What to talk about on a first date with someone you already know

Going on a date is hard enough, regardless of your age or dating experience. Going on a date with someone you already know can be even more challenging, as you may have many preconceptions of how the date is going to go, which could potentially ruin it! On this blog, we will teach you what to talk about on a date with someone you already know.

We’ve been on a fair few first dates (good and bad), so this took some sitting down to list what are the must include and most avoid topics on a first date with someone you already know. If you think we’re missing something, then feel free to get in touch!

What to Expect on a First Date with Someone You Already Know

You may feel less pressure and more at ease when going on a first date with someone you already know. You will then be more likely to open up and share things that don't always come easy to some people.

What to Wear:

You should dress up for your first date. However, if you wear something too formal, the other person might think that a date is a casual event, putting them off. But if you wear something too relaxed, the person might think it doesn't matter to you and make a wrong first impression. It's best to find a balance between these two extremes and stick with something in the middle.

Show them that you're taking this date seriously by making an effort with your appearance. You don't need to go out and rent a tux or impress them with an expensive ball gown; make sure you're not too casual. Putting some work into your appearance will make you feel better too.

It's important to dress appropriately for any occasion, and the date venue will likely determine the appropriate clothing type. For dinner, it might be better to dress up with chinos and a button-down shirt, or on a more casual date, like bowling, you could opt for jeans and a T-shirt.

We have no pictures from our first date, unfortunately, but we probably wouldn’t have dressed as casual as we did below!

meeting someone for the first time after talking for months

Top 5 Conversation Starters With a Crush That You Already Know

Sounding confident on a first date can be challenging. However, in the age of a global pandemic, the lack of human contact for almost two years makes it no surprise that those playing the dating game may feel nervous.

When you already know someone, there are many more topics that you can talk about. This list of conversation topics will help you break the ice and get to know your date better.

1) Ask how they dealt with the pandemic?

For some of us, Covid conversations are essential – yet, for others, it'll be the very last thing they want to talk about.

But don't worry! Nearly 1 in 5 people said that discussions about Covid safety are a must before meeting up. 47% of people say they're happy to talk about it and, in fact, go out of their way to make their date feel more confident.

Should you ask your date beforehand? It might be a good idea to give your date a heads-up ahead so they know what to expect. If this is concerning you, it's worth figuring out if you and your date are planning on taking public transit & if you'll both be taking tests.

This isn’t particularly a concern for us, but for some of our readers, this may be worth ticking off!

2) Discuss Your Favourite Movies, TV Shows, and Books

There are no limits to the number of streaming services or channels that offer content in today's world. Asking about what TV series they're watching, recommending the latest must-see movies, and sharing more details about your favourite books will keep the conversation going. At the same time, you both learn more about each other.

For example, suppose you love First Dates or can't get enough of The Tiger King. In that case (even though they are a bit suss 😂), these can be great talking points for first-date conversations right off the bat. Talking about what you're binge-watching and what have you been into lately can provide the perfect excuse for getting to know each other. You might even find sparks between you.

Not into movies, TV shows or books? How about talking about your favourite music, your dream job or future date ideas? Don't be restricted by this list - be creative! It will also help your social skills.

3) Discuss your future ambitions.

What are your life goals? It's a meaningful conversation with someone you're interested in since it can help you learn more about who they are. Your goals don't have to revolve around work. Sharing your aspirations - whether learning how to play the piano or perfecting your football skills - can help your date learn more about you and what's important to you.

Talking about your future ambitions is something that we love doing as it can help us learn a lot about a person and keep the conversation flowing.

4) Talk about your hobbies

If you're on a first date, it's good to talk about your interests and what makes you who you are. It'll show that getting to know one another is more important than having the perfect answer. If you're a flute player, a pilates teacher or an avid cricket fan, talking about your hobbies may help you connect with your date more deeply.

When you talk about what you enjoy outside of work, you're creating an opportunity for the two of you to share more about yourselves. On the other hand, you'll know their preferences. You should be able to come up with pretty accurate expectations of how busy they are and how much free time they will have.

5) Places you have travelled to or want to travel to.

Have you ever gone on vacation before? Would you like to visit America one day? Talking about travel is a great first-date conversation starter because it allows you to showcase your aspirations.

