I used to think finding love would feel a lot more magical than it does in practice. Between dating apps, endless advice, and the dating rules, hacks, and theories that promise to help you find “the one,” modern dating has started to feel more exhausting than exciting. That’s why it’s no surprise that more singles are embracing the “wildflowering” dating trend—a more relaxed approach to dating that prioritizes curiosity, openness, and enjoying the process.
Alongside the rise of “explorationships,” wildflowering is giving singles a refreshed outlook on what it takes to find love and (dare I say?) making dating more fun. To learn more about the wildflowering dating trend and how explorationships relate, keep reading. I spoke with an expert about what they mean for the future of dating and how to embrace them.
Shan Boodram
Shan Boodram is a certified sex educator and intimacy expert with a M.S. in Psychology and diploma in print journalism. Boodram is Bumble’s Sex & Relationships Expert, the host of The Marriage Pact on The Roku Channel, the host of the top podcast “Lovers and Friends,” the workshop facilitator on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle, and the author of the best-selling book The Game of Desire.
What is wildflowering?
According to Bumble’s Resident Sex and Relationships Expert Shan Boodram, the wildflowering dating trend is all about approaching modern dating with more curiosity, spontaneity, and openness. Rather than limiting yourself to only the most “promising” matches, wildflowering encourages you to go on dates with people outside your normal “type”—even if you’re almost certain they’re not the one.
While this approach may sound like it’s for people who avoid commitment, it’s not about lowering your standards or dating aimlessly. Instead, the wildflowering dating trend encourages singles to follow genuine interest, stay open to unexpected connections, and say “yes” to dates that feel exciting in the moment rather than checking a predetermined list of boxes.
Why are singles wildflowering?
Wildflowering adds spontaneity to dating and significantly lowers the pressure, which is one reason why singles love it. Instead of employing a rigid set of rules, this open-minded approach affirms that it’s OK to explore intriguing connections just for the hell of it. But this approach offers more than just a good time for singles. As you meet and date new people, your eyes are opened to the qualities you’re looking for in a partner, the areas you’re willing to compromise on, and what your non-negotiables are. So not only are singles actually enjoying dating more with this approach, they are learning a lot about themselves in the process.
“Instead of employing a rigid set of rules, this open-minded approach affirms that it’s OK to explore intriguing connections just for the hell of it.”
Allowing feelings, like curiosity and excitement, to drive which connections you pursue can make dating feel fun again. It’s encouraging singles to step out of their comfort zones, whether that’s dating outside of their type or simply switching up date spots. Either way, wildflowering is all about exploring, which is proving to be a lot more enjoyable for singles.
How wildflowering relates to explorationships
While wildflowering is about being open to meeting different kinds of people, explorationships are about staying open once you’ve met them, which is changing how singles view commitment. In essence, explorationships are a laid-back alternative to traditional relationships without the messiness of situationships. Boodram explained that both parties in an exploration don’t know what they want, but mutually agree they want to explore the connection and see where it might go together. “It’s a way of dating that emphasizes the importance of living in the present, and enjoying your time with someone in the moment,” Boodram added.
“As a society, we’ve become bogged down by dating rules and checklists, but trends like these remind us that dating doesn’t have to be so much work.”
This mindset is a big reason explorationships and wildflowering go hand in hand. By removing the pressure to define a relationship immediately or decide whether someone is “the one,” explorationships make it easier to embrace the curiosity and openness at the heart of wildflowering. A committed relationship can still be the end goal, but there’s less emphasis on forcing a label or sticking to a timeline. Instead, the focus shifts to getting to know someone, enjoying the connection for what it is, and allowing it to develop naturally—whether it leads to romance, friendship, or simply a meaningful experience.
How to embrace wildflowering and let go of dating expectations
In a world that views finding a life partner as the ultimate dating prize and offers endless rules on how to get there, wildflowering and explorationships are a breath of fresh air. Instead of approaching dating with rigid checklists, they encourage curiosity and openness.
According to Boodram, the key to embracing wildflowering is to treat it as an invitation rather than a rulebook. It’s about allowing yourself to meet interesting people without immediately deciding whether they fit into a long-term “soulmate” narrative. In practice, that means going on dates with openness, staying present, and resisting the urge to over-define every connection. Wildflowering can also serve as an entry point into explorationships, where clarity and communication matter just as much as openness. If feelings start to evolve, being honest about them helps keep both people aligned.
At the end of the day, dating is a journey. We’re all just trying to figure out what we want. Sometimes things don’t work out, and that’s OK. The truth is, some connections are meant to fizzle out, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. According to Boodram, the most meaningful connections can happen where you least expect them, like in a TSA line at the airport or on a business trip. If you can let go of expectations and embrace that fact, your dating life will be all the better for it.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a freelance writer and journalist, and the self-proclaimed hot and dirty martini queen. At The Everygirl, Arianna uses her authenticity and relatability to empower, inspire, and motivate women everywhere. Whether she’s writing about sex and relationships, career and finance, beauty and fashion, wellness, or home and living, Arianna’s passion shines through in all her work.
Hailey Tagliarino, Assistant Managing Editor
As Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Tagliarino oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.
Feature graphic images credited to: Cora Pursley | Dupe, Cora Pursley | Dupe, Lauren Hemmert-Jensen | Dupe, Laura Branch | Dupe, Vanja Zivanovic | Dupe, Clara Mgo | Dupe
The post “Wildflowering” Is Helping Singles Take a More Relaxed Approach to Dating appeared first on The Everygirl.
