By KINSEY SEACORD
Meeting a girl’s first date expectations is no easy task. It takes a true gentleman to uphold the standards of a first date.
While it can be argued this generation is more apt to treat males and females the same, chivalrous manners are timeless.
A first date is always make or break for a couple, so choosing the right location is key. Girls expect to be taken somewhere nice where a conversation can be held to further reveal compatibility. In a match.com survey, half the singles prefer a casual dinner for the first date; less than 1 percent chose the traditional movie theater stand-by.
During a movie, one simply sits there and watches a screen. There is no engaging interaction between the couple. A guy must choose a location that is quiet and intimate. For the best results, gents should take their gals to a nice restaurant, like Carrabba’s.
Another expectation which should never go out of style is for the man to pay for the first date. According to match.com, 68 percent of men thought the man should pay the bill. This number is too low, men should pay 100 percent of the time. This gesture is not cheesy, it is polite. Going dutch, or splitting the check, is for when the couple is more acquainted or going steady.
Another common courtesy is for men to hold doors open for women and pull their chairs out when being seated. These acts are rooted in tradition and guys who do not do this for their dates are tacky.
The way a male acts on the date is the highest expectation that girls have. Ladies are looking for men who are confident in their skin. A girl’s date should make her laugh and make sure she is having a good time. Boys should not pressure girls into awkward situations, but should keep the mood light.
Holding hands is a superb initiative to show interest while not getting too heavy. According to smartgirl.org, 73 percent girls said they would hold hands on the first date.
Sadly, this generation of males has lost its sense of etiquette. No more classy compliments are given and eye contact is as rare as a “good hair day” for Donald Trump.
To make the night a success, males must focus on the girl they are with. Phones should be put away, and guys need to be courteous and complimentary since their date made an effort to be there and look attractive.
To pull off a flawless date, conversation is a must. It is up to the man, since he has asked a lady to accompany him, to make sure that communication is continuous.
It is imperative males make sure they are not simply firing questions as if in an interview. Girls expect their date to be interested in their lives, but not nosey.
One must also make sure the conversation is free flowing and does not turn into a speech. No woman likes to listen to an egotistical man boast about his life for an entire evening. There must be a perfect balance between communication and questions.
If a guy is not willing to act in this way, then he does not deserve to take a girl out. So gentlemen date the way it should be done.
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