If all goes well, your spectacular profile and carefully crafted emails will eventually lead to a first date in the real world. Although you may feel as though you already know each other, you have yet to become familiar with each other's physical presence, and that can take some getting used to. A first face-to-face encounter can be awkward or even shocking, regardless of the positive feelings you already have for each other.

You will make your best real-world first impression by being calmly and confidentially yourself. Try to enjoy the nervous energy you are feeling. Have fun. Remember to smile. People are perceived as more attractive when they are having a good time. Your date will form an immediate first (physical) impression of you, usually in under ten seconds, based on some combination of these attributes:

• posture
• walk
• body language
• attire
• physical characteristics
• smile/facial features
• handshake
• grooming
• scent/perfume
• eye contact
• perceived confidence
• perceived comfortableness

-- Madison