The Perfect Dress Ok, it may not be perfect but it should be appropriate. Be thoughtful about what you wear.

How does what you choose reflect who you are? When selecting a dress, be careful about the fit, length, what it reveals and what it shouldnt. The wrong dress can send the wrong message about who you are and what kind of behavior your date can expect. Be aware of your body type and what fits you; theres something flattering for every body type to show off your best self.

The table and all that silverware!

Dating Etiquette: Its Always in Fashion

A guide for Guys & Girls

Left to right, bottom: salad fork, dinner fork, dinner plate with napkin, dinner knife, soup spoon. Top: bread place with butter knife, dessert spoon, dessert fork, water glass, and iced tea, juice or wine glass. Use silverware from the outside first, leaving the salad fork on the plate when you are finished. Leave the soup spoon on the dinner plate when you are finished. For dessert; use a fork if it crumbs or flakes; use a spoon if it drips or melts. If it does both, use either.

Remember Manners are timeless. Back in 1703, John Baptist de La Salle wrote in his book, The Rules of Christian Decorum and Civility, We must behave properly not merely because this will save face, but because we owe this respect to one another, for we are the children of God. Whether youre a guy or a girl, good manners is simply treating others in ways that let them know youre aware of their feelings and that those feelings matter. So even when you dont know the rule to follow, you cant go wrong by being considerate.

If grace is said, place the napkin in your lap after grace. Otherwise, wait for the hostess to put the napkin on her lap before doing so yourself. A final thought on food: The world is your oysterjust use the right fork!

Hardly anyone talks about manners today. While some people think its old fashioned, knowing the basics of dating etiquette may be more timely than you think. People with good manners have a definite edge in the world and when dating, too. So consider these tips as tools that can help you make a great and lasting impression.

Illustrated by Amanda Maurer, CBHS 15 Written by Susan Bitar & Sophia Davis, CBHS 14

A Guide for Guys

The Rule: When you ask a girl, you make the plan
How to ask a girl out or to a dance? Ask in person, not via text, email, or even voicemail. Fun, creative ideas that include food and/or flowers will work too. Be sure to give her ample notice: two weeks is reasonable; two days is not. Whats your role? Plan the night and let your date know what to expect. Start with transportation. Let her know whos driving, what time youll pick her up, and if pictures will be taken before or during the event and where. And let her know where youll be having dinner, how youll get to and from the dance, and if you have plans for any after parties. What to wear? Lets be real: guys do care what they look like. While guys may spend a fraction of the time it takes for girls to get ready, they have an image, too. Remember to talk with your date about what you plan to wear so that you dont clash clothing-wise. Greeting and Meeting Arrive in a clean car with a full tank of gas. When meeting her parents, smile and look each parent in the eye. Extend your right hand to shake her mothers right hand first and then her fathers. If youre meeting them for the first time, introduce yourself with your full name as you shake hands. Say goodbye to her parents as you leave. Getting to Your Destination As you leave, open the door for your date. Hold open and close all car and building doors for your date throughout the evening (even if shes driving). Girls usually precede guys in the theatre, church, movies, restaurants, etc. and help her to be seated. Guys, on the other hand, lead the way through crowds and traffic. On sidewalks, guys should walk nearest the street to protect the girl.

Time to Eat! Make dinner reservations, preferably at a restaurant youre familiar with so you know its appropriate for the occasion. Plan at least an hour and a half to eat, especially if youre part of a large group. See your date to her seat, pull out and push in her chair. When you sit down, dont leave the napkin lonely, it belongs in your lap. At the end of the meal, place your loosely folded napkin to the side of your plate. When the bill arrives, be sure to calculate the tip (or gratuity). Fifteen percent is the minimum; doubling the tax is the quickest calculation. For parties of eight or more, a 20 percent tip is expected. Make sure you have ample cash; its the easiest way to pay. Time to Dance Be kind, polite, respectful and attentive to your date, or it may become your last date with that person. Even if you arent enjoying yourself, being unkind only makes you look bad. Being attentive to your date doesnt mean totally excluding others in the group or at the party. Remember your manners: Say please, thank you, after you, youre welcome, etc. And acknowledge each others courtesies with a smile and/ or thank you. At the End of the Night Even if you had a bad time, walk your date to the door and thank her. Then what? The best thing to expect is nothing. Nothing is owed for being a date.

A Guide for Girls

The Rule: When you ask a guy, you make the plan
Much of what is expected of guys is also expected of you. Ask in person and with reasonable notice. Its your turn to plan the night, so wash the car, fill it with gas you can still let your date open and close your door and arrive on time. Greet his parents properly by saying hello. If its your first meeting and your date does not introduce you, introduce yourself and shake his mothers hand and then his fathers. When you arrive at the restaurant, you can still lead the way, and he can still see you to your chair, but you pick up the tab. Time to Dance If your date is a friend, be careful not to ignore him and only spend time with your girlfriends. If your date is your boyfriend, be careful not to ignore your friends and only spend time with him. Learning the right balance of socializing is an important skill. At the End of the Night Now its your turn to walk your date to the door and thank him. Now what? The same is true when the guy is the date: No expectations at the end of the night. The Rule: When a guy asks you, he makes the plan

All you have to do is be ready on time, right? Right! So dont make him wait. When he arrives, greet him at the door and lead him to your parents so that he can say hello or you can introduce him, if its your first date.
The Perfect Dress The amount of time and energy girls put into finding the perfect dress deserves Caption describing pic- its own space. See the back center panel for words of wisdom on The ture or graphic. Perfect Dress.