Well, we’ve mentioned safety a few times and talked about some great ideas for places to go, but let’s talk specifically about that first date and some of the things you can do to make sure it all goes well.
Wherever you decide to go, make sure that you meet somewhere safe. If you can, make it somewhere casual, somewhere relaxed, that’s easy to get to and where you can both be comfortable. Even more importantly, have your own means of transport there and back so you’re not relying on the other person for that first meeting. It might sound like good manners to be picked up for a date, but you’re putting a lot of trust in someone you’re meeting for the first time.
Tell someone where you are going to be. This is essential – an even better approach is to also give them your date’s number and name, or to ask your friend to call you at a specific time. The advantage of this is that it can both offer you the opportunity to call off the date if you aren’t comfortable, and be a talking point if you’re really enjoying yourself.
Don’t go home with your date the first time, or invite them home. It can be tempting to fall into the trap of thinking that this is somehow old fashioned, but it’s not – you really don’t yet know this person well enough and if they’re really interested in you it won’t be a problem. After all, it’ll give you both something to look forward to on your second date if it continues to go well.
Safety on a first date is all about common sense. If you’d be screaming at the screen if someone did it in a horror movie, then it’s probably not a great idea on a first date.