Dating Online: Planning that First Encounter!

Once those dating sites have led you to a person you think might be quite special to you, it's time to meet them. In order to calm your anxieties about your first date, here are some great ideas for the time and place of it. The setting of a first date is of the utmost importance and there are a lot of DO's and DONT's you need to learn about before you ask someone out! Especially if you only know them via online chat room and phone discussions, you'll want to make sure you are careful about where you take them!

1. Don't go see a movie

A movie theater is probably one of the least romantic places you could take your date on. A romantic comedy is fun to go to with a significant other you've been dating for a while, but if you're meeting someone for the first time, you're just setting yourself up for a lot of awkward moments. There is no chance to get to know each other at the movies! Plus, if the film is bad, it can be a real downer. You're looking for dating, not a good movie experience. Interaction is crucial.

2. Do dine out

Restaurants are a great place for conversation and that's exactly what singles need to do to learn about each other and determine if they are good matches. Go ahead and ask your date ahead of time what food they don't like; you certainly don't want to take your date to a seafood restaurant if he or she hates fish!

3. Do be creative

Your date will be impressed if you come up with an original idea. Bowling, arcades, carnivals, horseback riding, the park, sporting events, etc... these are all fun activities that will help both of you feel at ease and comfortable around each other.

4. Don't ask intimate questions

Sure, you want to begin the process of getting to know the other person, but there are some topics that simply aren't appropriate for a first date. Hint: anything that is too serious or relates to his or her ex is probably not good table talk. However, if both of you have been engaged in a lot of online dating and have already touched on these topics, the rules are a bit different.

5. Don't drink too much