For any date to be a success, two people need to communicate and discuss prior to planning the date. Dating may seem like a challenging task, but not if you establish open communication from the beginning with your potential partner.

Some things to discuss before going out on your first date include:

• Are you having dinner or lunch?
• Is there a museum exhibit or movie you are both interested in?
• What time should you meet?

All of these topics will help secure that the first date is a success.

At some point during the date, something will need to be paid for or a check will arrive. Assuming the guy will pay isn't necessarily a good idea. In fact, it's rude to expect one person to pay all the time. For a first date, one person might insist on paying. In this case, let them, but remember to offer to pay again on another occasion.

In addition, you will want to discuss things that make a date go sour. Maybe you hate going to movies, since it gives little opportunity for talking. For a successful date, these topics need to be laid out before planning the date.

The next step in the world of dating is to plan your date. A first date needs to be planned because otherwise the two of you will meet up and wonder what now. Plus, if one of you is hungry but the other already ate, the date is already off to a bad start.

In order to plan a date, the two of you must discuss things ahead of time. First, choose a date. Don't say, "Let's go out this weekend" or "How about one Friday?" Make concrete plans. Select a date that is at least a week away, but not too much longer than that. Things might come up and canceling a first date is never a good idea.

Next, choose a time that works best for both of you. If going out on a Wednesday night means you're going to have to leave work early, make it a different night. If you're not at ease before the date, you won't be calm during it.

You'll also want to make plans about where you are meeting or if you are going together. Remember though, if your date picks you up, they will know your address so make sure you trust them.

For any date, you always want to have an alternative plan. If something unexpectedly happens, being unprepared can cause the date to become a disaster. Follow these tips to ensure your dating success:

Restaurant Trouble

Any type of service has the potential for the unexpected, especially with restaurants. Here's what to do:

• If you have reservations, and the restaurant lost them, ask to see a manager. If the manager can't seat you, try another restaurant. To prepare for this scenario, it's ideal that you originally choose a restaurant that is not far from other, similar-style eateries. Also, you may want to call and check up on your reservation the day of the date.
• The restaurant has a long wait. Decide how long the two of you are willing to wait. If it's a weekend night, all restaurants are going to be crowded. If you don't feel like waiting, go to a more casual restaurant.

Activity Problems

So you and your date are planning to check out a movie or show before getting dinner, but the movie is sold out or the show is cancelled. In the case of the movie, see if there is any other film the two of you can compromise on. If not, just go get dinner. Do the same if a show you were planning to see is cancelled.

If a more unique activity is cancelled for some reason, it's a great possibility for the next day. Do something else, like getting dessert or take a walk together. Just don't let the unexpected ruin your night.

During a first date, it's important not to expect anything specific. Anticipate a dating experience, but don't predetermine whether it will be perfect, good or bad. If you think you're going to have a horrible date because your horoscope told you so, or you had an awful week at work, forget about those things. Thinking that a bad date is connected to your workweek or astrology is going to make you uncomfortable and anxious. Focus on the excitement of a first date and plan on enjoying yourself.

In addition, you can't expect a date to go perfectly. If you have your expectations set too high, even the smallest of disappointments will seem tremendous. Plan on enjoying the date and not that this person will be your ideal partner and a serious relationship will soon follow.

What you should expect is that even a perfect date may include some level of awkwardness. Whether you forget you have food in your mouth when you start to talk or your date spills their drink, some things might occur that you wish hadn't. The best way to deal with those things is to laugh about it. If you are both enjoying yourselves, the fact that you bumped your head on the table when you stood up, won't mean a second date won't happen.

The location for a first date is essential because it can make a date or ruin it. You'll want to choose a location that is ideal.

Bad Locations

Bad first-date locations are usually places that are extremely noisy. Too much noise equals little time for conversation, which means you won't get to know each other very well. Since communication is a primary element of dating, the following places are bad first-date locations:

• Bars
• Crowded restaurants
• Parties
• Malls
• Stadiums

You'll also want to avoid places where talking must be kept to a minimum. That means:

• Theaters
• Museums

Good Locations

Great first-date locations for anyone who is dating, are places where talking is easy and accessible. Places include:

• Cafés
• Smaller restaurants
• Small parks

Other elements you'll want for your date location include ambiance and appearance. If a restaurant looks great outside, but looks shabby inside, you'll notice. If a café is really quaint and comfortable, but the service is horrible, you'll notice. Try and scout out places ahead time and talk to your date about these locations. If your date knows a place that has great food and a great setting, don't hesitate to try it out. A great location will result in a great date.