This article was written by John Keegan
and by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan
. John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
There are 9 references
cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 22,309 times.
What should you bring on a first date—aside from your incredible sense of humor and a dazzling smile? When you’re trying to rush out the door to meet your date, it’s totally normal to be nervous, and it’s easy to forget the essentials. No worries, we’ve put together a quick checklist of what you should bring along so you can take the stress out of your date prep!
Steps
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Bring enough cash to pay for tips, cab/bus fare, and a meal. Even though you can use credit cards or apps to pay for your fair share of the bill, sometimes plain old cash is just easier! Plus, if you opt to stop for a drink, coffee, or small snack you can avoid looking cheap by making sure you have something to leave in the tip jar. [1] X Research source
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Bring ID in case you want to drive to your date or order alcohol. If you’re younger and don’t have a government-issued ID, you can bring a school ID to take advantage of store and theater student discounts. [2] X Research source
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When your mouth smells less-than-kissable, turn to your trusty mints! Even if you’re not planning on kissing your date, breath mints can save you from wafting the scent of your dinner towards them while you talk. [3] X Research source
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Apply a little lip balm to get ready for puckering up. After using lip balm, your chapped lips will probably look and feel better both to you and your date! [4] X Research source
- For hydrated lips, apply lip balm before bed and in the morning, as well as when your lips feel dry throughout the day.
- If you’re going on an outdoor date, pick a lip balm with at least SPF30 to stay protected from UV rays. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Give your phone a boost if your date goes longer than planned. Whether you end up staying the night or whether your phone battery drains quickly, you’ll want to make sure you have enough power to tell someone where you are, get a ride home, and use GPS so you don’t get lost. [6] X Research source
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Turn to this modern equivalent of a handkerchief to banish unattractive sniffling. Plus, if you come across a gross seat or bench, you can use tissues to wipe it down and save yourself from an icky situation. [7] X Research source
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Stay cozy and warm for a more comfortable date. Choose a jacket/sweater appropriate for the weather and date location, and remember that restaurants, museums, and other great date locations might be chillier inside than the weather outside. [8] X Research source
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If you wear makeup, bring a small kit to keep it looking good. Depending on what makeup you’re wearing, bring lipstick or lip gloss, concealer, and/or translucent powder. [9] X Research source
- To fix makeup moments when your skin gets really oily, bring a beauty blender and blotting paper to pick up oil and touch up your foundation. Then, gently dab translucent powder over your face with a beauty blender. [10] X Research source
- Don’t use a brush to touch up your makeup, or the bristles will move the makeup around too much. [11] X Research source
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If there’s a chance you’ll spend the night, set yourself up for safe sex. When things start to get hot and heavy, the last thing you want is to find out you don’t have protection. Carry a condom in your purse, pocket, wallet, or leave some in your car. [12] X Research source
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Take the anxiety out of walking around at night or in unfamiliar places. Especially if you’re a smaller person or someone going on a blind date, you can get extra peace of mind in knowing that you can defend yourself. [13] X Research source
How Can You Make a Good First Impression On a Date?
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References
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/10-things-to-always-have-with
- ↑ https://gcmag.org/first-date-the-essentials-to-have-in-your-purse/
- ↑ https://www.pride.com/dating/2017/3/15/7-things-you-should-always-bring-first-date#slide-4
- ↑ https://gcmag.org/first-date-the-essentials-to-have-in-your-purse/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-signs-your-lip-balm-use-is-just-a-bad-habit/
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/10-things-to-always-have-with
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/what-to-carry-on-a-first-date-the-gentlemans-arsenal/
- ↑ https://guestofaguest.com/new-york/nightlife/the-everyday-girls-guide-to-nightlife-4-things-you-should-bring-to-the-club?slide=1
- ↑ https://gcmag.org/first-date-the-essentials-to-have-in-your-purse/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=67&v=TM42DMChxY8&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NikkiaJoy
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=305&v=TM42DMChxY8&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NikkiaJoy
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/10-things-to-always-have-with
- ↑ https://germmagazine.com/the-anti-social-idiots-guide-to-surviving-a-first-date/