Let's Talk First Date (Page 7)

Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor: Lillian Castro

Updated:

Do you turn into a ball of nerves at the thought of planning for a first date? If you need help cutting through those nerves and nailing that first date, check out our advice for planning and navigating first dates with poise and grace.

Here, we teach readers how to make first impressions count so they can get to that second date. Our team, loaded with dating coaches and experts, knows a thing or two about first dates.

You can browse tips and strategies that take the guesswork out of first dates, with advice tailored to both the male and female perspectives. Dive into everything first date-related. Need conversation tips? Outfit choices? You got it.

No matter the type of date, we've got you covered. Our expert advice provides the scoop on how to prepare for first dates and understand all the nuances, like body language and expectations, along the way.

203 Results

What Our Experts Say:

181.
How Much is Acceptable to Drink on the First Date?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield once joked, “I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample, it had an olive in it.” Sure, most of us like our cocktails. In fact, I’m drinking a dirty martini as I write this post. But I’m in the comfort of my own home, and I’m not trying to impress any future baby makers. So ladies, how much drinking is acceptable on the first date? Well, let’s look at a few different...

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182.
Pros and Cons of Going on Blind Dates
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Blind date. Two of the most feared words in the English language. Why? Because they represent one of the most feared encounters in the human experience. I don’t know about you, but just hearing the words make me shudder. Of course, so do the words “the gym” and “fat free,” but I endure the pain that comes with both. Why should blind dates be any different? Before I hop up on my soapbox and make my case for blind...

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183.
How to Plan the Second Date
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

You went on a first date with this really great girl. It went amazing. Now, it’s time to plan the second date. This is when you’ll find out if it was beginner’s luck or if there really is a spark between the two of you. In essence, the second date is actually just as important as the first one. So don’t screw it up. Guys, here are some tips to help you plan a second date any girl would be wild about. 1. Be...

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184.
How Do I Calm My Nerves Before a Date?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Yes, going on a date can be a frightening experience. Feeling anxious, nervous — even nauseous — is completely normal. There are a number of ways to calm your nerves before a date, however, so you can go out feeling your most confident, ready to have a good time. While I always advocate alcohol in moderation on dates, I also know a little wine can really take the edge off. I’m not talking about swigging back an...

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185.
The Benefits and Downsides of Blind Dates
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Is there anything more common than having a friend who wants to set you up with someone they know who is “perfect” for you? These dates may not always end as perfectly as everyone hopes, but they aren’t all bad either. Before you agree to your next blind date, take a look over the following pros and cons to decide whether the potential upsides outweigh the potential downsides! Pro: Your friend knows you well,...

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186.
Is Having Sex on the First Date Wrong?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

There really is no way to candy coat this one. Ladies, having sex on the first date is an absolute no-no. It’s not “wrong” per se, but it shows a man that you don’t have enough self-respect or self-restraint to wait until you’re in a committed relationship to make whoopee. This isn’t the ‘60s – there’s no longer such a thing as free love. These days, you have to worry about HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B, Gonorrhea,...

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187.
Kissing on the First Date: Know the Rules and the Limits
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Nothing puts a spark into a relationship like that magical first kiss. Still, it’s hard for a woman to know if it’s too soon. Is it appropriate to kiss on the first date? Is it OK for a girl to make the first move? How should she go about it? What is the man going to think? Slow down. Unless you’re still in high school, kissing on the first date is perfectly acceptable, though not required. Just keep a few...

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188.
4 Tips to Bag that Second Date
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Good news! She was enchanted by your great smile and boyish charm, and you landed that first date. Now the game plan is to turn that first date into a second one. Of course, a great date is the best way to get the next date, but never lose sight of the fact women live by instinct, comfort and feelings — not by going through the motions of a date that looks good on paper. 1. Set the mood. The magic must begin the...

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189.
3 Best and Worst Foods to Eat On a First Date
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Franklin P. Jones, an American humorist, once said, “You are what you eat. For example, if you eat garlic, you’re apt to be a hermit.” Most dates involve food. Whether it’s a picnic lunch, dinner at a fancy restaurant or hot dogs at a ballgame, a meal out is often times the centerpiece of a date. And because food is really an excuse to sit down with someone and get to know them better, there are do’s and don’ts when...

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190.
How to Bounce Back After a First Date Screw-Up
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

First dates are intimidating events, to say the least. In fact, first dates are often more frightening and stressful than any other moment early on in a relationship. Even the fear and tension surrounding approaching men doesn’t come close to the discomfort most people associate with first dates. After all, by the time you get to a first date, you are suddenly dealing with very real stakes. There is a budding...

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191.
What to Do When You Have Nothing in Common with Him
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

We’ve all been at a restaurant with a date having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad time. This is most likely to happen on the ever–feared, usually awkward, crapshoot of a first date, but it’s also been known to happen from date two on up. Picture it: You. Him. The Olive Garden. The only thing keeping you sane is the glorious, bottomless, never-ending basket of buttery garlic bread being brought to the table....

