Assuming that this is a person you haven’t spent weeks talking to on the phone, greet them with a verbal greeting or handshake.

A verbal greeting or handshake upon meeting each other for the first time on a date is respectful.

Being that you are yet to build a rapport with this person, a verbal greeting or handshake is neutral enough that it doesn’t make the person uncomfortable.

Sticking to a verbal greeting or handshake is less appealing when you are someone who is more personable in how you socialize with others.

Nevertheless, you have only had a few conversations with her prior to this first meeting.

You don’t truly know her yet.

Making an assumption that it’s alright to go for a friendly hug or kiss on the cheek is too presumptuous of you.

Women in particular are cautious when they are meeting a guy for the first time on a date.

She is used to creeps.

There is no doubt that there have been moments in her life where a guy made her feel uncomfortable by getting too physically close too soon.

This occurred in the form of a hug or kiss that was a bit too much.

When you meet her for the first time on a date, verbally greeting her or shaking her hand keeps her from getting the wrong impression of you from the onset.

A bad first impression is tough to overcome.

You don’t do yourself any favors by being too friendly in how you greet her when you are yet to establish a rapport with her.

It doesn’t matter how friendly she sounded on the phone.

A friendly demeanor on the phone doesn’t mean that she is ready to get a bear hug from you, or a wet kiss on the cheek, when she meets you for the first time on a date.

There is a different option in how to go about greeting her.

Follow her lead.

In the event she chooses to hug or kiss you on the cheek upon meeting, it’s alright to respond in kind.

But in the event she stands aloof, that’s your cue to either give her a verbal greeting or a handshake.

Choosing to follow her lead puts the onus on her in regards to how she wants to be greeted.

Remember, the first impression you give a woman is what sticks.

Never ruin your first impression by being too presumptuous in how you greet her.

Once a woman feels that you have overstepped her boundaries by being too presumptuous in greeting her with a hug or kiss on the cheek, she struggles with this perception as the date progresses.

This doesn’t mean that the date is completely ruined, but you have made it more difficult to have a successful date with her.

I get it, you are a friendly, personable person who likes to give hugs and kisses to the cheek.

There is no hurry.

Provided you hit it off with her on the date, she is far more open to getting a hug or a kiss on the cheek from you by the end of it.