When it comes to dating in France, the French like to play by their own rules and these differ significantly from other cultures. As a French woman, I wanted to dive a little bit more into the French dating culture and explain how dating is different in France. The French tend to not make a date too romantic and prefer to keep things casual by incorporating finding love into their everyday lives.
Instead, they like to get to know each other before moving on to date or having a romantic relationship. That is why in France, the concept of the blind date is inexistent.
The French generally date someone that they had previously met either through their friends or social circles, meetup groups, local events, but also through online dating site and apps. Online dating sites, or apps βlike Tinder, Happn, Meetic, etc. Online dating sites and apps make no exception: a more or less long exchange by messages is necessary before even considering a first date. French dating culture requires a certain level of familiarity and the French need to get to know someone well before asking them out on a date.
By the way, French women tend to ask men on a date as much as the opposite. The French prefer to keep things casual, even during the initial stages of getting to know someone. Instead, the first date is a way to get to know a person and to develop a relationship before becoming more involved. The French generally opt for a comedy show, a concert, or a museum. The youngest prefer less conventional activities, such as cooking classes, sports classes, or discovery flights.
Then, if the first date goes great it will be easy to ask your date out on a more formal date. Talking openly about money is considered vulgar in France. But in many cases, the man will pay for dinner on the first date, and the woman might pay the next time. For French women, a first-time date is nothing out of the ordinary: a rendez-vous with a person she may find attractive and interesting. That is why, they do not consider it as an occasion that requires an outfit change.
