Woman Sets Out to Have 50 First Dates and Film Them All — But It's Not About a Free Dinner (Exclusive)
Over the past year, Liberty Schultz has been on 35 first dates
Liberty Schultz
Liberty Schultz has a goal of going on 50 first datesLiberty Schultz's dating adventure began on Sept. 20, 2023, following a difficult breakup
After talking with a friend she was inspired to start dating again, and she set a goal to experience 50 first dates and document them on social media
To find potential matches, Schultz created a Google Form for her friends and social media followers, asking for names and details about candidates’ ages, best qualities and a photo
Over the past year she's gone on 35 dates
Throughout the past year, Liberty Schultz has been on 35 first dates — and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Her dating adventure began on Sept. 20, 2023, following a difficult breakup with a close friend. Disillusioned by dating apps and tired of the typical bar dates, Schultz decided to reinvent her approach to finding love. Motivated by a friend’s belief in genuine connections, she set a goal to experience 50 first dates and document them all on social media.
To find potential matches, Schultz created a Google Form for her friends and social media followers, asking for names and details about candidates’ ages, best qualities and a photo. Despite her relatively modest following, the response was overwhelming, with friends eagerly recommending potential dates.
"I knew they would be good guys," Schultz, 25, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "My friends could vouch for them, and I’d often hear from friends wanting to set me up but nothing ever materialized. This was their chance."
In addition to the form, Schultz met potential dates through spontaneous encounters and social media.
"One of the guys I met while playing pickup soccer," she recalls. "We kicked the ball around and ended up going on a date. I also reached out to people via DM and through friends. Even some of my followers have set me up with people, suggesting that we might get along well."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
For her dates, Schultz used the Adventure Challenge Couples Edition book, which features scratch-off date suggestions. "The book has all these quirky, adventurous ideas. I wanted to avoid the usual drinks and dinner and try something more exciting," she explains.
Among her favorite dates were two particularly memorable ones. One involved an air mattress picnic on a lake in February, which, despite the freezing temperatures, proved to be a fun and revealing experience. "We were in swimsuits, floating on an air mattress, trying to eat strawberries and drink smoothies in the cold," she says. "It was a silly, memorable date that showed me the guy’s true character."
Another standout date involved visiting a thrift store to dress each other. "That was a super fun experience," Schultz says. "It was playful and spontaneous, and I loved the creativity of it."
“There’s no set pace for this journey,” adds Schultz, a part-time nurse out of Atlanta. “It’s going a bit slower than I expected because I want it to match the pace of the people I meet. If I have a great time on a date and want to see the person again, we’ll definitely go out again — sometimes multiple times."
Some weeks, Schultz goes on two or three dates, while other weeks might be less busy due to personal commitments or travel. “I’ve been trying to pay attention to how I’m feeling. Do I need a break? Am I overwhelmed or in a bad headspace for dating? If so, I take a break,” she explains.
Schultz is also mindful about how she approaches second dates. “I take second dates very seriously. If we’re going on a second date, it means I’m genuinely interested in that person. So yes, there are multiple dates happening, and I’m fully committed to real dating.”
When Schultz discusses her quest with friends and family, one common question is about the cost of all these dates. Some wonder if she’s just going out to get free dinners, but she clarifies that’s not the point.
“Most of the time, I’ll ask if I can cover something as a way of contributing since they’re letting me film the date,” she says. “Some guys are totally fine with that and will let me, while others insist on paying. Sometimes we’ll split costs — like I’ll buy the ice cream and they’ll get the drinks. For adventure challenge dates that require supplies I’ll cover those, and the guy might handle the drinks.”
“It’s all about communication,” she adds. “We talk it through and see what works for both of us. If a guy wants to pay for everything, I’m perfectly happy with that — chivalry isn’t dead, after all!”
Before meeting a new guy, Schultz assesses her comfort level during a phone call, where she discusses date details and explains that she will be documenting the date online. “Most people know about it, especially if they've been recommended by a friend,” she says. “When matching on dating apps, I send them a video right away so they’re fully aware. I always seek verbal confirmation that they’re okay with being filmed."
For second dates, she prefers not to film, focusing instead on having a genuine conversation. “I think it literally just comes down to the connection with the person," she shares. "Some dates are simple but incredibly memorable due to the connection I feel. However, an adventurous date or something beautiful, like a sunset, makes it even more special. Pair that with an awesome guy, and it’s an experience I cherish every time.”
Since starting this journey, Schultz has amassed a following of more than 150,000 across Instagram and TikTok. She's also shared her dating stories on her podcast "IT'S A DATE."
She describes the online reaction as incredible and heartwarming.
“It’s amazing to see how many girls have been inspired to get back out there and believe that good guys are out there," Schultz says. "I receive so many DMs from people sharing their own stories of moving on from bad situations and starting to date again. The positive feedback has been overwhelmingly encouraging.”
Of course, Schultz also faces some negativity. “There are trolls who comment on things like my hair or accuse me of just doing this for free dinners,” she says. “Those comments can be tough, but they’re just a small part of the overall response. The supportive messages far outweigh the negativity, and it’s truly uplifting to see how many people are inspired by this journey.”
"I’ve grown so much throughout this process," she adds. "The biggest takeaway is that there are genuinely good guys who want to date, connect and get to know you. I lost hope for a while, but now I definitely believe again that good guys are out there. I’ve also learned that you have to put yourself out there to meet people. You can’t just stick to your comfort zone — whether it’s sitting on your couch or only hanging out with friends at a bar. Putting yourself out there is crucial to meeting someone special.”
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
