After countless texts, multiple video calls, and months—or maybe even years—of waiting to be together in the same room, you’ve finally made plans to meet your long distance partner in person! First of all, congratulations! You’ve come so far in what is perhaps the most challenging journey of a long distance relationship. And we understand all the thoughts running through your mind. Meeting for the first time is nothing short of cathartic—you’re overwhelmed with excitement yet incredibly nervous. You might also worry about getting catfished, stood up, or even ghosted afterward.

All your concerns are valid since there is a lot to consider when meeting for the first time in a long distance relationship. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of things you should think through before setting up this long distance date. So, follow along!

Safety First 🙌

Let’s be honest—you don’t know this person that well. No matter if you have met once or twice before or how long you’ve been talking, your knowledge of this person is based on texts and video calls. However, always remember that a person can be completely different in person than how they present themselves in chats and calls.

So when you are meeting for the first time, keep an open mind and be prepared for the possibility of things going wrong. They may not look like their pictures, could have malicious intentions, or might even try to drug or rob you.

This is not to demotivate or scare you, but to prepare you for what may happen. It’s crucial to think about your safety before you do anything. What can you do to stay safe? Here are some small tips:

• Tell at least two close friends or family members about the date, and send them your location. Keep them updated.
• Always meet in a public place like an airport, railway station, restaurant, or even a park.
• Come prepared with a plan B. If it feels fishy at any point during the date, immediately leave for a safer place, such as a friend’s house.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience when meeting your long distance partner for the first time.

Don’t Ignore the Red Flags 🚩

We understand the excitement you’ll feel having your long distance partner around after such a long time. They may seem like the most perfect person in the world to you. But please, do not get too carried away with these feelings.

Sometimes, love can blind us. When you’re in love, you tend to focus only on their best features and gestures, completely sidelining their negative traits, especially when you’re meeting them for the first time. So, try to be as observant as you can when meeting for the first time. 

Be ready to catch the red flags early on. As we mentioned earlier, a person may be completely different in person than they are in chats. They could come across as more aggressive, unmannered, or even disrespectful.

If you observe something that seems like a red flag to you, don’t ignore it. The sooner you communicate about these concerns, the better it will be for you.

Set Some Ground Rules 🙅🏻‍♀️

“Ground rules? We’re meeting for the first time after so long, haven’t we suffered enough already?”

Yes, you’ve had to maintain boundaries while you were apart, and it hasn’t been easy. However, since you are meeting your long distance partner for the first time, setting a few ground rules ensures that you both feel comfortable and respected.

You both should ask each other about your concerns before heading out for your first date. For instance, some people may not be comfortable with kissing on the first date, while others may have concerns about late-night stays.

We understand that this type of conversation may be uncomfortable for some people. But difficult conversations often pave the way to creating bonds that are deeper than ever. As a couple, it is crucial that you feel free to have such mature conversations with each other and see them as a way to connect on a deeper level.

Make Your First Meet as Special As You Can 🥰

Though till now we’ve been asking you to be practical, don’t forget to keep the excitement of meeting your long distance partner for the first time. There’s nothing more special than a first meeting.

When you are meeting for the first time in a long distance relationship, you look forward to living moments with them that you’ve only dreamt of living together. You’re going to have so many special firsts—first date, first time you hold each other’s hands, maybe a first kiss, and for some, even saying ‘I love you’ for the first time! Make memories together that you’ll cherish until you see each other next time!

Be in the Moment😌

Most of us perceive long distance relationships as something very hard to maintain because of the distance. The fact that you cannot be in the same room, roam around the city together, kiss, or feel each other often leads to a buildup of emotions.

As a result, many of us look forward to our next date to release those emotions. This creates a sense of pressure to overcompensate for the time spent apart.

We bet you also have a lot of “We’ll do this when we meet” plans saved up, and you might want to accomplish all those plans on your first date.

For instance, when you are meeting for the first time, you might want to show them all your favourite spots in the city, and you also want to cuddle as much as you can. Or perhaps you want to watch a movie together in a theatre (something that most long-distance couples crave), but you also want to go hiking.

When you try to do everything, chances are you don’t enjoy any of it fully!

Hey, we aren’t saying that you shouldn’t plan anything, but make sure you don’t overcompensate for the time you weren’t together. Be mindful of your time together and try to be in the moment.

Absorb every ounce of their presence, because that’s what you really crave deep down—not the activities or the plans. Just do whatever feels like the best way to make the most out of your first date.