Don’t …
1. Be too serious. Yes, you need to talk about serious topics when you’re dating, but on the first date it’s important to keep the conversation pleasant and positive. Ask about hobbies and passions rather than taboo subjects like religion, politics, or money. Keep a sense of humor about the awkwardness of first dates — he’ll definitely sympathize!
2. Try to be funny. It sounds contradictory to our last point, but don’t try to be funny on the date. Don’t try to be anything! Just be yourself. If you’ve been honest on your profile, it’s you that has brought him out on this date, and it’s you that he wants to get to know.
3. Talk about past relationships. This is a big no-no. If your last boyfriend is all you can think to talk about on a date, perhaps you’re not quite ready for dating yet. Take time to get over the last relationship before embarking on the next one.
4. Misrepresent yourself online. If he shows up 20 years older and 75 pounds heavier than his profile states, how are you going to feel about that? The same goes for him. Tell it like it is on your profile. He will love you, warts and all, if he’s the one you’re looking for.
5. Go Dutch. Though some dating sites recommend going Dutch, we say don’t. Modern date etiquette says that whoever proposes the date pays for the date, but be sure to discuss who pays beforehand. Many men feel it’s traditional to pay for dinner, but if you’re a progressive kinda gal, let him know you’d like to pay for date number two. Let him pay first if he insists. Don’t argue about it. Many men may feel awkward if their date pays. For the first date, make him feel as comfortable as possible, and he’ll be more open to letting you pay on the second date.
Do …
9. Be honest. Just as you shouldn’t misrepresent yourself online, don’t tell “little white lies” in person to make yourself more fascinating. This doesn’t mean you need to tell them everything about you right off the bat. Maintain some mystery … if you’re interested in a second date, you don’t need to reveal everything during the first one.
10. Go there. Being compatible isn’t enough. There has to be some chemistry, right? To find out if there’s a spark, you can’t just talk about the weather. Yes, it’s important to keep things pleasant, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid meaningful conversation. So ask some compelling but positive questions, like “What things make you happiest? What do you love about your work? What are the most important things in your life?”
11. Listen. When you’re getting to know your date, don’t be prepping your next thing to say while he’s talking. Ask him a question to get him to expand on what he just told you. This lets them know two things: that you were paying attention and that you’re interested. Try to keep the listening to talking ratio more or less 50/50.
12. Re-read their profile. Avoid any nasty surprises (like saying “hi” to the wrong guy or calling him the wrong name) by reviewing their online profile and all your previous conversations with him before meeting up with him. This will give you things to talk about and let him know you’ve done your research.
13. Display positive body language. If you want a second date, work those angles and show some encouraging body language. Lean towards him when he talks, make eye contact, smile. If you really like him, you will probably do these things without thinking anyway. SEE THE REST HERE
