You have had your eye on someone for a long time and finally mustered the courage to ask him or her out on a date. Much to your surprise and delight, your love interest agreed to go out with you. You may be so excited that it has not dawned on you yet that you need to plan something for the two of you to do. A first date should be romantic, but it also should be relatively short and held in a public location. This gives both of you the opportunity to excuse yourselves politely if the date becomes too uncomfortable to continue.
Going out for coffee or a quick bite to eat is a good first date idea. It gives both of you the chance to talk in a quiet and relaxing environment. A loud sporting event or going out with other people are not such good first date ideas. You are together, but you will not have the opportunity to talk to each other very easily.
Now What?
If you survived your first date with someone and there is talk of planning a second date, you are probably excited and more than a little nervous. It was hard enough to come up with an idea for the first date, let alone the second and hopefully more. It probably does not help your anxiety level to realise that it will take more creativity for each subsequent date to keep the person interested in continuing to see you. If all goes well, the other person will eventually just enjoy being with you and it will not matter where you are. Until then, you need to try to keep your dates fresh and exciting to give the relationship a chance to blossom.
Planning for a Spectacular Second Date
If the weather permits, ask your date if he or she would like to go on a picnic with you. It is a romantic thing to do and your date should appreciate the gesture. Before planning the meal, make sure there are no foods that your date is allergic to or simply dislikes. You do not want a perfectly romantic afternoon ruined by your date breaking out into hives or getting an upset stomach. You can go ahead and plan the meal once you get the go-ahead on food. Try to make it something a bit out of the ordinary and do not forget the wine and desert. You also need to remember the silverware, napkins and a corkscrew.
Make sure you have a back-up plan for the picnic in case the weather does not cooperate. Since you will have to remain indoors, you could take your date to an upscale restaurant for the evening that serves the same type of food you planned to have at your picnic. Let your date know that you had planned an outdoor picnic so an idea for the third date is already established.
Other Ideas for Dates in the Early Stages
While you and your date are still getting to know each other, it is best to stick to more traditional dates that both of you are sure to enjoy. This includes such activities as going for a walk, sightseeing, taking in a movie, dinner and drinks and similar outings you would do with someone you only know casually. When you get more comfortable in your new relationship, either of you can introduce activities that you typically do with closer friends and those who share some of your specific interests.
