First date etiquette has always been a hot topic of conversation... let me start by saying, I have been on a lot of first dates. In my 5+ years of adult single life, I had a lot of first dates. I did not have a lot of second dates. Mostly, I went on a lot of first dates with losers and men with whom I had no business dating, but part of the time their first date etiquette was just so poor I just didn't want to have to stomach their second date etiquette.
Let me lay down a few ground rules for you clueless daters out there, a few key pointers to follow when thinking about a first date...
Rule #1... Never let a guy pick you up at your home or work for a date. No matter how or where you meet (and truly no judgment either, I met my beau in a bar...), the mode of transportation to your first date should be your own. Taxi, your own vehicle, your friend, your mom or dad, whatever... don't allow yourself to be stuck with no way out. And I know people say, I have cash, I can take a taxi if it doesn't work out once we get there, blah blah... but when it comes down to it, it's just plain awkward to say, I know you drove me here, but I'm going to opt out on the way home, thanks... it's a clear slap in the face. Not to mention, if they pick you up, and it goes horribly wrong, guess what? They know where you live. They've seen the inside of your house, personal photos, where you sit on lonely Friday nights when you DON'T have dates with losers like this one and watch Matthew McConaughey movie marathons... (OK, even women with boyfriends and husbands do this!) Just agree to meet somewhere. And... don't be late. 5 minutes max, but don't be rude.
Rule #2... Always meet for DRINKS ONLY on the first date. If you don't drink, make it dessert. And make it later, after dinner. 8:30, 9:00 is perfect. Don't pick a loud place, but don't pick a super romantic place either. A first date is all about talking. It's awkward, yes, but it's necessary. We all had a first date with our significant other at some point, or something we can consider a first date. If the date sucks, it's late enough to make a believable excuse that you have an early meeting. And then you have your own transportation to hightail it out to your local bar where you and your girls can throw back a few kamikazes and laugh at your date's horrible nose hairs or TMI first-date sex confessions (oh, we'll get there). Dinner is a killer on a first date. Trying to decide where to go, what food you like, what food they like, don't like, judging eachothers' eating habits, gauging how to talk while still eating, women who order SALADS (UGH, I despise you women... unless you really do just like salads, in which case I still somewhat despise you). It spells disaster, any way you slice it. Drinks or dessert, late.
Rule #3... And Patti Stanger might be listening in... watch your drinking. If you're out for drinks, and the date is going WELL, you will have a tendency to have too much. First dates that go well have some sort of magical spell over women. Men think about sex ALL the time, women need some sort of spark or something (well, many of us anyway). So, when the drinks are flowin and we're excited about the prospect in front of us, things can get a little out of hand... keep it casual, REALLY get to know the person. You don't have to be a Boring Betty, but just don't get white-girl-wasted and embarrass yourself. That type of behavior is not appropriate for date one... I really believe that. Besides, you probably didn't eat dinner, even though it's an "after dinner" date, because you wanted to fit into those new skinny jeans, or that sexy little dress you bought specifically for this date... so you're drinking on an empty stomach... you skanky little fish. The men will usually follow the women's lead, and vice versa, so once you've had two large drinks, or three small (or whatever depending on your limits), cut it off. Pop a piece of gum, ask him if he wants one. He'll take it as a sign you want a kiss later (bonus!), you'll both have fresh breath for it, AND you'll be sober enough to remember if it was good or not (also, a key thing to find out on a first date)!
Is your brain just expanding with all this knowledge yet? Hopefully these tips aren't too new to you... we'll get into the juicy stuff later. For now, think back on all the times you DIDN'T follow these rules, and how horribly wrong it went... yeah. I thought so.
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