Q: What is proper dating etiquette for birthdays? The person I’ve started seeing has a birthday coming up and I don’t want to scare her off but I also want her to feel special. What should I do?
A: If you’ve date for under a month, just wish them a happy birthday (not via text message) and buy them a drink the next time you go out. If you’ve been dating more than a month, bring them a thoughtful (though not necessarily expensive gift).
A nicer gift and/or flowers is reasonable, along with a nice dinner alone or with friends for someone you’ve been dating three to six months.
If you’ve been dating six months or more this is the time for a somewhat bigger romantic gesture, a special dinner together at a fancier restaurant than you usually go to and an exchange of gifts that are nicer (think gift certificate to the spa or tickets to an upcoming concert or sporting event).
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Looking for more dating tips? Check out our Guide to Dating, exclusive to Its Just Lunch and written by the First Date Specialists. Have a dating question you’d like answered by us? Email blog@ijlmidwest.com
