Stay Away from These 10 Bad Date Ideas

Young woman having a bad time on a first date

Finding that special someone to take on a first date can be such a satisfying feeling. But if you don’t take the time to plan accordingly, you might find yourself right back where you started: Searching for your perfect match.

The first date can be intimidating, but there are so many simple ways to get to know one another and enjoy each other’s presence. You can try dinner at her favorite restaurant, walk through the park or grab a drink from the local coffee shop - all perfect opportunities to talk and express interests, hobbies, and goals.

It’s fun to explore other first date options, but there are some bad first date ideas that need to be avoided altogether. Here are some of the worst date ideas you need to avoid if you want the get-together to run smoothly.

1. Bring a Friend

The first date is meant to be an intimate gathering between you and your potential partner. If you show up with one of your friends, your date might feel annoyed, uncomfortable, and completely thrown off by the dynamic. Plus, who likes to be a third wheel? Tell your friends to stay home - if the first date goes well, they can meet your match another time.

2. Play Video Games

Even if you consider video games to be the ultimate hobby, your date might not be interested in sitting in front of the television for hours at a time. Save the video games for your own downtime and let your friends know you’ll catch up with them when the date is over.

3. Camping Trip

Camping might seem like a great place to bring your potential match, but it might be one of the worst places for a first date. What happens if something goes wrong? What do you do when one of you shows little interest in continuing the conversation? Camping means you’re stuck together for a day or two, which might not be the best for your first gathering.

4. Exercise Class

Who wants to sweat on the first date? Even if you consider yourself a fitness guru and want to show off your skills, attending an exercise class or going on a brutal hike can be considered a worst first date idea, especially if you didn’t talk about it first.

5. Movie Date

Going to the movies has always been the classic first date option. But when do you find room to talk? How can you get to know each other when you have to stay silent in the theater and focus on the movie? Going to the movies may be one of the worst places for a date when you’re in the early stages of a relationship.

6. Meet the Parents

Bringing a girl to meet your parents on the first date? Big NO.

This can be a very intimidating move that can turn your date off instantly. Family gatherings of any sort should be left for a later date as long as there’s still an opportunity for a relationship. Otherwise, there’s no need to meet anyone’s parents just yet.

7. A Kid’s Birthday Party

If your niece or nephew is having a birthday party and you’re given a plus one, that doesn’t mean you should find a date to bring to the party. Just like meeting the parents, bringing your date along to a kid’s birthday party can be awkward, uncomfortable, and unnecessary.

8. A Wedding

Weddings can be fun with or without a date. But if you plan to bring someone you just met, they might get the wrong impression. Bringing a first date to an intimate gathering of family and friends can end in an awkward scenario - your date might think you’re ready to get married yourself, or she might be overwhelmed with all of the questions from your loved ones.

9. Shopping Spree

Browsing the mall on a first date is a fun way to get a feel for your date’s style and taste, but don’t offer to pay for everything. Taking your date out on a shopping spree right after meeting for the first time can lead to being taken advantage of.

10. Open Mic Night

Karaoke bars offer a fun way to express yourself and have a good time. But a first date location? Not always the best idea. Open mic nights can be intimidating for some people, especially if they have no desire to get up and entertain.

Save this date for a night down the road when you’re both feeling more comfortable and confident in your relationship.

Find Your Match on FarmersOnly

Don’t let a bad first date keep you from finding someone who can change your life. If you have a hard time meeting people out in public, but you still want to find someone special to take out, join FarmersOnly.

All you have to do is create your profile and fill out your bio. Here, you can share personal interests and hobbies, as well as morals, views, and future goals, so you paint a fine picture of yourself for potential matches to see.

Once your profile is ready, you can start matching with other like-minded singles and continue the conversation with the ones who make you feel safe and content. As long as you’re hitting it off, you can then schedule a meetup and have a real first date.

Approaching your potential love online can be easier than meeting face-to-face to start; online dating allows you to keep your guard up to an extent and wait to meet in person until you’re comfortable and confident.