Tips For An Amazing First Date
Congratulations, you finally landed that first date! As you prepare for it, you might start feeling a little nervous, but that’s perfectly reasonable – you want to impress your date and you want there to be future dates. Before you get too ahead of the game however, you have to make sure that everything goes smoothly your first time. And it’s tough – you have to choose the right outfit, make sure you don’t seem too over the top, and be aware of what you’re saying. To help you out, here are some tips to really stun and lock in a second date.
Dress To Impress
Sure, often times, judging someone by their looks can be considered shallow. But let’s be honest- your appearance is the first thing people consider when they see you, so it’s crucial that you physically present yourself the best way possible. First off, make sure your attire fits the atmosphere of your first date. If you are going to a fancy restaurant, you really don’t want to be caught dead in baggy sweatpants and a raggy old t-shirt. On the flip side, if you are grabbing sandwiches at a nearby corner store, you probably don’t want to walk in dressed in a suit either – you will make her (and everyone around you) feel underdressed and you will stick out like a sore thumb. It’s not just your clothing that you should be mindful of, though. Appearance goes further than what you wear. You want to be clean! Before you meet with your date, you should shower, shave (or at least clean up your facial hair), and of course brush your teeth. It’s a simple basic thing, really, but it will make a huge difference in your appearance.
Have A Plan For The Date
Here’s another important tip – have a plan. Sure, spontaneous dates are fun, but you are better off saving that for the future, when you are more comfortable with each other. A good, fool-proof plan would be the classic meal and activity. Talking over food is a great way to get to know someone, and having an activity (which can be as simple as taking a walk) can further boost your conversation and date overall. Besides, having a plan lets her know that you’re well prepared, and that’s always a good sign. If you want to get creative with your plan, you can tell her the most basic details and keep the rest a surprise. Give her clues without revealing what you will be doing or where you will be going, but tell her just enough so that she can be prepared. The most important thing is to let her know how to dress – you don’t want her wearing five inch heels when you want to take her hiking. And make sure you’re on time! It looks embarrassing on your part to set up a date but be late for it.
Don’t Be A Narcissist
Make sure you are not just talking about yourself! No one – including your date – wants to know the nitty gritty details of every work related problem or situation. It really won’t matter how polite you are or how nice you look if you drone on and on about the same topic.The only thing you will achieve from this is boring her and losing the chance for a second date. Instead, make sure you ask questions about her. Let her talk about herself, and let her ask about you. If you are worried about not being able to keep the conversation going, make up a list of things to talk about ahead of time. Asking her about her hobbies, favorite books and movies, and goals are good topics to start with. Here’s the catch though – listen to her answers. It’s important that you’re keeping the conversation going with engaging topics, but if you zoned out, you will seem rude. Otherwise, keeping the conversation a two-way road will make her inclined to know more about you, and pretty soon you will have a solid conversation in your hands.
Keeping Your Finances In Check
Money is a tricky one, but there are ways to show that you know how to utilize your finances. For your first date, you don’t want to seem cheap, but you probably don’t want to be splurging on a single dish either. So how do you attain the best of both worlds? Well, take this example. Asking your date out to lunch at a nice but affordable coffee shop is being economical. However, asking her out on a dinner date at a five-star restaurant but claiming that she can’t order the lobster she really wants is being cheap. If you agreed on going to a five-star restaurant, you should be aware of the prices. Figuring out who’s paying for dinner is also a way for her to gauge your spending habits. Of course, offer to pay when the meal is over, but if she strongly insists on paying, let her, or come to a compromise (like splitting the bill). Pushing to pay the bill can make you seem like you’re trying to prove yourself or that you’re flaunting your finances. There’s really a fine line between that, and it’s up to you to find the balance.
Wrapping It Up
It’s the end of the date, you made it! Just before the two of you part ways, there’s a few more steps for you to take to really make it a perfect date. The first is the kiss goodbye. Do you kiss her on the cheek, or do you go in for a full on smooch? You are probably better off with a kiss on the cheek. A full on kiss on your first date might make you seem like you are coming on too strong, and it has the danger of scaring her away. Besides, if your date goes well, a kiss on the cheek can actually make her more excited for the second date, because she will be looking forward to that first kiss. This is not to say, however, that you should never go for a kiss. If she is making the move to do so or is showing surefire signs, definitely go for it! And after you leave, make sure you follow up. You may have heard myths about waiting three days before texting her back, but don’t believe them. No one wants to wait three days to hear back from someone. Call her the next day, or text her when you get home. It ensures that you both had a great time, and she will know that you’re not flaky.
There you are – some solid bits and pieces that will come together to make your first date as amazing as possible. Really though, don’t stress it. Your first date should be fun, flirty, and memorable! You want to be able to look back on it and remember it as a day where you and your date both enjoyed yourselves, not as one where you were so nervous that you could barely breathe. Just make sure that you treat her well, relax, and make the most out of it! There can only be one first date, after all.
