Dinner Dates: Looking Forward To A Night Of Wine-Tipping and Cozy Romance

Dinner dates offer many opportunities to present yourself. Outside of the daily grind, how often do you get the chance to prepare your appearance? I’m not just talking about your outfit or your makeup either, your appearance includes the places you visit, who you visit with, etc.

There’s a lot to look forward to when planning a dinner date: like where to go, what to wear, and what to do after. People can argue that dinner dates are overrated and over practiced, but it’s been around for so long that the tradition practically speaks for itself.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is over thinking the dinner dates. Formality is a tricky beast and it can crush the casual mood. Once you get caught up in the ambience, the self-presentation, and the conversation topics you start to forget about the actual date! These are some basic pointers to help you keep your cool and come out prepared.

- Being relaxed is the first step – conversation flows naturally when you are both at ease.  Pick a place that either you or your partner is familiar with. Worrying about the  menu or the atmosphere are things you don’t have to deal with. Your disposition can affect the mood more than the actual surroundings.

- Don’t be late, especially if you are the host. You can avoid this by not picking the restaurant that is a 2 hour drive away. Planning is important but the best dates have a little spontaneity in them. Moods change on the hour, so don’t make a big deal if your partner suddenly wants to do x when you had y in mind. Going with the flow can lead you to places you’d never expect.

- If you like food as much as I do, then try to avoid ordering things that could be messy. Spaghetti, for example, is the bane of all splatter-phobic eaters. Messy food will make you look like a messy person. For the sake of your date, leave the BBQ hot wings to another visit.

-Don’t be afraid to scope out the restaurant beforehand. “Casual” doesn’t mean “neglectful” in planning. Planning the route, time, and means of getting home are important factors that your date shouldn’t have to worry about.

- As a woman, I can openly admit that I enjoy dressing up for dates. Showing off a fancier look than your day-to-day wear is a great feeling, and you should take advantage when the occasion calls for it. A word of caution – too flashy can intimidate your date and make you look self-absorbed. Getting caught up in comparing your looks to everyone around you distracts from the two of you having a good time.

Hopefully these things will help you and your date have a great time. When it comes to dating never be afraid to listen to your intuition, especially if it’s going to nag you for the rest of the evening.