Old-Fashioned Dating Etiquette
Practicing proper etiquette while dating is important to develop and maintain quality relationships, and many people prefer to keep it old-fashioned, such as Emily Post, who is famous for her rules of etiquette. Old-fashioned dating etiquette hasn't evolved much in modern times, and as of 2009, the basics remain the same even though lifestyles and culture have evolved.
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Initiating The Date
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It's an old-fashioned ideal for the man to approach the woman for a date, but it has always been acceptable for these roles to be reversed. Of course, this point is moot with same-sex relationships. Essentially, initiating the date depends on the comfort level of the people involved and the atmosphere in which the date is requested. In the past, requesting a date hasn't always been done face-to-face. A date can be initiated via a letter, a phone call or in person.
Planning the Date
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Traditionally, the person who requests the date should let the other person decide on where they go, unless he or she is asked to go to a dance or other specific function. Dates of yore usually involved dinner with dancing or other entertainment such as a movie or live theater. It used to be good practice to know what your date was wearing for purposes of tastefully coordinating outfits.
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Chivalry
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The ideal in the old days was for the man to arrive to pick up his date between five and 10 minutes earlier than the agreed-upon time, as punctuality was considered a favorable trait in older times. The man also should hold open all doors and allow his date to walk ahead of him. He also should pull a lady's chair out at the dining table, before she sits.
Paying for the Date
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Old-fashioned etiquette leans toward the belief that the man should pay for the entire date, but "going Dutch," in which each party pays for his or her expenses, always has been an acceptable way to pay for a date. It has also been a popular practice for group dates.
Walking
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If you and your date are on foot, it is tradition that the man walk on the outer side of the sidewalk, keeping the woman on the inner side, away from the street. Holding hands is optional, but traditionally, the man drapes his jacket over his dates shoulders--and even lays it across puddles so his date can cross without soiling her shoes. Whether you are driving or not, traditional etiquette is to walk your date to her door.
Ending the Date
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It is acceptable for the date to end with nothing more than a simple kiss. The man should not invite himself inside, but it is acceptable for his date to offer a "nightcap," or a drink, before parting ways for the night. Depending on the comfort of both parties, it is acceptable for either person to request a second date at this point.
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Comments
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Don't forget the magic words: "please" and "thank you"!
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Point taken, Mark, thank you. It was just a topic of a quick conversation last night & I thought I'd see what others thought. But...I do strongly believe that men should take any and all opportunities (however large or small the gesture) to make a woman feel like a lady, and the woman should reciprocate :)
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Truth being told, gentleman or not, the average man I believe does not care about a 1800's era etiquette and I think that's the least of a woman's worries in getting to know a man, on which side of the side walk one walks during a stroll down romance Blvd lol
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Agreed :)
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Men walk on the outside - girlfriend, wife or date on the inside. It means that the girl is not available. Old tradition :)
