Your first date is an important opportunity to get to know someone. It’s why you’ve probably been staring at cutouts of your crush in your room, putting together outfits and planning the perfect outing.
But how do you make sure that first date doesn’t go off without a hitch? There are plenty of things you should consider before meeting up with someone for the first time. From what questions to ask, to what events are best for first dates, we’ve got all your date-planning tips covered so you can land yourself a compatible love interest ASAP!
What to consider before a first date
Before you head out for your first date, it’s smart to think about what you want out of this opportunity to get to know someone better. Here are a few things to consider as you plan your first date.
- What do you want this date to accomplish? How will it benefit both of you?
- Who are you dating? What kind of person do they seem to be?
- What are your mutual interests? Are there any particular topics you’ve been wanting to learn more about?
- Are there any commonalities you’ve been wanting to explore?
Be thorough and ask questions
Before a date even begins, it’s a good idea to be thorough and ask questions. It shows that you’re interested in getting to know your date better and also allows you to learn more about your date, too! When it comes to questions, you don’t want to be too general.
Specificity is key when it comes to questions. So, try to get more specific about the topic you two are discussing. If you two were talking about hobbies, ask your date what their favourite hobbies are. This shows you’re interested in learning more about the person you’re dating and also gives you something to talk about when you’re together.
If you’ve been out on a few dates with someone, try asking a new question that you’ve never asked before. It’ll show that you’ve been thinking about your dates and trying to learn more about your date, so you can have an interesting and engaging conversation.
Don’t stay sitting too long
Unless you’ve been on a date before or are an old hand at dating, you should be prepared to head home after a few hours. If you find you’re sitting there for too long with someone, it can be a good sign to suggest moving along. Too much idle conversation can be off-putting.
It can also be confusing for the person you’re on a date with. They’re probably used to being just the two of you, so any time they have to stop what they’re doing to think about what you’re saying to them can feel a little awkward. If you find yourself sitting there for a while, try to move things along.
If your date has been interested in learning more about something, try to incorporate that into the conversation. If they’ve been wanting to learn more about your hobbies or interests, try to incorporate that into the conversation, too.
Plan an activity you’ll both enjoy
Dates can be fun, but they can also get pretty predictable. When you’re on a first date, you don’t want to be expecting your date to do everything for you. It’s your turn to show the person you’re dating that you want to be there and show them what you’ve got with a fun activity, like going to a museum or taking a walk around a park together!
You can also ask your date what they’d like to do, or you can try planning activities based on what your date tells you they’d enjoy. If you know one of your date’s favourite bands is playing nearby and you know they like concerts, you could take them to see them! If you’re on a date that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, you could also try asking your date what they’d like to do, or what they’d like to do in a specific location, like a concert or museum. It can be a good way to get things back on track.
Ask what your date wants to eat/drink
There’s nothing worse than going on a date and having someone order you a meal that you don’t want to eat. Hopefully, you’ve been paying attention to what your date has been ordering, but if you haven’t kept tracking, you may have picked up on one fact: your date doesn’t want you to pay for their meal.
If you can, try to pick up on what your date has ordered, even if you’ve only picked up on it in passing. When it comes to ordering a meal, you want to be sure your date orders what they want to order.
You may be surprised to find that your date doesn’t want to pick up the tab. If you know you can pick up the tab and your date is okay with that, go for it! That way, you can both have a fun and affordable date.
Ask about your date’s day job or interests
Some things are important to know, even if you don’t ask them outright. If you find out your date’s day job doesn’t appeal to you, it’s okay to keep it to yourself.
If, on the other hand, you find out that it does appeal to you, it can be a great way to show your interest in your date and show them that you’re interested in getting to know them better. It can also be a great opportunity to ask your date about the work they do. Most people love talking about work, and you can use this as an opportunity to find out a little more about your date.
Talk about your day job, hobbies and interests
You’ve probably been thinking about what to say to your date and what to do on your date. If so, you’ve probably been thinking about what you want to talk about, too. When it comes to talking about your interests and hobbies, it’s okay not to talk about yourself.
It’s also okay to add to what your date has been saying or to talk about something completely unrelated to your date. If you want to learn more about your date, try asking them about themselves. It’s a fun and interesting way to get to know someone better. If you don’t feel like asking about their interests or hobbies, it’s okay to talk about something completely unrelated to your date.
Pay attention to nonverbal cues and body language
Asking your date questions, showing interest in their day job and talking about your hobbies is all good, but it’s important to pay attention to nonverbal cues and body language.
If you can see your date get bored or yawn, you can try to change the topic of conversation or move the date along, letting your date know that you’re ready to move on. If your date yawns, nods off or seems otherwise bored, you can try to change the topic of conversation or change the place you’re at to keep things from being so boring. While these aren’t the best ways to show interest, it’s better than sitting there and doing nothing.
Conclusion
First dates can be nerve-racking. You want to show your date that you’re interested in them and they want to show you that they’re interested in you. But, it’s also important to keep things light and have fun. You can do this by asking your date questions, getting to know their interests and paying attention to nonverbal cues and body language.