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192.
How to Get a Shy Woman to Initiate
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

There are a lot of women who struggle with being shy and wish they could be more outgoing. They find it almost impossible to do away with their perpetually bashful disposition, however, and often carry their shyness to the extreme. For a man, I imagine this can be quite frustrating. Getting a woman to come out of her shell and interact with you can be very difficult, especially if she is naturally timid or...

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193.
How Do I Politely End a Date When I Know the Person is Not for Me?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

We’ve all been there – the dreaded first date and a bad first date at that! If you’ve found yourself in a situation where you realize the person isn’t the one for you, you can politely end the date. There’s no sense in wasting either of your time if you get a red flag early on. Remember, it is wise to meet someone at a public place for a first date. That way, you can leave in your own car if you so desire. There’s...

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194.
What Topics are Appropriate to Talk About on the First Date?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

First dates are like first impressions – you only get one time to do it right. When most of us think of the first date, we typically envision a meal or coffee being involved. This type of one-on-one interaction leaves a lot of room for conversation, which, of course, is the whole point. But it’s nerve-racking nonetheless! Being prepared with some basic conversation topics can really help move a conversation along...

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195.
What Your Dating Wardrobe Says About You
Adrienne Longhurst

Adrienne Longhurst

Who doesn’t like to look their best on a date? I mean, if the point of dating is to spend time with someone you’re attracted to in hopes of forming some kind of lasting connection, of course you’re going to put your best self forward. But are you sure that’s what you’re doing? What does your dating wardrobe say about you? Wanting to find someone who loves your for all of your amazing qualities is a given, but...

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196.
Who Should Pay on the First Date? Men or Women?
Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Sorry, guys, I’m old-fashioned and I still say the guy should pay on the first date. Even if she asks you out and promises to pay, when the check comes, surprise her and insist on taking care of the bill. This is not to say you should have to pay for every date. I do not believe a man should have to break the bank to get to know a woman of interest. She should pay on occasion, too. But, you will win some serious...

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197.
When is it Right to Kiss for the First Time?
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Body language! I can’t stress it enough. You will know when it’s right to kiss for the first time if you pay attention to your date’s body language. Guys, if a girl’s rolling her eyes at every joke you’ve told and her legs are swung away from you, don’t go in for the kiss. If your date has been giggling and smiling all night, touches your shoulder or hand lightly and continues...

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198.
How Should You End Things with a Date if There is No Attraction?
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Men and women should always structure their first dates with this worst-case scenario in mind. Instead of committing to a long night of dinner and a movie with someone you aren’t sure you’re attracted to, arrange for a short and casual date where you meet for coffee or a drink. If you feel attracted to your date after getting to know each other for half an hour, then you can continue on and grab food, see a movie...

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199.
Is it OK to Kiss a Girl on the First Date?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

The answer depends on the girl’s age and experience and also on the level of romance and chemistry you developed during the course of your first date. It’s important to pay attention throughout the date so you can pick up on signs that will help you know the answer. Here are a few guidelines that might help: • Did you already discuss or set up a second date, or did she say you should see or do something...

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200.
Second Chances: When to Give a Horrible Date Another Go
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

There are cardinal sins when it comes to first dates — things so inexcusable a second date will never see the light of day. Then there are the things that seem like permanent deal-breakers but after further analysis, could be forgiven. How do you know when to break ties forever? And how do you know when to give it another go? We’ve compiled a rundown of three first date faux pas and a little insight into the...

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201.
First Date Doldrums: How to Liven Up the Conversation
C. Price

C. Price

So you’re on your umpteenth first date in the last month and instead of responding to your date’s questions in an exciting and charming way, you catch yourself repeating your go-to answers like a bored teenager practicing a Shakespearean monologue for English class. It’s true first dates can become repetitive, especially if you’ve been single and looking for a while. But there are ways to break up the monotony...

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202.
Should a Girl Call a Guy After a First Date?
C. Price

C. Price

In today's dating scene, it's not uncommon that more girls are wanting to take control and call the guys after a date. If you had a great time and can't wait to tell him, I recommend texting him after the date to let him know you got home OK and you had a lot of fun getting to know him. Leave it at that. But after a couple of days, if he hasn't called you yet, you can call him to let him know you were thinking...

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203.
How to Repair a First Date Screw-Up
Kara Pound

Kara Pound

Ways to fix things: duct tape, Gorilla glue, staples, twine, nails, screws, rope, paper clips and “I’m sorry.” For a man who has made a string of first date blunders, there are ways, but no guarantees, to try and make up for it. Let’s look at a few different scenarios and then offer words of wisdom on how Prince Charming/the frog can bounce back after screwing up. Scenario: You got drunk, talked about an...

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Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor-in-Chief

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted by the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, and AskMen, among others.

See Amber's full bio »

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