EIGHT tips to impress on a Zoom/FaceTime date night.
Long-distance sucks. You can’t cuddle, hold hands and… (we leave the rest to your imagination). Even if you live in the same city, the lockdown forced most couples or potential romantic interests to postpone their plans of meeting up until the restrictions were lifted. Some of you may still be continents apart. Don’t give up yet!
We at Man’s Life have put together hacks that will ooze some fun into your virtual dates…
Move your lazy ass off the couch and dress up for the occasion! You would take out your best clothes and shoes if you were meeting in person, right? Why should a FaceTime date be any different? Making an effort will make your GF or lover/partner feel extra special. So, ditch your pyjamas or shorts. Wear a floral-printed shirt or a Cuban-collared one and team it with a pair of chinos or well-fitting denims. Or layer using a jacket over a plain T-shirt. Ditch the flip-flops, and wear a comfy yet stylish pair of loafers.
P.S. Make sure your clothes are ironed and your shoes are clean. Also, wear a watch or other accessories.
Shave or trim your beard or do scrubble-maintenance! Then, take a nice refreshing shower. Wash your hair if needed, and ditch the bedhead look. Use a face serum or moisturiser, and a lip balm (wink). For God’s sake, do NOT FORGET to cut and clean your fingernails!
Do this a day before your virtual date to avoid getting conscious while on the said date! Or at least a few hours before the rendezvous commences—so that you’re not scrambling and worrying about your angles. First things first: Decide if you’re going to use your phone or laptop or iPad! No matter what you choose, make sure it’s at your eye level, so that you can gaze into each other’s eyes whenever you please. If you’re using a laptop, you can place it on a stack of books. Tripods for phones are a thing, and it just makes life much easier—whether you’re creating Instagram Reels or attending meetings of all kinds over Zoom!
Since you can’t plan any games in person 😉😉, why not make it fun by playing a virtual game? There are many Zoom games you can choose from—such as 20 Questions (there are bound to be surprises even if you know the person well), Trivia and other games such as Truth or Dare. The options are endless!
Teleparty is a browser extension for watching TV remotely with friends OR movie nights with that long-distance special someone. It synchronizes video playback and adds group chat to your favourite streaming sites such as HBO, Netflix, Disney Plus and more! Though you can’t quite cuddle, grab your favourite pillows to create a cosy tucked-in vibe—pick a movie, and set up a Teleparty, and chill!
A date without great food isn’t going to get you anywhere. This potential partner already knows plenty about you, and you’d invite her over if you could. So, exchange addresses for a surprise takeout night. Set a time for delivery, and order your favourites for her and vice versa. Watching them unbox and enjoy your favourite food—and you, theirs—is perfect whether you’re a plate-sharer or not! You could order some wine as well or beer! Besides, you’d get to discuss and figure out if you have similar tastes when it comes to food! Don’t do this on the first date or second one for that matter so that you don’t give out creepy-stalker kinda vibes!!!
Awkwardness isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, when dating is involved, it’s inevitable—whether it’s in person or not! First dates in real life have their own clumsy moments, so stay calm as a cucumber—if your camera freezes for a moment or if you talk over the other person. Just laugh about it and move on.
This is strictly for those who’ve been on at least a few dates (three to five)!! DO NOT do this on your first virtual date. We repeat, do not EVEN TRY! Blowing a kiss can feel awkward and you could come off as a creep, especially if you don’t know the person that well yet. Instead, say something like ‘you had a really good time with her, and that you wish that you could have kissed them goodnight’! Words definitely speak louder than actions in this case, and you both will want to take this forward when you finally meet IRL!
Socially-distanced love has thrived long before the digital age; some epic love letters that people read about while studying English are a testimonial to this. Technological advances help you at least see a person even though you can’t hold/hug them! In an era where we do pretty much everything else virtually, virtual dating has quickly become a new norm. Just stick to these tips, and you’ll do great! Here’s to all kinds of love stories!
[All Image Credits: Shutterstock]
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle