Match.com, but I soon realised the app wasn’t for me, and I remember the status didn’t even include the option of widowed, just ‘divorced, separated or other’”.
When it comes to the stigma of moving forward after loss, Helen has a supportive family. “My experience has been positive, with friends and family understanding my decision”, says Helen. “My husband passed away 6 months before COVID, which meant I was sheltered for two years. Also, my dad was widowed when he was in his 40’s, so we’ve had a lot of affinities in the family.”
On the other hand, Brian had some bad experiences when he first joined other apps, “People used to ask if my wife was still around, and if I was playing about, which was shocking. I felt like I had to always explain my situation, making it hard to carry on the process.”
The pair knew when they matched, it was different. “It felt so natural, we messaged for a few weeks and hit it off”, said Brian. “I was apprehensive to meet up in person, I even made him wait for three weeks, however I’m so glad I caved in, as the rest is history”, said Helen.
For anyone in Helen and Brian’s situation, and thinking about taking the plunge back into dating, they both can’t praise Chapter 2 enough. Helen says it’s a great way to build your confidence first. “I didn’t want to be sat on my own forever, Chapter 2 is a great way to chat to people who understand your situation.” Brian adds, “If you do decide to get back out there, remember to be safe. Also, your opening line doesn’t have to be ‘I’m a widow’, there’s no pressure if you don’t want to discuss.”
Do you have a Chapter 2 success to share? We’d love to hear your story. If you have found your next chapter using our platform then please do let us know, we’d love to celebrate your journey.
Email our founder Nicky on nicky@chapter2dating.co.uk