First dates can be nerve wracking, and they often render even the most experienced of daters shy, silent and prone to making awkward and embarrassing mistakes that blow the chances of getting a second date even before the initial meeting is over. it’s ok to get excited before you go out with someone new, but stay realistic. As pessimistic as this sounds. If your expectations are low, then a good date will be a welcome surprise and a bad date will be no biggie. Here are some first date do’s and don’ts to help your most attractive foot forward and make a good impression.
Do’s
1. Do keep the conversation alive. That dreaded silence, during which you’re both scrambling to come up with something — anything — to say, can seem to last for eternity and will make both of you think the other person is boring. Jot down a few questions ahead of time. Practicing for the date can make all the difference.
2. Do bring dental supplies with you. There’s nothing more embarrassing then having a string of meat stuck between your teeth. Bring mints, gum, spray, floss everything. Seriously. Besides, you never know if you’ll want to make out!
3. Do Google and Facebook before meeting! Find his/her interest, any recent youtube uploads, Facebook status updates and recent travel photos. Also, you always want to make sure him/her is not a psycho.
4. Do be yourself. You won’t fool anyone by pretending to be someone you’re not. Also, if you’re planning to continue seeing this person, the real you will come out eventually, so you might as well start off by introducing them to who you really are, flaws and all..
5. Do be confident. Confidence says a lot about a person. Being more confident will help you get through that first date with ease.
Don’ts
1. Don’t bombard your date with extremely personal questions. Like you, they probably don’t want to reveal too much about themselves just yet. If you like each other and want to continue the relationship after this first meeting, there will be plenty of time to ask questions and delve deeper.
2. Don’t drink and date. One glass of wine is fine. Two or more could lead to sudden, instant and otherwise immediate death of potential relationship.
3. Don’t talk about past relationships. Maybe that’s how you lost the last one. Nobody wants to hear you drone on about your ex and what she did or didn’t do. Concentrate on this new person, and see if you can get to the second date.
4. Don’t forget to thank the other person for the date. This is not only good manners but also gives you a chance to end it, if you’re not interested — or to ask them out on another date, if you are.
5. Don’t be late. First impressions count, and if you’re late, this will make your date think you’re lazy and didn’t care enough to plan ahead.
