The process of choosing first-date gifts for him can be quite overwhelming.
You don’t want to come on as too strong but still want to impress him.
Well, I can completely understand you because I was in this position when I started to date.
Hence, what helped me to not make any big mistakes is to try to know more about them priorly and keep it simple.
We’re here to make this process simple for you, so, check out these 14 first-date gifts for him:
1. You can make a small box of memories to introduce yourself
The box of memories is appropriate as a first-date gift, if you know a bit each other and want to form a special type of connection.
Something simple and thoughtful can be a small box of items that are close to your heart and explain your background or who you are.
- You can use a small box or basket, whatever is easy to carry.
- It might contain your first concert ticket or a picture of your childhood memory.
- You can also add small pictures with your favorite parts of your conversations and your comments on them.
The main aim of this gift is to give a preview of who you are and make him more comfortable.
2. A short thoughtful note
The American author Gary Chapman claimed that giving gifts is one of the love languages.
Thus, if you want to show your genuine interest and if your love language is giving gifts, you can do something simple.
The aim is to keep it simple and low-key so he won’t feel bad about receiving an appropriate or expensive gift.
So you can get a simple beige, white, or black card and then write your impressions on him so far.
“Hey, this is going to be the first time we’re meeting in person.
Am I overwhelmed? Well, a bit. But, our prior conversations are keeping me excited and comfortable to have a blast.”
Let’s see what happens in the second episode (If there’s going to be one😁.”
3. The Magnifique Dating Jar
Same as women, men overthink after the first date just like women and feel overwhelmed too.
Sometimes, a first date might seem boring because he or you might be an introvert and don’t know how to start a live conversation.
So, to keep the balance and make him feel comfortable, you can get him a gift that can help both of you express your thoughts/feelings.
If you’re having a date somewhere outside or having a picnic, playing this game might be more comfortable.
- You can take some small pieces of paper or small wooden mouth tips.
- You can write questions or any type of topic to open a conversation and categorize them with different colors.
If you have dinner in a restaurant then you can choose something simpler.
To know how to use your body language as a tool to interact with him easier in this situation, a relationship coach will give you the right advice.
4. First-date road map
If you want to be more adventurous and make the first date more interesting then you can give him a map with places to visit together.
Hence, be careful because even though this is a simple gift, he might miss the gist of it if this is the first time that you’re talking to one another.
So, if you have been talking to this guy for a while and both of you love traveling, giving him this gift will only make him feel good.
- So, you can print a blank map and then add the places that you think, you might like to visit someday together.
- Or, you can add some funny and imaginary places to make it more interesting and break the ice.
5. A chocolate bar with a funny quote or any pop culture reference
Who doesn’t love chocolate?
Even if you don’t know this guy that much, giving a chocolate bar with a funny quote on it, will create a positive vibe.
If you don’t know what flavor of chocolate he likes, choose a simple one without any additional ingredients.
If you know any funny video that he likes or any line from his favorite book, print it and cut it the same size as the chocolate bar.
And Voila! I would recommend you give it in the beginning so you can know how he would react to it and use it as a hook for a conversation.
6. A personalized invitation to explore a few restaurants (other places) together
This is recommended in those cases when you have at least talked to him for months or know him in person.
So, to spice up the game and keep it low-key, you can make a funny invitation with a list of restaurants to visit.
You can use other places such as museums, parks, or cinemas. It depends on what his preferences and interests are.
- You can write something like Any Saturday or Sunday→ Earle’s on Crenshaw.
- Whenever we have time—> Trying Dunkin’ Doghnuts’ Hazelnut Swirl.
So, instead of giving just a mere gift card, you can make it more interesting.
7. Scented candle
If you have talked with one another and he claimed that he scents he likes then it’s easier to make this type of a gift.
But, if you don’t know him that well, then go with a light scent that will be acceptable for him too.
Otherwise, if you don’t know what type of scents he likes and if you choose a strong one, he might get irritated by it.
But, if he loves going outdoors and enjoys hiking, the lavender and wood scent candle will be the best first date gift.
8. A cup with a funny quote stamped on it
Giving a cup as a first date isn’t something boring. No, it’s not, if you make it with a twist.
If you met him online then you can use this as a hook to make a quote out of it.
“You’re the best thing I’ve ever found online.”
“I paused my game to be here.”
