The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.
It’s no secret that first dates are incredibly important when it comes to the success of a relationship.
A blown first date can spell the end before your courtship has even begun: you could show up late, dominate the conversation, text instead of talking or mis-handle the “who pays” conversation.
But before any of that can even go down, you actually have to come up with a date idea that’ll entice the other person!
As data from popular dating site Zoosk shows, the first date you suggest can have a big impact on whether the other person accepts or not. So picking a good first date idea can really set you up for success in a big way. With that in mind, we spoke to some top models to find out what their dream first dates are — so you’ll be that much more prepared the next time you ask someone out!
Check out Gabrielle’s full interview here.
What the data says: Coffee dates can be tricky. According to Zoosk’s data, while “coffee” is the second-most-common word used by 20- and 30-something women to describe their ideal date, when it comes to guys actually asking women out on dates, messages using the word “coffee” actually garnered 32% fewer responses.
Check out Raquel’s full interview here.
What the data says: Like “coffee,” “dinner” is a word that shows up a lot when women describe their ideal date — according to Zoosk, it’s the most popular word for women in their 20s and 30s. However, also like coffee, simply proposing a dinner date isn’t quite cutting it for most women, as messages including the word “dinner” got 13% fewer responses.
Check out Maggie’s full interview here.
What the data says: Going out to see a movie together is a classic date idea, so it’s not particularly surprising that women consistently rate going to the movies as a nice date idea on Zoosk — the word “movie” appears in the top 10 most commonly used date words for women in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
Check out G.E.M.’s full interview here.
What the data says: Rose and view aside, being comfortable talking to each other is something many women prize when it comes to what makes a date good — the word “talk” is the sixth-most used date word for women in their 20s, and the fifth-most used one for women in their 60s, while “conversation” is in the top five for women in their 30s, 40s and 60s.
Check out Nina’s full interview here.
What the data says: That being said, if you are focused on the view, one good way to get there is by foot. That might surprise you if you’re used to picking up dates in your car, and it might not be the perfect first-date idea, but a few dates down the road, a little nature walk makes a great choice. The word “walk” appeared in the top five date words for women in their 20s, 30s, 50s and 60s, and “hiking” and “nature” also showed up as options.
Check out Abigail’s full interview here.
What the data says: Oh, and while you’re out in nature? Picnic time! According to Zoosk, the word “picnic” was the 15th-most-used date word for women in their 20s, and the 17th-most-used one for women in their 40s.
Check out Sevyn’s full interview here.
What the data says: Like walks and picnics, surprise-based dates might not be great first-date material, but if you’ve been seeing each other for a while and you’re looking to really impress her, it might be time to pull off a surprise date.
Check out Rachel’s full interview here.
What the data says: While simply mentioning dinner can be tricky, mentioning a specific restaurant (or type of food, like, say, sushi) might give you a better shot. The word “restaurant”
Check out Jaimie’s full interview here.
What the data says: And what of the traditional bar date? Turns out a wine bar is a great choice, as wine is a big hitter according to Zoosk’s data, appearing in the top 10 date words for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s — while just plain “drinks” was in the top five for women in their 20s.
Check out Irina’s full interview here.
What the data says: OK, let’s throw the data out the window for a second. As Irina points out, at the end of the day, it’s all about finding that special someone. So what are you waiting for? Get your online dating on!
