Meeting Your Partner's Parents: Tips To Make A Great First Impression

Three words sure that are sure to strike fear into anyone, when your partner sits you down and says it’s time to…. meet the parents. Now sure, your first thought when the words meet the parents are mentioned might be that hilarious film starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. Ben Stiller, as always is the loveable loser who must “meet the parents” of the woman he plans to propose too. Much hilarity ensures before he eventually wins over the father De Niro plays (despite him being an ex-secret service control freak) However, when meeting parents for the first time, although hopefully not as tough as that film suggested, it can still be a challenge fraught with tension, anxiety and maybe even the beginning of the end for said relationship.

Now of course that’s the extreme example, whenever you’re meeting someone for the first time who you want to impress, you’re always going to feel nerves and a sense of having to impress. And when it comes to meeting someone for the first time as the old saying goes, you only get one chance at a first impression. So, whether you’re worried about what to wear when meeting his parents, or how to avoid awkwardness when meeting for the first time, check out our blog to get you through the hopefully pain free experience:

Read Also: First Impression On A Date

Now not to be in any way sexist but we’ve focussed this tip specifically for the ladies. Because let’s face it, men have it easy. A clean shirt and nice pair of trousers and you’re good to go. Unless you have horrible taste in shirts (think Alfie Moon in Eastenders) than you really can’t go wrong. But for ladies, choosing the right outfit can be hard work at the best of times, let alone when you must for this most pressurized of occasions. Firstly, the most important thing when choosing an outfit is to be comfortable. While it’s important to dress appropriately, don’t forget to choose clothes that make you feel confident and allow you to be your true self. When you feel at ease in your outfit, it will positively impact your overall demeanour.

Of course, everyone has a different fashion sense, but the general rule is that it helps to stick to appropriate colours and patterns. Stick to classic and neutral colours like black, navy, grey or beige. Avoid flashy or too bright colours as they may be too distracting or seem too informal. Also consider the context: Think about where the meeting will take place. If it’s a formal dinner at a fancy restaurant, a dress of skirt and blouse combination might be a good choice. If it’s a more casual gathering athome, a nice pair of trousers or a tasteful skirt with a blouse or jumper might do the trick. Most importantly be true to who you are.

It’s likely that either you’ll have verbal diarrhoea or come across as a mute if you don’t have a plan as to what to talk about with your new best friends. Try not to overthink it too much as they are just people at the end of the day. But having some ready-made conversation starters might help you feel at ease to start with. Discussing your own family and background can be a great icebreaker. The more stories you share about your own upbringing, siblings or family traditions will hopefully make them feel comfortable to open up and share theirs. Your two families may even have things in common which could be a good thing furtherdown the line if they meet.

Discussing travel experiences can also be a fascinating subject. Who doesn’t like sharing their favourite holiday memories or where they plan to go too next. Maybe even try asking for recommendations for your next holiday plans. Really anything that shows that you’re showing an interest in them and their life will always go down well. On the flip side it’s worth mentioning there are always topics best left alone on the first meeting. The rule politics and religion should be avoided when meeting anyone new is there for a reason, especially in today’s climate. But generally, any controversial topic, especially if you have strong opinions on, don’t need to be brought up on the first meeting. You’ll have plenty of time to argue and agree to disagree on those subjects, why spoil your first meeting by getting things unnecessarily heated.

Remembering You Don’t Know Everything

This is a valuable point that we all tend to ignore when meeting a partner’s parents for the first time. As we by this stage have usually got to know our partner pretty well, we assume getting to know his or her parents will just be an extension of this. While in some cases it might be that straight forward you should also be prepared to learn some things about your partner that you didn’t already know. His or her family will know them better than anyone, including you, and all the inside jokes and embarrassing stories they all share will likely be lost on you to begin with.

It's important not to take anything you hear to heart or react to anything you hear without speaking to your partner properly after the meeting is over. It’s likely any stories you hear may have happened a long time ago so might need to be explained properly with added context. Also, depending on your age, there’s a strong change you won’t be the first person your partner has introduced to their parents. The good news is that the fact you’re there means that said person didn’t work out. However, their parents may have been fond of them and invertedly compare the two of you. Don’t let that get to you, they may have known them for a long time, and they’ve only just met you. Be confident you’ll win them over in the end with your charm.

If reading this and the idea of meeting a partner’s parents seems like a world away as you still need to meet said partner then why not come along to one of our Speed Dating London events? We host the best Dating Events London and here to give you the best possible chance of meeting that special someone.