Beyond the First Date

What happens after your first date depends on how well it went and how you handled it at the time. If the whole experience turned out to be a complete disaster, then the chances are that your date also felt the same way. You may have ended an indifferent evening with, "Well it was nice to meet you, and I had a great time, but I don't think we're ideally suited to each other". You can write the date off as a learning experience and move on to the next date.

If you both got on really well but there was no real spark of chemistry there, then you might want to think about swapping addresses and consider whether some of your other single friends might like an introduction. The important thing is to use each date positively and move on. Turn disastrous experiences into amusing stories, lukewarm experiences into possible potentials for other friends, and fabulous first dates into the start of something new and exciting.

In this section, we've put together a guide on how to handle the post-date experience, from contacting each other, making plans for the next date and some handy tips for when you progress to a full-blown relationship. There's also advice on how to deal with rejection, and the best way to end a relationship that has reached the end of the line.