Apple Flowering Tree

1. Make sure that you are prepared for what the conversation should be before the date begins. Are you prepared to talk about things like religion or politics? Better decide now and if they come up during the date you will be ready to change the subject!

2. If you are the female in the date, for reasons of safety and well being, make sure you tell a friend or family where you are going before a date. You never can be too sure and it will help everybody begin if something were to happen. Sounds cryptic, but safe.

3. If you are the male in the date then make sure that you are conscious of how you plan the date before the date to make sure the venues are safe and comfortable for her. A deserted beach or drive down a country road after dark will just make you uncomfortable and should be saved for dates down the line.

4. Even though you may not care (as a great many guys don't) guys should make sure that the little things in your appearance are tidy. Shoes, watches, and hands should be clean (even under the fingernails) to present a good appearance. She will notice, guaranteed.

5. Try to contain your excitement or eradicate your fears before a date by doing things that are in your normal routine or talking to a friend. Nervous energy or excited energy can work against you in presenting a person that is not really a true indication of who you are.

6. Guys, don't overdue it on the first date with flowers, candy, teddy bears and the like. If you must go get something for her before a date to make yourself feel better then something small is okay, or, you could buy something nice for her to use on a later date.

7. Girls, don't expect too much from him for the same reason on that first date. Nobody needs the awkward feeling of getting too much or not giving too much to add to the feelings that are already racing through you before a date.

8. Regardless of how well the date goes, remember before a date to remind yourself that this date will have absolutely zero "I love you" statements spoken throughout the evening. This will only scare some and make others wonder if you could ever really mean it.

9. In the days before a date make notice of the way that you talk to people and the physical signals you send through body language. Don't be saying one thing and doing another, it will only present a distorted image of the person you really are.

10. The time before a date is best spent thinking about what you want to know about the person in order to get the type of image you want of them. This is, more or less, a tryout to see if two people are compatible, make sure that you ask things that will help you in determining if you are compatible for a second date.

Alex Carter is the Dating Expert for 10 Good Tips, an online help site for web surfers looking for information on a variety of topics. For more about or other serious dating issues, read more from Alex at !