Unfortunately the movie-dinner combo is still a first date standard. What’s unfortunate about going with a tried and true classic?
Well, this is how those dates generally play out: a guy & a girl in a restaurant, sitting across a table from each other making mundane & awkward small talk, avoiding eye contact as they anxiously wait for their meals to arrive. Then when the food does arrive begins the struggle to maintain a conversation while eating and trying to look good at the same time.
Forego the typical/cliché dates and invite her to do an activity. Anything interactive that keeps the conversation moving forward such as bowling, ice skating or going to an amusement park is a good idea.
This alleviates the pressure for both of you. and allows focus to fall on the activity giving you the opportunity to forge an attraction, get to know each other and increase your comfort level with some casual physical contact in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
This can give you the opportunity to make her to miss your presence. If you have quality friend they may even put in a good word for you.
This is why inviting her to group event can be a good idea. Group events provide natural conversation starters as there are a variety of things going on. If your friends are in attendance you can introduce her and leave her to get to know them a bit, leaving you free to network and talk to other friends.
Note: There is no need to do all the work. Taking a woman to a place that simulates her in a positive way makes her associate those positive feelings with you.
I was at the movies with my boyfriend and we sat in the second-to-last row. Hardly anyone else was in the theater, and no one was sitting behind us. Then, just as the movie started, some random old lady just came in, climbed the stairs, and sat right behind us. We were a little freaked out, but soon forgot her. A romantic scene began, and my boyfriend leaned in to kiss me, but stopped (he said later that he was thinking about whether I wanted him to kiss me).
I leaned towards his face and kissed him instead :) It was very cute! We smiled at each other and laughed quietly. Then he kissed me again. As the second kiss started, I heard a WUMPH! and my boyfriend jerked forward in his seat, hitting my nose and breaking the kiss. I looked at him and he was equally stunned. We turned around and the old woman behind us was glaring down disapprovingly. She had kicked the back of his seat! Needless to say, we made sure to sit in the back row after that! - Anonymous, 15, TN
Chances are both of them will leave the date without feeling terribly attracted or excited about each other because they have missed out on the opportunity to get to know each other and build a genuine connection. This doesn’t exactly sound like an ideal first date, does it?
