7 Ground Rules for a proper date.

A great date truly is an artform. Attempting to orchestrate such a thing would be folly. No formula. All chemistry. That said, some ground rules help. For (at minimum) the first proper date:

1. Is inspired: Art is original, not copied nor recycled. Going through the motions is cheap and disrespectful.
2. Is asked by name: Be open to getting to know someone as friends outside of a proper date, but reject the “sneak-a-date,” which is the lowest form of pursuit.
3. Is asked in person: If you are not ready to ask in person, then you aren’t ready for anything that follows anyway.
4. Is asked well in advance: You have no obligation to respond to last minute hang out requests and lazy nondescript invitations. See #2.
5. Is asked one at a time: No good can come from trying to cultivate romantic feelings for more than one person at a time.
6. Is a three part date: This means “coffee” is not a proper date and never was. Sorry. If there is no plan the date is void. See #2.
7. Is followed up the next day: The rest is up to you, but let nothing stop you from at least thanking the person for their time, no matter how the date went.

Don’t settle for mediocrity. Pursue something meaningful. Embrace the risks of romance.

Anything less and I’m not sure what you are up to, but it is not a proper date. Let’s put it this way: If you ever have to analyze whether or not it was a date, it wasn't.Stop trying to acquiesce to lame social-norm mating dances that aren't doing anyone else any good anyway. A proper date is the perfect opportunity to take charge and creatively show something unexpectedly greater to people in your life and to the world looking on.
Go big. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Pursue something meaningful. Embrace the risks of romance. Elevate the proper date to the artform it can be!

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationships/how-go-actual-date