Dating can be a bumpy road for most folks. For some folks it's an especially hilly journey because they have special requirements, shall we say.

But never fear, there are as many dating services as there are blind dates in a dark room, and that includes agencies or dating websites that cater to singletons with more discerning tastes.

Religion

Religion probably plays no bigger role in a person's life than when it comes to deciding on a future life partner. And with so many religions making up our multicultural society, it is understandable that people with similar needs will wish to date each other. Often religion plays a key role in the search for a partner, especially if the goal is to have a long term relationship and get married.

Specialist dating agencies and marriage bureaus have become adept at catering to people who have this requirement. Members of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh or Hindu faiths often use the expertise of dating agencies dedicated solely to their chosen faith. Since many religious groups and cultures are committed to marrying within their faith, there is a great need for an agency that can get them in contact with people of the same religion.

Examples of specialist agencies include: J- date for predominantly Jewish singles and Shaadi.com which caters to the Asian market. Since the requirements for this type of dating are quite high, the demand is high too with tens of thousands of registrants on these two sites alone.

Astrology

If you would rather look to the stars for a future mate, dating according to astrology may help you find similarities in your chosen girl or guy. In this way there is the ability to check the compatibility of couples in accordance with the rules of birth charts, numerology and other mystical components.

Over 50s

People over a certain age may find the rigours of dating a little too much to handle, so having a dedicated facility that helps to make life easier can be a godsend. Older people who have faced singledom after bereavement or divorce can find advice at regular dating agencies but they must specify their needs from the outset.

International Interests

In some cases people who are serious about finding a marriage partner can do so by getting in touch with a marriage bureau that deals only with requests for a potential bride or groom.

Those with a geographical soft spot may wish to consult a bureau or broker that hook up singletons from particular countries. Marriage brokers may suffer a bad reputation because they often target women from hard-luck countries such as Russia, Eastern Europe and the Far East. But they do exist, meaning the demand is out there.

Ready to get out there and try your luck? Then check out our dating sites and play the field!