Appropriate Gifts For First Dates
If you have just started dating a new person and their birthday or a holiday is approaching, you might feel the urge to offer them a gift. And by all means do! But keep in mind that not all types of gifts are appropriate for this early stage in a relationship. The wrong choice can cause anything from awkwardness to someone feeling offended or hurt. So if you just started to date white women or black men and you want to show them that you like them, what would be the right present for them?
Flowers
This is a nice, classic gift and it shows that you are a gentleman. Make it unique by adding a card with a special dedications. And make sure to choose her favorite flowers or at least -if you don't know what your favorite flower is- her favorite color. Ladies can offer flowers to men as well, but it is rather unconventional and if you date black men, who tend to be more traditional when it comes to gender roles, you might surprise them. Not necessarily in a good way.
Movie tickets
That is a great gift because it is one you can share. Additionally, the only thing that is left after you watch the movie is a small piece of paper. How many times have you received a really ugly gift but had to put it on your living room table, in order not to offend the person who gave it to you? See? Movie tickets solve that issue! Just make sure to pick a movie that both you and your date will enjoy. If you are a girl, don't pick a chick flick and if you are a guy, stay away from hard core horror movies. A mainstream adventure film with a bit of romance is a good choice.
A cultural gift
Offering a gift that will remind her of her interracial relationship when she is old and lonely (unless she is married to you, that is!) is a nice idea. You can go with something safe, like a CD with music from your country or your ancestor's country. Or you can buy her a tourist guide for the country where your family comes from. White women looking for black men are not only searching for love, but also try to get to know other cultures. Just make sure that your gift won't make her feel like you are attacking her own culture. And keep in mind that religion is often a great part of a man's culture as well. To make it even more clear, offering a Bible to a Muslim is not a polite gesture, especially not on the first date. If she is interested in your religion and asks you to tell her more about it, then go ahead.
A short trip
Offering an extravagant gift, like a cruise in the Caribbean sea, when you hardly know the other person is not a good idea, no matter how much money you have. When offering a gift you need to always keep in mind that the other person will feel very uncomfortable if they can not give you back something of similar value. This is why, especially at the beginning of a relationship, keeping gifts modest but meaningful is important. So instead of a surprise flight to Paris, you can buy the two of you train tickets to visit a city 3 hours away. Or you can arrange to spend a night or two at a camping site, in the woods. Low budget, romantic and you get to know each other better!
Handmade
By you, that is. Now, this is a tricky one. You have to make sure that what you will make will be fun and not loaded with tons of emotion, otherwise it might scare your new date. A hand-drawn card is great, as long as it doesn't say “Yours for ever and ever”. You can find tons of DIY tutorials online. Stick with the simple ones and do not knit your date a scarf that will take you hundreds of hours to finish. Keep such gifts for later, when you are sure they are worth it. And even if you are absolutely useless when it comes to arts and crafts, try making cookies or muffins. They are handmade and everyone loves them!
When you offer your gift, don't be too disappointed if the reaction is not exactly what you expected. People are different and getting to know each other takes time. So it is perfectly fine if your date is allergic can cannot have the carrot cake you baked him. Next time you will know!