You’ve met someone online, maybe in an online dating app. This isn’t a first. Heck, it’s not a second either, but this time things feel different. You’re experiencing a level of connection that you wouldn’t have even thought was possible simply from exchanging messages.
You are interested in taking things to the next level. Arranging a meetup that would take your perfect virtual relationship into the all-to-uncertain physical world.
It’s an exciting thought. It’s also a frightening one. What is a person to do? In this article, we take a look at how to transition from online dating to face-to-face encounters.
First: Prioritize Safety
This step is so often overlooked for the natural reason that you feel like you know the person you are meeting. You might even feel like you love them. That experience is completely valid. However, it’s also the uncomfortable truth that it is much easier to lie about yourself online than it is in person.
For that reason, most experts recommend taking initial encounters slow. Make sure you choose a well-lit, public location for your first date in the real world. It is also often recommended that you make sure at least one or two friends or family members know where you are and are on standby should anything go wrong.
You might feel every impulse to ignore this recommendation. After all, it’s not the way you would treat someone you’ve been talking to for months in the physical world, right?
That’s probably true. Unfortunately, until you can confirm that the person you’ve been communicating with is who they say they are, it’s important to take basic precautions. It doesn’t mean you don’t trust them. It just means you’re playing it safe.
Second: Choose a Date That Will Allow You to Enjoy One Another’s Company
With that dark disclaimer out of the way, it’s time to get into how this date can be fun. Dinner and a movie dates aren’t so bad, but they’ve also been done to death. More to the point, the movie component will keep you and your partner quiet for 2-3 hours. Considering the fact that this is the first time you’ll have seen one another face to face, that’s kind of a bummer.
Why not mix it up a little bit? Choose a picnic in the park. Find a group hike. Go to that weird coffee shop downtown that lets you rent board games. There are loads of ways to get to know someone in a unique and exciting environment.
Third: Get Them Something Special
Getting someone a gift before a date is a nice way to show them that you are taking their interests into account. Flowers and chocolate are nice, but they can also be found in the same pile of cliches where you might come across that dinner and a movie date we dismissed in the last heading.
At Love Picker, we specialize in the types of gifts you won’t find anywhere else. Our signature item is a real rose dipped in gold. However, we have a deep catalog full of gifts that will appeal to people from a wide range of different backgrounds and interests.
Fourth: Calm Down
We all get wound up from time to time, and a “first date,” with someone that you happen to care about an awful lot would be enough to prickle anyone’s anxiety. Avoid putting too much pressure on the experience. It’s important to keep in mind that:
- You’ve already done the hard part. Getting to know someone is what makes initial dating encounters difficult. You’ve done that. After the jitters fade away you will most likely find that it feels more like you are sitting across the table from a close friend.
- They are in the same headspace as you. First-date nervousness cuts both ways. The other person is probably feeling just as anxious as you are. Acknowledge that, and allow the realization to calm you down a bit.
Above all else, don’t put so much pressure on this single encounter. This is just one of what will likely be many dates. You’ve got this.
Conclusion
Transitioning from online dating to the real world is a difficult but worthwhile move. More important than any of the steps in this article is to just be yourself. You might think, “Well what other choice do I have?” But it’s advice that many people need in moments of anxiety.
Sometimes, feelings of worry or dread can induce behaviors that aren’t natural to you. Take a breath, and be the person they’re expecting. Manage that and the date will go well.