How to Have a Great First Date

Everyone gets a bit nervous when they’re going on a first date with someone, more so if they really like that person and think there could be something there. Making sure the first date is great is much easier than it seems, and after reading all of the tips and tricks we’ve gathered below, you’ll be ready to make it the best date of your life.

Breaking Down the Perfect First Date

A first date has a few parts that are all equally important and necessary to ensure that the first date is a great one.

Before the date

1. Get to know her.

Of course, you’re really going to get a chance to get to know her on the actual date, but the best thing to do is to get to know her likes and dislikes and what some of her favorite things to do are before the date. This will be extremely helpful for you when planning the date, so you can ensure that you go somewhere she’ll enjoy her meal or do an activity she likes.

Plus, whenever you’re doing something you like or enjoying yourself, you’re going to have a better time and be in a better mood, and overall the experience will be that much better, which is how you want her to feel on your first date together.

Another bonus about getting to know her a little bit before the first date is that if the first date nerves kick in and it’s difficult for either one of you to be chatty, or she happens to be more quiet/shy, you’ll be able to be more understanding and actually look forward to your next date when she’ll feel more comfortable and relaxed, therefore opening up more.

2. Make sure you know where you’re going to take her.

You wouldn’t want to show up to pick her up and not know where you’d like to take her. Even if you want to let her choose as a considerate gesture to ensure she has a good time, it’s still good to have some places in mind. She might not want to choose, or she might be a bit nervous and not want the added pressure of choosing where to go.

If you don’t think of any places to take her and she notices that you didn’t think this through, it could make her feel like you’re not excited to be there or that you don’t really care about the date, which would hurt her feelings. So always be ready with some options in mind, even if she does have a suggestion of her own.

3. Plan your day, so you don’t have to cancel.

Canceling because you didn’t realize you had something else going on that day that you must prioritize will not look or feel good. Another consequence of planning your day poorly is being late.

Nothing is worse for the person waiting to be picked up to have to wait longer than anticipated, much less if it’s due to something that could have been avoided, like poor planning. If you think that particular day will be too much to handle, ask her out on another day from the beginning.

During the date

1. Make her feel like she is your priority.

Don’t get distracted by little things or your phone for example. If you’re feeling a little bit awkward or shy, it can be easy to gravitate towards grabbing your phone for comfort, but it doesn’t look good. It makes you look like you care more about what’s going on on your phone than what’s right in front of you.

If possible, don’t even have your phone out. Avoid checking your phone as much as possible, so she feels like you’re in the moment with her and she matters to you.

2. Make sure she likes the activity.

Even if she wants to be surprised, as soon as she actually finds out what you’re going to be doing, she makes sure to double-check and see if she’s okay with that and if she feels comfortable with what you’ve chosen.

3. Try to connect with her.

The most important thing to do on a first date is to establish a connection between you and your date. Find things you may have in common, or start diving into your feelings or what intrigued you about the other person to want to go on a date with them. More vulnerable conversations, while not getting too deep, can help you make a stronger connection.

After the date

1. Ask her if she had a good time.

This is a good way to continue talking to her even after the date. It will make you seem kind and considerate, and it’s a good way to find out if there was something she would have wanted to happen differently.

2. Keep a conversation going.

Don’t let your communication die down after the date or even after asking if she had a good time. Say good night to her at the end of the night, and then text her good morning. By doing this, she’ll feel like you really care about her and want to talk to her, and that will keep her interested and likely want another date as well.

3. Try to plan a second date.

Don’t do this the next day, but once it’s been a couple of days since your first date, suggest something you could do together and make it a date. You need to be careful with your timing with this, because you don’t want to rush it, but you don’t want to wait too long.

If you do it soon without rushing the next date, she’ll know that you’re really interested in her, making her feel good and excited to see you again.

How to Have a Great First Date

1. Get ready.

It’s extremely important to show up to the date looking your best. You don’t have to buy a new outfit or spend lots of money to do this; paying attention to detail is enough. Make sure your clothes are clean and not wrinkled and that you choose an outfit that is a little more special.

For example, avoid wearing sweats if you can wear something a little bit more formal instead. Try to smell nice too, because girls really love it when a guy smells nice.

2. Pick her up.

Even if you don’t have a car, offer to meet her at her place and then go together to wherever your first date will be. It’s the least you can do, and she’ll greatly appreciate not having to meet you there.

3. Take her somewhere special.

She might not care about fancy restaurants or over-the-top date night plans, but you want it to be memorable. Try to take her somewhere a little more special than a fast food place, or plan a special activity, even if it’s as simple as a romantic picnic together.

4. Have topics for what to talk about prepared.

You don’t need to know what you’re going to say word for word, but have some backup topics prepared just in case the conversation dies down at some point. This will help you avoid awkward silences and keep the conversation going.

5. Don’t talk too fast, too much, or not enough.

Pace yourself, and be conscious of how much you’re talking. Share some things about yourself, but also allow her to share about herself so that you can get to know her more. If you talk the whole time, she might get bored.

If you don’t talk enough, she might not be interested in a second date, and if you talk too fast, you may appear annoying. So just make sure you’re aware of how you’re talking.

6. Be polite.

Always be polite, no matter what. Be polite not only to your date but to the staff working wherever you go, and make sure you say please and thank you and leave tips. She will notice these things, even if it seems like she might not. Not only will she notice, but she’ll remember, which will affect what she thinks of you.

7. If possible, pay for her.

If you asked her out, pay for her if you can. It makes a girl feel special and like you want to do something nice for her when you do this. You don’t have to pay for her, but she’ll appreciate it if you do. It’s also a good way to see if she would offer to pay half anyways, just to be polite or see how appreciative she is.

8. Take her home.

Don’t insinuate coming in. Just drop her off. The simple gesture of making sure she gets home safe is all you need to do.

9. Text her afterward.

Texting her after the date lets her know you’re very interested in her. You want to keep talking to her, maybe even more than before, if you really made a connection with one another.

Dos and Don’ts on a First Date

Do:

• Let her choose what she wants to order.
• Open the door for her.
• Give her your undivided attention.
• Pick her up and drop her off, or at least offer to.

Don’t:

• Flirt with other girls.
• Take her somewhere she won’t be comfortable.
• Be on your phone the whole time.
• Interrupt her when she’s talking.

Summary

When you’re going on a first date, you might be overwhelmed by many factors, but it’s not as difficult as it may feel to ensure you have a great first date. Simply ensure you’re well prepared and follow up afterward so she can feel like you care about her and how interested you are.