How To Be A Big Hit On First Dates

Dating can be really fun and exciting, but it can be stressful, too. Often just working up the nerve to ask someone special out on a date is stressful enough, but after you get that “yes” that you have been hoping for, you then have the pressure of planning a perfect date for the two of you.

There is enough pressure that you experience just going on the date in the first place, and you don't want to add extra pressure on yourself to make a date perfect when chances are that it won't be a fairy tale-type event. Nonetheless, if you like this person enough to be anxious and excited about the date, you certainly do want to put your all into the date and really make the best impression that you can. So here are some tips to help you make a great impression on your first date:

Dating Advice Tip #1 - Choose an Enjoyable Activity

It sure can be amazing to plan a fancy dinner out on the town, and you would surely wow him or her with expensive theater or concert tickets, too. However, you don't have to spend a lot of money to impress your date. Instead, think about things that you two would enjoy doing together that may be more affordable. This can be something as simple as hiking in a park and having a picnic lunch or catching a comedian performance that you both have been wanting to see and then having coffee and dessert afterward. The possibilities are endless.

However, to truly impress someone special, you will want to think outside the box a little bit. After all, you don't want to take your date on a copycat date that he or she has already done a dozen other times with various different people. As you brainstorm ideas for places to go and things to do, keep in mind your date's special interests. It's also a good idea to choose a fun activity for a first date rather than something that is more uptight and formal. There will be times for those types of events, too, if you continue dating, but you really can't go wrong when you makes plans to have fun with an activity that he or she really enjoys.

Dating Advice Tip #2 - Dress Nice

How you present yourself is so important on a first date. Now, chances are this person has seen you around quite a bit before, unless you are going on a blind date. So they know who you are, how you normally dress, and what your style is. You don't want to deviate from who you are too much, but you do want this special person to know that you are dressing nicer than normal for the date. Spending some extra time on your hair, buying a new outfit, and wearing just a small amount of extra perfume or cologne can really be endearing.

You should absolutely pay attention to hygiene, too. Something as simple as having garlic on your breath, a stain on your shirt, or dirt under your nails can really leave a bad impression. It's a good idea to start preparing for the date just a little earlier than you normally would. This will give you time to tend to all of those little details so you really look your best.

Dating Advice Tip #3 - Focus On Your Date

There are a lot of little things that can happen during a date that can really be major turn-offs. Things like having your cell phone ring with calls from friends, family or your work, or text messages constantly chiming in can be really irritating and can be rude to your date. If you are a natural people-watcher, make an extra effort to really focus your attention on the person you are with as much as possible. Wandering eyes, even done innocently and unintentionally, can be rude. Be interested in what he or she is saying, and interact with open and interesting dialog.

Be sure to ask plenty of questions to show your date how interested you are in him or her. However, do make sure that you are trying to get to know your date in a natural, conversational way rather than walking through your date like you are conducting an interview.

Dating Advice Tip #4 - Keep Some Secrets

A first date is not a time for a tell-all confessional. Conversation should be light-hearted and fun. This is a time to get to know each other and see if you want to pursue a second date, so by all means cover the bases on your interests, job, and other such general information. However, keep topics like health issues, family drama, work strife, past relationships, and more off the table as much as possible.

Dating Advice Tip #5 - Be Polite

You should absolutely show off what a nice, kind, and generous person you are on your first date. For men, this may mean opening car doors and pulling out a chair for your date in a restaurant. For both sexes, basic kindness and using table manners, saying “please” and “thank you” and other such standard courtesies are crucial.

While you want to be kind and polite to your date, you also want to be kind to those around you, too. It can be a real turn-off for a person to see their date being rude to waitstaff, employees at movie theaters, and so forth. It can also be a turn-off for them to watch you short-change someone with a tip, too. Even being rude to other drivers on the road can leave a negative impression of you. So keep these things in mind as you proceed through your date.

To really make a great impression on a first date, you will absolutely want to do some planning so you have a great foundation for your date to go off without a hitch. However, how you act and what you say on the date are equally important. These tips can help you really make a fabulous impression on your first date, which can go a long way towards helping you to make plans for a second date!

How About You?

Share your tips for making a great impression on a first date in the comments section below.

About The Author

Sarah T. Connor is a reputable Internet dating safety advocate who enjoys participating in free dating chat forums. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, and publishes a 100% free online dating service Free-Date.net, an online dating site for singles.