Dating Rules

**Admin** Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:56 pm

1. First Dates Should Be Affordable
A first date is simply that - a primary interaction to get to know someone better. Leave the big bucks for later should things work out and try to keep the total expenses affordable for both parties, especially if you plan on going dutch.

2. Find a Place With a Talkable Space
You'll get shushed at the movies and have to yell in a crowded bar. Think about your first date location and whether or not you can comfortably talk in it without too much interruption. Getting to know someone new is the focus of a first date, which is next to impossible without conversation.

3. Keep It Comfy
Comfy clothes, that is. A new outfit for a first date might be a lovely gesture, but what if the two of you decide to go for a walk after dinner and your new (and not broken in shoes) make the entire experience miserable? Opt for comfortable, flattering, dependable clothes that won't pinch, sag, break, ride up, or otherwise leave you potentially fiddling all night.

4. Make the First Date Location Easy to Find
If your chosen location is more than thirty minutes away or requires a map to find, it's time to seek out another place to meet. If things go well on your first date you can always sweep your sweetie off to a unique and hard-to-find location another time.

5. Ensure a Non-Alcohol Based First Date
There is nothing wrong with having a drink on a first date. Making it a requirement to drink on a first date however is a sure recipe for disaster. Avoid locations that have a drink minimum or situations where your date may feel pressured to imbibe.

6. Allow for Time to Interact
Some great date ideas involve so much activity that there is no time to interact one on one. Therefore, if you choose to attend a dinner theater or take a tennis lesson together, make sure you've allowed for some down time afterwards to chat.

7. Make the Event Enjoyable
Don't think that by taking your date out to do something you hate you'll be winning brownie points. You won't. Instead, make sure that whatever activity you share is enjoyable for the both of you.