be yourself and above all be honest and humourous

You are finally there feeling nervous and excited. It doesn’t matter who picked who, or whether you have decided to meet each other in a neutral place, the question is what to do on the first date?

The main concept of a perfect first date is to get to know each other, therefore, the perfect first date will usually involve a nice conversation and not some adventurous extreme activities.

Don't surprise your date with a hatchet movie, meal, etc. on the first date. They may be allergic to horror films and you don't want to 'surprise' a vegetarian with a dinner at "Harvey's House of Beef." With a 'surprise' date you could end up with a teetotaler at a wine-tasting, or a lactose-intolerant date at a cheese fest.

Be honest, don't play games. Avoid even stretching the truth; first time you’re caught, it will destroy your trustworthiness.

Be on time. Tardiness is inconsiderate (not to mention it reveals all sorts of things about your personality such as your passive-aggressive tendencies). If your date is late, be pleasant, and listen to their reason - it might be genuine.

Tell yourself you're not nervous, just excited.

Keep checking the inside (give the exterior stuff a rest). If you stay focused on looks you may end up ignoring or dumping a perfectly fantastic person without ever really giving them a chance.

Don't jostle your date and don't rush sex.

Don't talk about marriage and kids and long-term plans for the two of you on your first dates.

Keep topics light and keep away from controversial issues on the first date. Also, refrain from using off-color language or jokes, or making sexual references.

Be clear about the date, time and place...and be on time. Don't leave things hanging with "I'll call you later with the details

Non-traditional" or "casual" dates can take some of the pressure off of going out. A casual date won't necessarily feel like a "real date", so it is more relaxed. When you ask someone to a movie, everyone knows it is a DATE. That can create pressure. But if you ask someone to go shopping with you it might be a lot more comfortable. If someone is unsure how they feel about you, then a casual date (especially if it occurs during the day rather than at night) is easier to accept. There will be a lot less tension.

This is a question that every guy wants to know the answer to. Particularly in the beginning, it is important to show a girl that you know how to have fun and that you are an easy person to get along with. Who would want to hang out with an uptight, awkward guy? With this in mind, it is extremely important that you prepare yourself for a first date in order to avoid any potential hang ups. The most awkward, in my opinion, is when you take a girl out and there just isn’t anything the two of you can talk about. People start saying silly things just to get a conversation going, and it usually makes them look like a loser—not the way you want to come across when meeting a new girl.

Keep in mind that there is not only a lower limit to how much you should think about the date, but also an upper limit. Do not obsess over it, or you will probably give off the weird stalker vibe that girls are trained from birth to avoid. The way I recommend planning for a date is to envision yourself there, and then think of what could potentially go wrong. Once you’ve come up with a list of possible problems, for example the awkward silence I mentioned above, you can start to think about how to avoid them, and even what you can do if they should arise.

As I said, you shouldn’t obsess, but it is prudent to have a few ideas for conversation topics before you go out. These probably shouldn’t be the cliché “Where are you from?” type questions, although even those are better than nothing. Try to think of unique questions that show you are interested in your date. Focus on her, not on yourself. One of the worst things you can do on a date is spend the whole time talking about yourself, even if you happen to be an incredibly interesting character. Girls just don’t like that. They want to meet someone who will be interested in them—your interest will show that you are caring and considerate. Also, try to make your questions particular to the individual you are dating, and avoid big generalities. Maybe you know the person goes to a certain college in town. As a conversation starter, you could say something along the lines of (but be sure to just word things so they are comfortable for you): “So I know you go to such and such university. Tell me about it. Do you like it?” Try to build on her response, and this will show you’re listening. This advice will usually help your conversations flow naturally and positively.

Going on a successful date can be hard if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it can be helpful to refer to a romance guide. There, you’ll find tips and advice that will help to guide you through the dating process.

You may find that a romance guide offers so many tips, you aren’t quite sure just which ones to follow. But, as long as you make sure to remember just a few key tips, you should have no problem assuring your next date is a success.

The first thing that any romance guide will tell you is that proper grooming is crucial. Many people would argue that looks don’t matter, but good hygiene surely does. No one wants to date someone who isn’t clean and presentable.

Prior to your date, make sure to shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair, and, if need be, shave. When it comes to choosing an outfit, make sure to pick one that is clean, ironed, and appropriate for your date.

Now that you know how to look good, you must learn just what to do on the date itself.

If you are the one who must choose the date’s activities, make sure to take the other person’s likes and dislikes into account. Although you may like an activity, the other person won’t enjoy the date unless it is something they are interested in doing, too. If you aren’t sure what he/she likes, choose an activity that just about anyone would enjoy, such as dinner, a movie, or even a quiet evening at a coffee house enjoying a local band.

While on the date, there are a few things that any romance guide will tell you to do. Do not monopolize the conversation, especially by talking only about yourself. Give your date a chance to tell you a little about themselves, too. It’s the only way you’ll both be able to learn about each other and find if you are a good match.

Be on your best behavior. This doesn’t mean you can’t be yourself. However, you should show your date the utmost respect, even if things aren’t going well.

Also, make sure you are aware of how you treat people around you. This will give your date a sense of what kind of person you are, and just how you will treat them during the course of your relationship.

You must also be polite when it comes to physical contact. This is especially true if this is the first date. Many people don’t feel comfortable even holding someone’s hand until they’ve known them a while, so don’t try to lean in for a kiss or an embrace unless the other person has given you the go-ahead.

Last, but certainly not least, do not ask for your date’s phone number unless you actually plan to call. It isn’t nice to give someone false hope, so it is better to just end your date by saying goodnight if you don’t plan to see them again.

The tips in a romance guide can be quite helpful. Even the most inexperienced dater can find the advice they need to be a success.

Everyone knows the classic dates, the ones everyone goes on the first time they’re with somebody. However, a lot of the classic date ideas really aren’t that great.

Dinner and a movie: Definitely the most classic date out there. And yet, it’s so uncreative and so impersonal that it’s almost a downright no-no. Definitely do not go to a movie on your first date. Chances are you’ll spend 10 minutes trying to figure out what movie to see, and it’s the most inpersonal date there is. Sitting next to your date for an hour and a half in a dark theatre staring at a giant screen is not a good way to get to know them, and reduces your chances for a second date.

Ice Skating: This is another popular date idea, one which works especially well if neither of you can skate terribly well. It’s a good ice-breaker in that you can both have a laugh at how terrible you both are at skating, and can support each other on the rink. It’s a more creative date than dinner and a movie, and I strongly suggest it.

Homemade Meal: A good idea if done well, otherwise it simply looks cheap. If you’re going to make your date a home cooked meal, buy something classy and delicious, don’t simply put 4 pizza pops in the microwave for a couple minutes. Make a roast, or at least cook some fresh chicken breasts with rice pilaf. As for presentation, light candles, put on a tablecloth, and bonus points if you get some wine! If you do it well, a homemade meal for a date is fantastic, and will especially impress women.

Club or Bar: Definitely not a great choice for a first date. Usually the music is too loud for either of you to have much of a conversation. The alcohol and atmosphere may loosen you up, and the dancing is often fun, but there’s always the risk of the both of you overdoing it and one of you ended up on the bathroom floor, passed out. Once you get to know each other a little better you may want to go to a bar, but it’s not a good choice for a first date.

Now with a good grasp of what makes a good date and what doesn’t, get out there and find that date to have the perfect evening with!