First Dates and New Year’s Eve: What You Need to Know

Should you spend this day that symbolizes closure of the past 365 days and the beginning of a brand new chapter with friends, family, and loved ones? Or should you kickstart that resolution to go out of your comfort zone and try new things just one day early by dating someone you don’t even know yet? We vote YES to going on that date… but only under a few, very specific conditions outlined below. We told you the holiday season comes along with rules. You’ve been warned.

1. Find the right app

First off, where do you find someone who is willing to go on a first date on the very last day of the year? Simple! The best way to find a NYE date is on an online dating site or app. As always, the type of relationship you’re seeking will factor into which app you sign up for. But the dating pools are so wide online that your odds of scoring a date on the last day of the year are much larger than if you were to mention it to a random person at a coffee shop, your job, or sliding into someone’s DMs on Instagram.

2. Find the right person

Remember that dating on a holiday is no simple feat. That’s a commitment. Nobody just hangs out with somebody new on a special day for no good reason. There’s got to be a real potential for connection. On that note, you might want to lean toward a more serious dating platform like Match or Zoosk, unless your idea of a first date is super casual… like, at their place and with or without clothes on.

3. Avoid crowded places

First dates should serve the purpose of seeing if you’re compatible by getting to know each other, at least on a surface level. Sure, you can vibe the chemistry to a certain extent, but you probably won’t be able to have deep, meaningful conversations in an overly packed bar where you’re stuffed like sardines in a can and the music is blasting. Meet somewhere quiet and more intimate so you can talk in peace.

4. Consider a date during the daytime

Surprise! You don’t have to plan a date for the night of NYE. In fact, you have all day to meet up, especially if you already have an event that you plan on attending come midnight when the ball drops. Grab coffee, do lunch, go for a walk in a park, or do literally anything you want to before 6 pm, or whatever time is considered the end of the day/before your nighttime plans. The streets are going to be flooded with cars and drunks at night anyway. Who wants to battle that mess with someone new? Your road rage or pet peeves might show too soon.

5. Don’t drink and drive

This goes without saying! Not only is this reckless and irresponsible every other day of the year as well, but you’re basically asking to get arrested if you do it on New Year’s Eve. Cops are out and about monitoring main streets and hiding nearby hotspots where parties will be going on. Be smart. If you are going to drink, ask a friend to play designated driver or call a ride-sharing service to bring you to and from the date location. Better yet, why not do something that doesn’t involve drinks?

Now that we got those first date tips out of the way, here are 5 ideas for where to celebrate NYE with your date.

6. Find a restaurant with a pre-fixe menu

Food is always a great first date idea, and it’s definitely a safe option for this holiday too. Tons of restaurants are going to be serving great food with a pre-fixe menu and maybe even champagne toasts as well. Settle on the type of food you want to eat and find a local spot with delicious courses, and maybe even a party after.

7. Go to a friend’s party

Okay, this is a touchy topic. When is it acceptable to bring a new date to a friend’s NYE party? Is there a certain number of dates you should have had with a person before you bring them to a loved one’s apartment? Good general rule of thumb: If going to the party will be your first date, don’t do it. If you’ve been dating for a little while now, maybe a few weeks or at least a few dates, then ask your friend what they think and if they’re open to having your new boo over for the holiday.

8. Dine in and watch the ball drop at your apartment

Avoid crowds entirely by spending a cozy evening in the comfort of your own home (or theirs). Pop open a bottle of champagne or wine and order in takeout or cook dinner yourselves, followed by homemade desserts. Staying in together is the perfect way to have an intimate first date on NYE all while bypassing the loud club scene, drunk drivers, and chaos of the holiday. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even share your first kiss when the ball drops.

9. Go to a comedy show

If sharing a similar sense of humor is important to you, then going to a comedy club or seeing a comedian that you both enjoy is an awesome plan. You’ll immediately get a taste of their sense of humor, you’ll (probably) hear them belly laugh for the first time, and comedy shows are always fun.

10. Make sure to have fun

And there we have it, folks — your playbook to surviving and enjoying a first date on New Year’s Eve. Don’t say no to a date invitation just because it happens to fall on a holiday. Love doesn’t care about what day of the year it is. You shouldn’t either. Happy New Year!