How to Arrange the First Meeting in Person

Meeting in person is a huge step to take when a relationship has blossomed online. It is perfectly normal to have apprehensions; keep in mind that for much of your acquaintance, you have only been able interact on a very one-dimensional basis via emails, IM chats, and file uploads. Perhaps, before meeting in person, you moved on to phone calls or even web cam interactions, which were equally as monumental steps. However, meeting in person is step that, for many, will make or break the relationship.

Meeting in person brings you face-to-face with the person you have spent a significant amount of time getting to know intellectually. You may already feel as though you know your online suitor as well as you would if had you been interacting in person. However, it is still important to remain cautious and on your best behavior. Meeting in person for the first time should be an opportunity for you to comfortably interact with your new partner, so you will have to set certain boundaries to make sure that the experience is mutually beneficial and pleasant for both you and your partner.

Be Certain

Before you make arrangements that you can’t back out of, make sure that you really want to meet your virtual partner and that your partner is fully invested in meeting you. Meeting offline can be costly, but it may be a worthwhile investment. For many, meeting a potentially long-term partner in person is a serious venture and not simply a vacation excursion.

Make sure you and your partner are on the same page about the impending meeting and what that meeting could possibly mean for your relationship. Talk openly about what you expect and are hoping for. If your partner does not feel as strongly as you do, you may want to shelve the meeting idea until a later date or make arrangements with someone who is as excited to meet you as you are to meet them.

Public Meeting  

Even though you may feel as though you truly know the person you’ve been in contact with, it’s critically important to keep in mind that there are some things you simply cannot know about them until you’ve seen them face to face. Therefore, you should always meet in public and proceed with caution. If your partner truly is interested in getting to know you better, he or she will appreciate that you are cautious.

 Even though your online partner may have traveled a great distance to meet you, plan to keep a slight distance between you at first, even in person. Make plans for your partner to stay in a hotel and give them a time and place and directions to meet up with you away from where they will be staying. If your partner asks to stay with you, politely refuse. Someone who is truly your friend will understand.

How to Arrange the First Meeting  (Part 2 continued next issue.)