If you don’t like the cups already made, you can check other sides that make customized cups:
9. A personalized mixtape
No, mixtapes are still trending. But, if you think that he might not find this interesting then try to make a Spotify playlist for him.
Make a personalized mixtape with his favorite songs which can be as long as for how many hours you have been knowing or talking to each other.
Then you can either keep it in a digital form or make a mixtape.
You can make a gift card with a QR code and then give him to get access to this playlist.
10. Give him something homebaked
If you’ve been talking for a while and already created an emotional attraction, you can give him as a first-date gift something crafted from you.
If you like to cook and you have discussed this earlier, make something that he might like to try.
Yet, it’s better to ask him priorly what he likes and if he is allergic to any food because this will make a mess out of it.
- You might cook small cookies with his favorite superhero or sitcom.
11. A custom-made first-date journal
It could be a cute gift if you give him a journal to pour his thoughts from day one.
You can buy it online, at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, or even if you’re good with crafting, you can do it by yourself.
Even if you don’t get a second or third date, giving a first-date journal isn’t something luxurious or even way too romantic.
It’s a simple gift that shows how you care about this date and you validate him and his feelings.
12. 30 reasons why would this date should continue
This is a fun and simple gift that you can make.
I recommend giving this gift during the date when it can switch up things.
All you need is some colorful or just blank paper and two pens where you can write different reasons why this date should or not continue.
Hence, be prepared that making this gift might go wrong at some point. You or he might not like the reasons why or why it might not continue.
But, if both of you are open-minded and enjoy this type of interaction then it would be fun.
13. A keychain or necklace with both of your voice messages
If you have been talking for months and now you’re having your first date, being creative with a gift won’t hurt anyone.
You can get your voice messages from the beginning and divide them with dates and stamp them on a necklace or key chain.
But, if you haven’t exchanged many voice messages, you can choose a message that sums up your situation and do the same.
14. Mini bar in a jar
If both of you like to drink and you have talked about it earlier, you can get creative and give him a mini bar in a jar.
Especially, if you’re having the first date at his place and he likes to drink then you’re making a creative and fun gift.
- You can choose any type of mini drinks that he would like to mix.
And as coach Corey Wayne suggested that if you’re having a first date at his place, he’s looking to be intimate with you.
Then, you will consider your boundaries and preferences for the first date.
Is there any type of gift I should avoid giving on the first date?
Yes, some gifts that you should avoid during the first date are luxurious and super romantic ones.
~ No extraordinary romantic gifts.
These types of gifts will make him uncomfortable since you don’t know one another to that level to be totally romantic.
~Avoid giving him super expensive gifts.
Whereas, on the other hand, if you give him an expensive gift he might feel undervalued if he can’t afford it.
Or, he might think that you’re trying to manipulate him or bribe him.
~Also, never give him just a gift card.
Yes, this is a simple gift but still can make him feel unvalued because it feels like you didn’t put too much effort into it.
A gift card for books can be nice, but a nicer first-date gift can be just a book he mentioned he likes.
Is it ok to give a gift on the first date?
Yes, it’s okay to give a gift on the first date but it has to be simple and well-thought.
That’s why the first thing that you should do is to ask more questions and get to know him better.
~If you want to take the date to a next level then a first-date gift will help you do it.
~If you want to continue the conversation then you can use any type of gift that will start a new topic and impact you positively.
For example, a bar in a jar. It would be a proper gift to talk about drinks and your preferences and get closer to one another.
~Hence, first-date gifts for him wouldn’t be appropriate if you never met and barely talked with one another.
Many things might be understood and you would give him the wrong message.
For example, if you gave him chocolate, it can be Hershey Kisses, he might take it as a sign that you really really like him.
Remember, that not everyone likes to get gifts and maybe this isn’t his love language.
So, it’s better to keep it simple and connect with him emotionally before buying him a gift on the first date.
What to do if he doesn’t react positively to this gift?
If he doesn’t react positively to the gift you’ve given then don’t take it personally.
If he isn’t rude towards you but just gets uncomfortable and doesn’t know what to say then he might do it for many reasons.
He might not be used to getting gifts and maybe he feels a bit embarrassed that he didn’t bring anything.
Try to remain calm and start talking about anything else. It’s important to not put pressure on him just to tell him how he really feels about the gift.
Smile and treat him fairly. Yet, set your boundaries. Even if it’s the first date don’t allow him to ridicule you or be rude.
Love,
Callisto
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