You can also talk about where you would like to go, or what places you've been to. It also reveals any potential red flags and helps people get to know each other.

If you like travelling and want to find someone to travel the world with, getting straight to the point about your favourite places and interests is a great way to learn more about each other. We have had it before on dates where someone isn’t really keen on travelling outside Europe - while that is fine for some people, it just isn’t our cup of tea!

This can also be a great place to start talking about your bucket list - cover all the different things you want to do. We have a massive list to make sure we can explore our interests and passions together!

Best Places to Have a First Date in Your Local Area

If you're looking for an excellent place to go on a first date with your significant other, here are some great places to consider.

Some people like going to restaurants or bars for their first date. However, if you want something more intimate, then try one of these:

Go for a stroll.

A walk on a first date is an easy way for you to avoid awkward small talk, and it can help you feel closer, especially if your date needs to open their communication lines. Especially since the pandemic, it is a comfortable and safe option for both parties.

Visit a museum.

Going to a museum on a first date can be a way to have a meaningful conversation and build rapport. Museums are accessible and affordable, and many allow you to get up close with art, and it allows for casual conversations and seeing what your date enjoys in life.

It's also a great idea for starting conversations - you'll have an infinite supply of topics right around you. Plus, many museums have cafes built into them, so if things go well and you want to extend the date, head over to the cafe.

The photo above was taken at Moco Museum, Amsterdam, a must-visit!

Bowling

Bowling can be a little strange to do with the shoes, questionable music and awful technique, but that's what makes it so good for the first date with a familiar person. Bowling is also one of the few sports that all can enjoy, no matter your skills.

Trivia Night

Drinks and trivia nights are an excellent way to relax and release your inhibitions. They're also a social environment perfect for storytellers who love to get into the nitty-gritty of things. Many bars and pubs hold special trivia nights, so bring your pop culture or historical knowledge together and get in on the competitive spirit.

Just do dinner!

Dinner can be a great way to take a break from day-to-day life. Dinner is an excellent opportunity to break the ice with someone new over yummy food;

Alternatively, day dates are seriously underrated. A brunch is a great option for first-timers! Why don't you pick a restaurant that has a good atmosphere so you can talk to each other while eating?

With COVID-19 in the equation, you can have dinner together over video chat until you both feel comfortable meeting in person. This is still an excellent way to catch up.

Best Places to Have a First Date in Your Local Area - just go for dinner — Dinner at Eins44, Berlin

Meeting Someone For The First Time After Talking For Months: Mistakes To Avoid

The first impression is everything. To be successful on a date, you need to come across as confident and comfortable. This means that you should avoid the following common mistakes:

Drinking too much

Take it easy when it comes to drinking while on a first date. Drink slowly and only limit yourself to one or two drinks. Focus on your date and avoid becoming too sloppy because that could ruin the impression you're trying to make.

Talking too much about yourself

When you first meet someone, it's essential to make an excellent first impression to show that you're friendly and not too self-centred or talkative. The same is true when you only ask questions. Your date will likely see you as an interrogator who's only after information without providing anything substantial.

It's essential to keep thinking of questions to ask your crush (even funny questions) and try to share some of yourself. This will help the two feel more connected and engaged in the discussion face to face (important if you started off talking online and finally meet).

Don't ask deep questions straight away and don't just ask random questions, like their favourite pizza topping or ice cream - start a conversation with your crush in a way that shows you're interested in them, without being weird!

Meeting Someone For The First Time After Talking For Months - Avoid talking about your ex

People's pasts can often get in their ability to have new relationships in the present. Suppose you're not done mourning your previous relationship and haven't entirely accepted that it has ended. You might be better off waiting to date again until you feel more ready. You wouldn't want your date to think that they've moved on too quickly or are moving too

Don't focus on the future on the first date

Dating should be about getting to know someone as a person through various interactions. If you’re looking for love, then go for it, but don't act desperate -that's the fastest way for a relationship to die. Trying to project your feelings onto your date will never be helpful. The best thing you can do is just be with them and enjoy what might turn out to be a good friendship or potential relationship.

Don't confuse Lust with Love.

