Hit it off with someone from an online dating app and deciding what to do for your first date? You’re probably brainstorming some online dating first date ideas. Ideally you want a first date that is short and sweet. You want enough time to get know the other person well enough to decide if you want to see them again. If they turn out to be not your type, the last thing you want is to be stuck hanging out with them for several hours.
Remember that the whole point of a first date is simply to get to know each other better. You don’t have anything to prove and the most important thing is to be yourself. You are far better off doing something easy than stepping out of your comfort zone by planning some exciting activity that you’ve never done before.
Here are some online dating first date ideas that will allow you to keep things fun and take the pressure off.
Things to bear in mind before your first date:
- Always meet the other person in a public place to ensure your safety. Ideally you don’t want to venture to an area you are completely unfamiliar with or too far away from home.
- Try not to meet too late at night. You want there to be other people around for the sake of safety. Furthermore, by meeting at a reasonable hour you will have clear boundaries.
- If you are concerned about safety then by all means tell a friend where and when you are meeting for your date.
- By all means, go somewhere that you are familiar with
- Schedule a time that you will be relaxed i.e. you won’t be in rush to arrive or leave
- Last but not least, have fun and be yourself!
Online dating first date idea 1. Meeting for coffee
Meeting up for a coffee is one of the best ways to get to know each other better on your first date. Coffee shops offer a relaxed environment. The environment is casual with no dress code and there will be plenty of other people around. The advantage of coffee is that it’s short and sweet. If you’re simply not feeling it then it’s easy to finish your drink and cut the date short. However, if you end up hitting it off with the other person, you can sit and chat for as long as you like. Furthermore, there’s no need to spend much on a coffee date.
Online dating first date idea 2. Meeting for drinks
If you prefer (or your schedule only allows you) to meet in the evening then grabbing drinks is a good idea. Being in a busy bar can take the pressure off as any awkward silences will hopefully be, well, less awkward. Furthermore, alcohol is known as a social lubricant for good reason. Even if you’re nervous, chances are you’ll probably feel calmer after a drink. Bear in mind though it’s a bad idea to get drunk on a first date. You’ll want to ensure that you stay relatively sober for your own safety. Furthermore, you want to remain in control and think before you speak.
Having said that, there’s no need for “grabbing drinks” to mean drinking alcohol. If you prefer to not drink alcohol but you think the other person wants to, you may wish to mention this in advance. Similar to meeting for coffee, having drinks gives you the flexibility of cutting the date short if they turn out to not be your type.
Online dating first date idea 3. Head to the park for a stroll
If you want a first date idea that’s different to the standard meeting for coffee or drinks, then why not head to a local park? As long as the weather permits, meeting for a walk in the local park is a laid-back way to get to know each other. The greenery and breeze will offer a relaxing environment for the two of you to stroll and chat. If you like you can pick up some drinks and snacks beforehand and even have a mini picnic.
The advantage of meeting in the park is that you can both enjoy the scenery and fresh air. It’s a low pressure first date. Neither of you have to worry about what to wear or what kind of food to order. Furthermore, a park offers you both ample personal space. It’s a flexible environment in the sense that you can walk to different areas of the park and sit down whenever you want to rest. There’s no need to invest a lot of money or time into a park date either.
Online dating first date idea 4. Check out a local museum or art gallery
Visiting a local museum or art gallery on a first date is a meaningful activity that you can both enjoy while getting to know each other. Museums and galleries offer intellectual stimulation and plenty of conversation starters. Instead of thinking of conversation topics, you’ll be able to chat freely about what’s on display. If you happen to be knowledgeable about what’s on display, even better. You may be able to impress your date with your insight!
Related: How to tell if he’s interested in you after the first date: 5 Telltale Signs
Online dating first idea 5. Pick an activity that you’ll both find fun (emphasis on the word ‘both’)
If you and your match have a common interest, why not choose an activity that involves this? For example, if you both enjoy jazz music, then why not head to a jazz club? Or, if you find bowling fun then you can meet up for a few rounds of bowling. The key is choosing an activity that both of you will enjoy. By engaging in an activity, you don’t need to think about how to keep the conversation flowing.
Even if you don’t turn out to be all that compatible with your date, you’ll still have fun doing something you enjoy. Furthermore, there will be less awkward silences if you’re both participating in an activity. Or, if things end up going well, you’ll end up having so much fun that the time flies by effortlessly.
What you want to avoid is planning something overly complicated in order to try and impress your date. For example, you don’t want to take them on a challenging hiking trail when neither of you are experienced hikers. If you’re planning on inviting them for a meal, you don’t want to invite them to somewhere overly formal if this is out of your own comfort zone. If you’re not used to going to places like this, you won’t be relaxed and it will show. You’re far better off going somewhere you’re familiar with.
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