Buzz
With your first date quickly approaching and the plans in place, you might be wondering if bringing flowers is the right move. While it’s important to make your date feel special, you don’t want to overdo it by bringing something too extravagant. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ll answer this question and provide plenty of useful advice to help you make the most of your first date. Keep reading for everything you need to know about whether or not flowers belong on a first date.
Steps
Is gifting flowers on the first date a good idea?
Flowers on a first date are no longer in fashion. While this might have been a classic gesture in the past, today, bringing flowers may come off as outdated or overly formal. To avoid seeming too traditional, it’s better to skip the flowers.
Bringing flowers on a first date can appear overly eager. If you show up with a gift that lacks thought (like flowers), it might send an unintended message: I wasn’t sure what to bring, but I really want you to like me. Naturally, you do want them to like you—and that’s perfectly fine! But there are more effective ways to impress your date, so once again, it’s better to leave the flowers behind.
Flowers might make your date feel like you're pushing for romance too quickly. On a first date, the goal is to build a genuine connection. If you arrive with flowers, it may unintentionally put pressure on your date, making them feel like you expect something more right away. For the best chance at creating a meaningful spark, it's better to leave the flowers at home.
Bringing flowers could seem like rushing things too soon. If you come on too strong with big gestures before you’ve really gotten to know each other, it might overwhelm your date. Pushing the romance early could leave them feeling confused, or even turned off. To keep things natural and keep your date interested, it’s best to skip the flowers.
Flowers might make your date feel self-conscious. Walking into a restaurant with flowers in hand could make your date anxious. They might think: Oh no. Are people staring at us? Do they know it’s our first date? You want your date to focus on getting to know you, so avoid the awkwardness and leave the flowers behind.
Flowers on a date can be cumbersome and limiting. Carrying a bouquet around can disrupt the flow of your date. By leaving flowers behind, you have more flexibility. Whether you're grabbing drinks, racing to the park, or enjoying a busy bar with little seating, flowers just get in the way and make those activities harder to enjoy together.
Instead, try this approach on your first date:
Give a unique, thoughtful, and affordable gift. You can still show your date that they’re special with a well-chosen gift—just make sure it feels personal. Pick something that will make them smile and demonstrate that you’ve paid attention to their likes and dislikes. Impress them with your creativity and thoughtfulness, without overwhelming them with an expensive or outdated gift.
- If you share a common interest, use it for inspiration. Perhaps you both enjoy Spongebob, so a fun Spongebob trinket would be perfect.
- Or take inspiration from an inside joke. Maybe you’ve joked about always having bad hair on first dates—why not bring a comb to make them laugh?
- If you’re unsure, go with something more neutral but still thoughtful. A bookmark for a reader or a small chocolate for someone who loves sweets can show you care.
- Avoid gifts that are too sexual or overly expensive, like lingerie or jewelry.
Show confidence on your first date. Confidence is attractive, so focus on your appearance, body language, and how you speak. This will make a strong first impression.
- Wear an outfit that makes you feel great. It’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
- Maintain eye contact and stand tall. Try to avoid fidgeting and use hand gestures to emphasize your points when you speak.
- Speak slowly and clearly. If there’s a lull in the conversation—don’t panic! When it happens, offer your date a thoughtful question to keep things going.
Focus on building a real connection with your date. Rather than relying on flowers to create a bond, take the time to genuinely get to know them. Ask meaningful questions, listen actively, and stay engaged with the moment.
- Ask a question that encourages connection: “Is there anything you’re passionate about learning or improving this year?”
- Show you’re listening actively by nodding, asking follow-up questions, and validating their feelings.
- Stay present. It’s just two people getting to know one another, so if your mind starts to wander, take a deep breath and refocus.
- Make sure your date feels at ease, as this will give you both the best chance of developing a great connection.
- Reader Poll: We asked 269 Mytour readers, and 52% said that their favorite first date conversation topics are hobbies and interests. [Take Poll] So try asking about your date’s favorite activities!
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