Tips for the First Date

The key to success during the first meet up is pre-planning. You don't want to show up without a good plan, backup plan and a little extra money. The purpose of this planning isn't to impress your date, however. The purpose is to make your date feel as comfortable as possible by making the entire meeting go effortlessly. The more comfortable your date feels, the more likely you'll be to meet him or her again.

Have a Plan and a Back-Up Plan

To minimize awkwardness and uncertainty during the first meet up, have a flexible plan in mind. Run it by your date before you meet to make sure your date is okay with whatever it is you have planned.

Your first meet up can be something simple like coffee, lunch, or dinner at a nice but casual restaurant. There are endless possibilities, and you'll probably have a few good ideas by the time the two of you have gotten to this point. Pick an activity that will give you two a chance to talk because that's what the first meet up is all about.

Ultimately, planning the first meet up is going to fall on one of you, but even if you're not the planner, you should still come prepared with a backup plan. Just in case your date surprises you with some kind of emergency or the place you want to go is closed, have something else in mind as backup. Believe me, this will save the date and your date will appreciate it.

Whatever you do, don't surprise your date with anything. Don't tell your date it's a surprise and don't take your date anywhere they aren't expecting to go. This is especially important for you men to remember. The last thing a woman wants from a guy she met off the internet is a surprise on the first date.

Clean Up

This one is pretty basic but people get it wrong all the time. Clear your schedule out the day of your first meet so you'll have time to clean everything up. Even if you're not planning on going to your house, clean it anyways. You never know if you'll both have to stop there for something, or if things go well enough that you end up with a guest for the night.

Clean your vehicle inside and out. Get rid of all the trash and junk that's been collecting in there and vacuum all the floors and seats. Then run the whole thing through the car wash. Oh, and make sure it has a full tank of gas.

Last, but not least, clean yourself up too. Don't just run home after work and throw on a wrinkled old polo that's been lying on the closet floor for a month. Give yourself time to take a shower and find some decent clothes. You don't need to wear a suit and tie by any means, but wear something that looks nice and makes you feel nice.

Behave Yourself

Whatever disgusting, obnoxious or dangerous habits you have, put those away for now. Be courteous to everyone you meet, treat your waiters kindly, hold the door open but don't make a big deal out of it, don't get drunk - you get the idea.

Also make sure you don't complain or talk poorly of anyone during your first meet up. You want to be a positive person and fun to be around. Smiles and laughter are contagious so if you stay positive, the odds are your date will too.

Give a compliment when you meet but don't go overboard with compliments the rest of the day. Take it easy, ya know? When you first meet, you can say something like "Oh you look very nice today" but don't overdo it. Don't lick your lips and look your date up and down while you say it. Be sincere.

Tell Her How it Went

If the date goes well, tell your date that you had a great time. When it's time to part ways, tell your date you'd like to meet up again. It's a sincere compliment and your date will appreciate it. You'll probably get one more date if you can honestly tell your date that you had a great time.

The Kiss

If your first meet up was an actual "date" and you feel like it went well, go for the end of the night kiss. It doesn't have to be a tongue-sucking spit fest; a simple kiss on the lips is plenty. Walk her to the front door, look her in the eyes, tell her you had a great time, and then go for the kiss. Worst case scenario: she gives you the cheek instead. No big deal - that just means she isn't quite ready yet.

Here's another simple way to decide if you should go for the kiss: is it dark outside when you drop her off? If so, you were on a date. Did you both have a great time? If so, you should go for the kiss.