Dating in today’s crazy world is challenging. One of the hardest questions to answer when you find someone is, “Where should we go on a date?”
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with the best options that provide an affordable yet memorable experience.
Where Should We Go on a Date
The majority of first dates fall into two categories:
- You may not have officially met each other in real life yet, and your first date is the first time you will see each other. If this is the situation, a coffee date is best since it’s a short and casual option. You can make the meeting brief if things don’t go as planned. If things are going well, you can extend it to a second activity like watching a movie or going to the museum.
- Then there are first dates with someone you already know, like a colleague, a close friend, or someone from church. In this case, you can be more confident about getting along with them. You want to spend more time with them on a new level, so plan a first date that entails a little more effort.
Things To Consider When Planning Your Date
To further help you decide where to go on your first date, here are some necessary boxes to include in your checklist of first date ideas.
Cost
You have to be practical when planning your first date, especially since it will cost you money. Remember that one of the things to consider when picking a location is its affordability.
You will do yourself a big favor by considering the expenses. Remember that a date doesn’t need to be expensive to make it memorable.
Remember that first dates help you get to know each other. If everything doesn’t go as well as you hoped, you spare yourself the regret of spending too much on something that was not fulfilling.
Coziness
First dates are primarily for getting to know each other on a deeper level. It is always best to pick a place that allows both parties to converse freely and without unnecessary distractions.
You may have initially planned to go for a movie date, a bowling alley date, or a night out in a concert or club. But whether this may be of mutual interest for the two of you, these date ideas will not allow for meaningful conversation to happen.
Eye-to-Eye
Eye contact is the main ingredient in building an initial emotional connection. Therefore, choose a first-date activity that lets you look each other in the eye.
Nowadays, people choose to spend their first date doing physical sports activities like kayaking, hiking, and biking. While this may be a fun and unique way to spend time together for the first time, it may not be the best first date idea because you barely see each other face-to-face.
In such sports activities, you stand side-by-side, or one person leads the other. A good first date idea would allow for moments where you can look at each other’s faces.
Originality
If you’re planning to impress your special someone on your first date, then one thing you ought to come up with is a unique and novel activity. When coming up with an idea, you should consider a new activity that both of you are sure to enjoy genuinely.
It would also help to think of a first-date idea based on your shared interests like video games, rock music, classic films, or others.
No Awkwardness
Awkward silence is the last thing you want on your first date. This is why it is important to consider going to a place that freely encourages random topics for conversation.
Choosing Your First Date Place
Here are some surefire ideas for places to spend your first date with your special someone. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
Tea House
If you think coffee dates are overrated, opt to have your first date in a tea house.
Depending on the vibe you want, you can choose a classy tea house or a Japanese-inspired tea house for your date. Drinking tea with your special someone in a calm atmosphere can help induce a genuinely warm connection.
Mini Golf
A Mini Golf date idea sets the stage for playful competition. Another added perk of a mini golf first date is that it is not that expensive and doesn’t require a specific skill set to play. Some even have onsite bars and restaurants you can enjoy before or after your round of golf.
Amusement Park
Amusement parks offer a wide range of thrilling and enjoyable activities depending on what both of you are in the mood to do.
Are you both willing to go on thrill rides like rollercoasters, or would you rather share an intimate moment with a serene view from the top of a Ferris wheel?
While walking around the amusement park, you can hold each other’s hands. You can also try to win oversized stuffed animals for each other by playing different fun games.
Trivia Night
You may consider a trivia night if a challenge is your idea of a perfect first date. You can team up with your date and compete with other couples or compete with each other instead.
Aside from a trivia night being a chance to hang out together, it is also a time to showcase your knowledge. In some trivia competitions, you may get the opportunity to bring home exciting prizes that you and your date can compete for or enjoy as a pair.
Pottery Painting
Pottery-making may be an excellent first-date activity, but it can be messy and take a lot of time. If you’d rather not spend the entire day attending a pottery-making session, you can always choose to paint pottery instead.
This activity still allows you to show off your creative and artistic side while allowing for smooth and casual communication between you and your date. That is a definite go-to date idea if both of you have an introverted personality.
Museum
Museum dates make for a romantic and classy first-date experience. Another added advantage is that museum dates may be less expensive than other date ideas.
The two of you can either spend most of your time enjoying exhibits or taking Instagrammable photos of each other impersonating the artwork.
Minor League Sports Game
If both of you are sports enthusiasts but want to avoid spending too much money watching professional sports games, a cheaper and better alternative is to take your first date to a minor league sports game.
Sports games offer a casual and comfortable atmosphere, leaving room for engaging conversations. Remember not to focus on the game more than you pay attention to your date.
Picnic
A picnic is a good idea for your first date if both of you do not mind spending time in nature. When planning a picnic date, remember to pick a location that is close to nature but not too secluded; you don’t want to freak out on your date!
A picnic date is also an opportunity to show off your nature skills and resourcefulness in food preparation.
First Date Takeaway
A first date is a significant milestone in a relationship. If the relationship works out, it’s something you will look back on whenever you reminisce about how your love began.
Planning for the perfect first date idea for you and your special someone can seem overwhelming. You have to consider numerous factors, like affordability, suitability, and originality.
There are numerous ways to impress your special someone, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. What matters most is whether both of you had a fun time together.
This post originally appeared on Savoteur.
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About the author
Nicole Graham
Nicole Graham is a relationship expert at Womenio.com. She is helping women grow into their best selves so they can be confident and bring more love, passion, and purpose to their lives. Nicole enjoys studying the psychology of love and is passionate about writing on them. She offers helpful tips and advice to help overcome any relationship issue, whether you’re single or already in a relationship.
First dates can be a drag but taking the time to actually plan it can make it better.