Whether it’s your first date or your hundredth, chances are you still feel unsure of
how to be on your best behavior. A date is already a high pressure situation and
stressing out about good etiquette will only make it worse, so here are a few do’s
and don’ts to help you make a fantastic impression.
Never talk with food in your mouth
Always finish chewing and swallowing before responding
– nothing is more
unattractive than a mouth full of partially mashed
meat and vegetables.
Always Bring a Small Gift
This goes for the ladies also. Bring a small flower, a
small box of their favorite
candy, or any small token of your admiration. It’s a
nice way to start off any date.
Never drink too much
There are almost too many reasons for this one, so
instead of alcohol have a cola
or a “virgin” version of your favorite mixed drink.
Always tip well
If you pay the tab or split the bill, make sure you
leave an appropriate (at least
20%) tip for your server. After all, you never want
your date to think of you as a
cheapskate.
Never talk badly about your former love interests
You’ve probably heard the old advice about never
bad-mouthing your past
employers. Well, the same applies to your past
relationships. Even if you dumped
your last guy for being a cheating jerk or your last
girl for being a clingy nag, now is
not the time to recount the gruesome details.
Always say at least one nice thing to your date
Whether you feel chemistry or not or whether you plan
to go out again or not,
always give your date at least one sincere compliment
during the evening.
Never push romance or intimacy
You may feel that the date is going great and maybe
you’re ready for a kiss, but
never push the issue. If your date seems reluctant,
you should respect that.
Always bring enough money
Nothing can be more embarrassing than not being able
to pay your tab. Always
bring some cash as well, in case there is a problem
with your credit card.
Never be rude or critical
Dating is hard enough without having a date that tells
you everything you are doing
wrong all the time. Keep in mind the old adage: if you
can’t say something nice,
don’t say anything. No one wants to be around someone
that is critical.
Always stay focused on the other person
Nothing will ruin a date faster than one person’s
roving eye or a failure to pay
attention when the other person is speaking. So give
your complete attention to
your date – they deserve that much.
Never ask financially focused questions
A date, especially early on, is not the time for
questions like “How much do you
earn a year?” or “What did that car cost you?” You
should also avoid flaunting
those dollar amounts as well. People are about more
than their salaries.
Always be yourself
Don’t try to impress your date with tales of your
fabulous job or your huge bank
account if you don’t have either.
Be honest and be whom
you really are.
Otherwise your date may not be interested in you, but
in whom you are pretending
to be.
Never take (or make) cell phone calls while on a date
Turn it off! Nothing is ruder than ignoring your date
to take a phone call. Unless
you’re a doctor being called for an emergency, your
date will not be impressed.
This goes for dating as well as life in general – no
one likes to think the person that
may be calling is more important than they are!
Always be on time
The worst way to start a date is to be late. Obviously delays may occur.
If you are
running behind, give your date a call. A simple act of
courtesy can prevent your
date from getting off track.
Never promise to call if you don’t plan to
So the date was lousy and even though ending the
evening is awkward, never
promise a call or a future date unless you plan to
follow through. Instead, simply
wish them a pleasant evening and head home. If they
ask you directly, be honest,
but not rude.
Always look your best
Maybe we shouldn’t be judged by how we look, but the
fact is most people feel
more confident and more vibrant when they feel that
they look nice. So spend the
extra time picking out your clothes and fixing your
hair- it’ll be worth it.
Never expect something afterward
Men and women are both guilty of this- expecting a
little more from a date than just
a fun evening. If your only objective on a date is to
get sex, you will not get to
know the person and you will not be forming a
meaningful relationship. That’s fine,
but make sure the other person is fully aware of the
relationship’s limitations as
well.
Always think positively
The best way to make your date a great one is to go
into it with optimism and a
smile!
comments