Be on Time.
Be on Time.
Punctuality is not just a virtue it is an essential etiquette of dating. Being ‘fashionably late’ merely suggests you have no respect for the other person’s time or efforts. If you are a believer of being ‘fashionably late’ to impress or suggest importance, just ask yourself how you would feel if you were the person waiting instead. On the other hand, if you are genuinely late due to unforeseen circumstances then that can be easily forgiven, just don’t make it a habit of being late.
Essential Etiquette
Both: Always aim to be ‘fashionably early’ to show that you care and respect the other person. Even if it’s 5 minutes early it is a great way to show that you are reliable.
Both: If you cannot make the date don’t stand them up. At the very least let the other person know and post-pone the date as early as possible. They are far more likely to forgive you and see you again if you reschedule than if you just stood them up.
Both: If you know you are going to be late for a date always let the other person know as soon as possible. You never know what they might have planned for you that could be time sensitive i.e. reservation, movie etc.
Tips
- It’s all about managing expectations. You would rather overestimate your lateness rather than underestimate it, that way you can surprise them by being earlier than expected given the new arranged time.