The difference between chemistry and lust can sometimes be unclear. People usually don't give something a chance if it doesn't have a potential spark. But you should know that chemistry can grow the more you get to know someone.

Chemistry is about a connection that may not be instant, and lust is about physical feelings. Physical attraction is important these days, but just as important is your compatibility with someone else and how much they could improve your life.

If you're a man and you're looking to learn more about dating women and how to give them what they want - whether you know them already or not, check out this book.

The Man's Guide to Women: Scientifically Proven Secrets from the "Love Lab" About What Women Really Want

By John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Douglas Abrams, Rachel Carlton Abrams

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Foolproof Ways to Make a Good First Impression

It is crucial to make an excellent first impression when thinking about what to talk about with your crush. It can be the difference between getting a second date or being ignored.

The impression we give on the first date reflects our personality, attitudes, and level of compatibility. Therefore, it is good to know how to start a conversation and what are ways of building a relationship.

Having a conversation with someone new can be super awkward. It's just hard to know where to start or what to say. But there are tons of easy icebreakers out there that may work for you and your familiar acquaintance! Explaining the environment or situation, you find yourself in is a great idea.

For example, if you're at a restaurant, discuss the menu. If you're bowling, talk about your bowling experiences.

It's easy for people to be hostile when they feel confident. This happens because they don't want to come off as needy or desperate; however, truly confident people are not afraid to show some warmth.

People are usually drawn to those who seem confident and get along with them, which explains why confidence is vital in socialising. However, fake confidence that doesn't come from a genuine sense of warmth can be tricky. To show true confidence when conversing, remember to share your openness.

On first dates, awkward pauses and silent gaps are a natural part. Although it's easy to start pulling out your phone, you should resist the temptation to do so.

Remember to enjoy time with your date. Take a break from texting, social media or other web activities and use that time to talk & have fun with each other. It will create an even more intimate experience between you and put everyone in a great mood!

Try asking some ice breakers when you've run out of things to say! Some examples include "Are you enjoying the date?" or "How do you usually spend your evenings?"

Although it might seem tempting, try to resist the urge to check your phone & keep it out of sight.

Between dates, it can be hard to keep the conversation going - if you need some tips on how to keep a conversation going with your crush, check out our previous blog!

How to avoid awkward situations on the date

The world of dating has changed dramatically in the past few decades. It is easy to connect with people worldwide with dating apps and social media. However, this new way of dating also brings up many new challenges and awkward situations that you may not have faced before.

Forgetting your manners

It can be incredibly embarrassing when you mess up on a date. But as long as you apologise, most people won't get too upset with you. If it's not your fault, do your best to calm down and deal with it maturely. No need to dwell on it!

With all the online dating that has gone on in the past years (that's how we met by the way!), it can be easy to forget your manners in real life - this is human nature.

Who pays the bill?

Deciding if you want to split something or not can be challenging, especially when there is money involved. To avoid awkward silences, just ask! If you both decide to split it, the money saved can go towards your next date! However, the rule of thumb, whoever asked the other on a date should pay.

Avoid controversial topics

It's essential to strike a healthy balance and avoid potentially awkward topics when first getting to know someone. Try not to dive too deep into intense topics & remember your date is still a stranger. You should avoid talking about money, exes, and sex with a first date (unless you want to… 👀).

First dates are all about getting to know someone without asking them too many personal questions. Try finding common ground with your date and avoid anything considered too touchy.

The Friend Zone

It is a very common problem that many people face when they date someone who is already their friend. It can feel like you are taking advantage of your friend or are just being used for the company when you go out on a date with them. To avoid this, it's essential to be clear about your intentions from the beginning.

What are your intentions for this date? Some dating situations can be ethically complicated, especially in cases where one party does not see any romantic interest in the other person. It is important to be clear of your date's intentions in these situations.

And Remember- It is just a first date!

When on a first date, try reminding yourself that this is just an opportunity to see if there's any potential for a second date. All you need to do is find out if there are enough things you share in common and would enjoy doing together. If you're feeling stressed about your date, don't argue with yourself about it. Keep in mind that the future will come regardless of what happens, so take some pressure off yourself by offering a simple attitude with your date.