Dazzle your date

The ins and outs to an ultra-spectacular date, and the many ways you can avoid disaster.

A bouquet of flowers is one simple way to impress your date and score some immediate brownie points.
Ally Campbell
A bouquet of flowers is one simple way to impress your date and score some immediate brownie points.

There’s that one girl, she sits next to you in Ms. Blanc’s algebra one class, and you find yourself staring at her more than the board.

There’s that one guy, he won’t stop staring at you in Ms. Blanc’s math class, and you don’t know if it’s because there is something on your face or if you should be flattered.

You’ve never asked a girl out before. High school is a whole new ball game, and you don’t yet know how to play. You feel your desire to ask her out conflict with your sweaty palms.

You’ve never been on a date before. Heck, never been asked on a date before. The panic of what to do, and how to play it cool, suddenly sets in.

The bell rings.

You suddenly gain the courage to walk up to her and stop face to face. You’re paralyzed.

The boy who was just inadvertently staring at you in class is now in front of your face with his mouth open as if on freeze-play.

What happens next?

Whether it is your first date or you’ve been playing ball for quite some time, these dating tips will spark your game.


 

DO

ask the girl out in person. This breaks down the boundaries of technology and makes the invitation special. To have the guts to ask a girl out in person is impressive and will most definitely show off your confidence, which is something girls love.

DON’T

ask her out over text. “Do u wnt 2 go out w/ me” is not alluring. She isn’t just another one of your dudes. If you are really interested in this girl, show it.

DO

respond to his invitation politely. Sure, the guy asking you out may not be prince charming, but he still has feelings. If you accept, say yes with just the right amount of excitement. If you’d rather not spend your Friday night with him, say, “Sorry, I can’t this weekend,” and assure him you will let him know if you can in the future. (This doesn’t mean you have to make an opening in your schedule for this guy, but it drops the hint that you are not interested. A little white lie is better than breaking his heart).

DON’T

cancel last minute, unless you have a valid excuse. If you do not want to go on a date with him, you should decline with an excuse from the get-go. Especially do not make up an excuse that you suddenly have to babysit your little sister, and then proceed to post selfies with your best friends on Snapchat. This will not only hurt the guy, but quite possibly your reputation.

DO

offer to drive. This makes you seem mature and responsible. Also, it gives you control of the date, as in where you two are headed, since you are the one behind the wheel.

DO

be ready on time. Nothing says “Diva” like being 15 minutes late because you’re not finished curling your eyelashes. Plan accordingly with your time in order to appear presentable and ready when he comes to the door.

DON’T

be too complimentary. Yes, a compliment here and there is quite charming. However, when you are constantly telling her how beautiful she is and that she smells amazing, it becomes more creepy than attractive.

DON’T

get hung up on the silence. If this is your first date, there is a lifetime of experiences to learn about each other, so nearly any topic could revamp the conversation. It is likely there will be a point of awkward silence during the date, but you can break that by asking any simple question. (Possible conversation starters: family, friends, school, hobbies.) Also, remember it’s not solely the guy’s responsibility to keep the conversation running smoothly.

DO

show off your manners. There is something about boys holding open doors that makes girls’ hearts melt. Also, a gentleman who uses polite words, eats with his mouth closed and looks at his date when she is talking is a coveted rarity, and therefore, deserving of a second date.

DO

use your golden words. Contrary to popular belief, words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are still in style. These words will show him you are a lady, and therefore deserve to be treated like one.

DON’T

be over the top. It is only the first date, not the engagement. A candle-lit dinner at Flemings Steakhouse with a bouquet of roses is completely unnecessary, and may come off too strong. Keep the date low-key, but nice. You can save the fancy romance for when you have dated for a while and it actually matters.

DON’T

be high maintenance. Guys like girls who are easy going. The date should be about the person you are with, not about taking advantage of his credit card. Simplicity will reveal genuine feeling for one another. If you feel all rosy inside you will know it is because of emotions, not the prime-fix meal you ate on his dime. Therefore, be thankful for any date he has planned.

DO

make the date exciting. The clique dinner-and-movie is never a bad option, but if you are really looking to impress her, think outside of the box. Consider her interests and build your date from there.

DO

be flexible. If he asks what you want to do, go ahead and give a suggestion. If not, he most likely has something planned, so allow his idea to follow through. Unless you are uncomfortable with the date’s plan, do not try and change the itinerary.


So what happened to the two awkward freshmen?

They read “Dazzle your date” and got married — naturally.