Married at First Sight’s love guru reveals the biggest faux pas people make on a first date
First dates can be exciting and nerve-wracking experiences for single people.
If you don’t date often, it can be difficult to know proper etiquette and come across as the best version of yourself, especially if you’re a nervous person.
To combat those first date fears, Paul C. Brunson, Tinder’s Global Relationships Insight Expert and Married at First Sight love guru, shared his advice on how to prepare for that all-important moment when you meet someone for the first time .
From the activity you choose to staying safe, there are some things to consider when it comes to meeting someone in real life who you met on a dating app – including the biggest faux pas you’ve made should avoid .
Read on for five of the legendary matchmaking guru’s best tips to help you tackle the overwhelming task of breaking into the dating scene.
Paul C. Brunson, Tinder’s Global Relationships Insight Expert and Married at First Sight love guru, has shared his advice for preparing for that all-important moment when you meet someone for the first time
1. Discover new experiences
Paul reminds singles that dates don’t have to be limited to the ‘traditional’ dinner and drinks.
Such a formal setting can be uncomfortable for some people, including the awkward ending where you decide who pays or whether to split the bill.
Instead, the dating expert advises, “Find something that works for both of you, like a shared interest or a simple walk in the park with a cup of coffee.”
During your second or third meeting you can always move on to a night out for dinner and drinks.
2. Date plans should not be solo information
The second tip applies to staying safe on a first date. It’s important to make sure you’ve told someone you’re going on a date, who you’re going with, and where you’re going.
Paul suggests, “When deciding where to meet, what to do, and what to wear, don’t forget to share your date plans.
‘It should be part of your ‘date ready checklist’. Tinder’s ‘Share My Date’ feature makes it even easier to share your date plans with your friends and loved ones directly from the app.”
The new feature, which will be rolled out over the coming months, means users can share their date plans with friends and loved ones straight from the app.
With one simple link, users can share date information – including location, date, time and a photo of their match – directly from the app
According to new research from the app, more than half of singles (51%) under 30 already let their friends know the details of their dates, and according to new in-app polling data, one in five Tinder users (18%) are sharing these are their date plans with their mother.
With one simple link, users can share date information – including location, date, time and a photo of their match – directly from the app.
They can decide with whom they want to share their date and create an unlimited number of dates within the app, up to 30 days in advance.
Date plans are also editable, so if plans change at the last minute, users can easily update the information in the app to keep their circle in the loop.
3. Be yourself
While this next point may seem obvious, Paul emphasizes that authenticity is what young singles value most.
When you’re nervous, it can be tempting to put on a facade to make yourself seem more interesting.
However, this is not a good idea as you probably won’t be able to keep this up on your future dates with this person and it is always better to be yourself.
Paul warns, “Don’t try to be someone you are not. In the age of “all or nothing” dating, “values-based qualities like respect and loyalty are highly valued.”
A big mistake that’s easy to make is to constantly answer your phone while on a first date – you may not even realize you’re doing it (stock image)
4. Phone down, eyes up
In the age of TikTok and online dating, your phone can almost feel like an extension of yourself.
A big mistake that’s easy to make is to constantly pick up your phone while on a first date – you may not even realize you’re doing it.
The dating expert urges: ‘Make sure you give your date all the attention. It’s second nature to answer your phone — especially if you’re nervous — but this will interrupt the flow of your date.
‘Put your phone on silent, put it out of sight and only have eyes for your date. The most important thing is that you are present.’
If your eyes are on your phone, your date may think you’re not interested or even turn them away.
5. It’s cool to be nice
Finally, the Married at First Sight love guru emphasizes that it’s important to be kind, even if the date doesn’t go the way you expected.
Paul advises: ‘Sometimes an IRL (In Real Life) date can fall flat. Remember to always treat your date with respect and how you want to be treated.
“Even if it doesn’t work out romantically, you might just make a new friend, and who knows where that will take you.
“But most importantly, trust your gut: It’s okay to make an appointment if you just can’t make it.”
Commenting on the new Share My Date feature, Tinder CMO Melissa Hobley said: “Discussing plans with friends and family is a time-honored dating ritual.
“Share My Date streamlines the sharing of basic information so singles can get straight to the exciting part, from figuring out what to wear to preparing conversation topics.”
The new feature will be rolled out in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, India, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, Mexico, Netherlands, Italy, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand over the coming months.