First Date Etiquette

1. Come Up with a Cool Meeting Spot

Sure, dinner and a movie is always a safe bet when it comes to first dates. But when you really want to impress your date, go for clever over cliched. Consider what you already know about your date and plan from there: Does she love the outdoors? Take her on a hike or a walk along the beach at sunset. Is he all about the arts? Suggest swinging by some local galleries or museums. Not only will the scenery (or sculptures) give you topics to talk about when the chit-chat reaches a lull, but your thoughtfulness and initiative will no doubt impress your intended and hopefully score you a second date.

2. Be on Time

There's no such thing as being fashionably late to a date. So when your guy or girl says to meet you at 7:00 p.m., then be there when the clock strikes seven, not 15 minutes later. If traffic's terrible and you find yourself running behind, shoot your date a quick text message letting him know. Otherwise, you'll leave the poor guy hanging and may even come off as rude or inconsiderate, even if you were held up a legit reason.

3. It's Not All About You

So you're super-psyched about that major merger you just landed at work. Or perhaps you're pumped about the sweet condo you just bought. While you may be bursting to share the good news with everyone you see, try to tone down your excitement on a first date. Instead of keeping the conversation centered on you, stick to non-personal topics. Dig for some shared interests, like places you've both traveled to, movies you've seen or sports you follow. Ask a lot of questions and listen carefully to the replies. Remember, you're there to get to know more about your date-not to just rattle off your lists of accomplishments.

4. Avoid The Past

Talking about past relationships is a big no-no for a first date, so avoid that topic completely. While you may find it completely fascinating that your hot waiter looks exactly like your last boyfriend, your date doesn't need a reminder that you were once with a supermodel. And even if you're not hung up on your past, your date may be. So asking him about his ex may send your otherwise upbeat chatter into a downward spiral. It's best to save all discussions about the past for future dates, when that stuff really starts to matter.

5. If There's Bliss, Kiss

No matter how great a date's going, there's always going to be that awkward to-kiss-or-not-to-kiss moment at the end of the night. The best goodnight kisses require shared chemistry and mutual attraction, so if the sparks are flying, go for it. But if things just aren't clicking, there's no need to go in for the lip lock-no matter how much money he dropped or how sweet she seems. End the date with a hug (or a handshake, if you want to go super informal), say thanks for the evening and leave it at that. There's no need to end a bad date with an even worse kiss, right?