Other people's weddings, and days like Valentine's Day, can be the worst for highlighting just what you don't have - that special relationship of your own. We all know that feeling of 'always the bridesmaid never the bride' !
Relationships on Female First
So, for those of our readers out there still looking for 'the one', we thought we'd bring you the ten essential tips on first dates from founder of exclusive dating agency, Seventy Thirty, Susie Ambrose.
Seventy Thirty use interviews and thorough psychological metrics to match make clients alongside traditional techniques, but also recognise the importance of advice and training ; there is an art to dating, and like any skill, we can all improve with confidence and practice.
Here are Susie's first date rules :
Build up your confidence.
Dating can be nerve-wracking even for the most confident person, and we all have a tendency to visualise the worst-case scenario on a date. Before you go out, do a healthy 'asset inventory' : make a list of all your good qualities. Picture yourself being relaxed, confident, at ease and enjoying a wonderful time out.
Dress the part.
Do your research and find out about where your date is taking you and plan your outfit accordingly. Classic rules of clothing etiquette should apply. Look your best but don't wear anything uncomfortable; you'll wind up focussed on how your clothes feel rather than your date.
Watch your body language.
Posture and eye contact can send messages that speak louder than words. Get to know yourself and visualise how you want to connect with your date. Seventy-Thirty members are often coached on their body language which is an often-neglected area of focus. Is the subtext of your communication or body language putting him/her off in myriad subtle but nevertheless powerful ways ?
It's not therapy, it's a date!
Don't talk about nightmare exes, bad dates you've suffered, or horrible primary school stories. Keep it personal but positive.
Don't be afraid to let your intelligence shine through
Intelligence is an attractive quality and it also makes you stand out from the crowd.
Be natural
Don't feel that you have to hide behind a mask: just be yourself. Show your personality.
Don't talk money
Discussing finances on a first date is a big no-no. You're there to get to know each other, not your bank accounts.
Don't drink too much -
especially if you meet someone you fancy at your best friend's wedding in front of her friends and family ! It is a tempting tactic to calm your nerves by throwing back the champagne cocktails, but this will only make you more likely to lose control of the choice-making barometer.
Skip the sex (at least at first).
So you're hitting it off and the person across from you has your heart is pounding. Great! It might sound old-fashioned, but resist the temptation to give in to your primal urges before you've got to know the person better. Saving something for later will keep both of you wanting more, and will enable you to connect on a deeper level.
Have fun!
While you can't guarantee every date will be a success, you can increase your chances of this by being as relaxed and positive as possible on your date. And dating is supposed to be fun, remember?
About Seventy Thirty
Knightsbridge based Seventy Thirty is the first matchmaking company built on a relationship psychology model, providing the quintessential, world class matchmaking service to a sophisticated and particular clientele.
Seventy Thirty members are high net-worth individuals from a variety of unique backgrounds, nationalities, lifestyles, industries, all with different relationship aspirations, and of course of all ages.
Comments Susie Ambrose, their founder,
"Our clients come to us, the experts, as they share a desire for a partner and a committed long-term relationship. Our members value discretion and expect a top level of service in exclusive matchmaking, as they do in all the other aspects of their busy lives."
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