So many dating rules are antiquated nowadays\u2014the prototypical dinner and a movie, waiting two days to call, even the concept of a man coming to the door when he picks a woman up is considered a rare occurrence these days. That, plus trends in sexual liberation have blurred the lines of what’s considered common, prudent, or acceptable, making the \u201cNever kiss on the first date\u201d rule seem altogether silly. So how can you tell if you should move in for the kiss without misreading the signs or crossing a line?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s what you should consider when deciding if you should kiss on a first date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Interest 2. Comfort 3. Intention How to navigate around that awkward moment of truth: If you\u2019ve made it to the doorstep (or uh, the Uber curb?), the last thing you want to do is dive in and have your date respond with a Matrix-style deflection. The key here is to both read their body language, and be assertive with yours. Men: if you\u2019re not sure how to read the situation, assume the first date kiss is a no go, just to be safe. If the date went well and her body language has been engaging and receptive, go in for a hug, and a peck on the cheek. Iterate that you\u2019d love to see her again. If she lingers or initiates the kiss, you\u2019ll know you\u2019re on the right track. Women: If you aren\u2019t interested in a kiss, but worry about the fumbling goodbye moment or whether your limbo skills are sufficient to dodge incoming lips, take charge of the moment. Thank him for a lovely evening and stick out a hand for a handshake. This should send a clear message. If you do want a kiss, move in closer, take his hands, and tell him you had a great time. It should be clear that the opportunity is there for him if he\u2019d like to take it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there\u2019s no clear answer as to whether you should or shouldn\u2019t, the good news is a missed opportunity for a first date kiss only means a second date, and a second chance, whereas if you go in for a kiss prematurely, you may hurt your chances of turning it around. It never hurts to forgo a first date kiss if you\u2019re unsure\u2014you can always send a flirty text on the way home to get an idea of whether or not they\u2019re still thinking about you. It never hurts to leave them wanting more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tips to move in for the kiss, without misreading the signs or crossing a line.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":16617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[884,892,893],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-advice","category-first-date-tips","category-relationship-stages"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>Much of what used to be considered the purpose of a first date has migrated to pre-date communication\u2014especially in the realm of online dating. The \u201cget to know ya\u201d phase that would normally span a few dates happens via text or other messaging apps. We do recon. We scroll Facebook or Instagram pages. By the time we meet someone we\u2019ve been talking to, we\u2019ve got a pretty good idea of our interest level. If you\u2019re still attracted to a person after having a face-to-face conversation with them, you could argue that you\u2019ve already jumped to date two or three from an emotional point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>An extremely important and telling thing to consider is whether or not you\u2019re comfortable with the idea of kissing on the first date. If the date went awesome and you\u2019re really into the person across from you, but for whatever reason, you\u2019re just not ready for that level of intimate contact, that\u2019s totally okay. This factor is largely personal and can change from date to date, so if you\u2019re not able to say definitively whether or not you\u2019re a first-date-kisser, that\u2019s fine. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>We exist in a relatively open hookup culture, and if you and the person you\u2019re talking to have established that you\u2019re both just looking to have some fun, it\u2019s likely that a first date kiss won\u2019t ruffle any feathers. But when it comes to playing this card, make your intention clear and make sure you know their intention as well. Respecting personal space and boundaries is important above all else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>There are situations in which the moment comes naturally and a first date kiss can happen before the date even comes to a close. These situations are typically easier to read, as they ride off of the momentum of the date. If you\u2019re taking a romantic stroll hand-in-hand or cozying up in a dark bar, it\u2019s much easier to tell if your date is interested. The difficulty often comes when a date has aired on the side of politeness, and you make it to the end unsure of how to leave things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n