We live in a world of instant gratification. Sushi arrives at our door in minutes, a gorgeous coat can be bought with a few taps, and dating apps let us feel attractive from the comfort of our couch.

With everything available instantly, it’s no surprise that some singles are craving the opposite – a rewind to romance, old-school style.

Inspired by Friends episodes and parents beginning sentences with “Back in my day…,” daters are chasing grand gestures, simpler dates and less technology.

Enter “retromancing,” which could be the most romantic trend yet – or, as some critics argue, just another excuse to be a flaky cheapskate. Let’s find out.

What is ‘retromancing’?

Think of retromancing as a return to old-school dating – essentially anything we could’ve done in the ’90s or earlier.

Think homemade meals instead of reservations, phone calls over text messages, and handwritten love notes rather than extravagant gifts. The term was coined by dating site Plenty of Fish, and they probably explain it better than we ever could.

“Retromancing is a throwback to old-school romance,” said Michael Kaye, dating expert at Plenty of Fish.

“It’s about nostalgic, intentional gestures like handwritten notes, mixtapes, surprise flowers, holding doors open or cooking a homemade meal. Our research found that many singles are inspired by their parents’ or grandparents’ love stories – and even Gen Z is leading the charge, with over a third embracing this softer, more sentimental style of dating.”

"Retromancing" is a sort of throwback to old-school dating.

It could be planning a picnic for a second date, sending emails instead of texts, or even creating scavenger hunts for anniversary gifts.

Plenty of Fish found that 38% of respondents........

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