We love love: Here are 9 sweet first date stories of readers finding their perfect match
Valentine's Day is upon us, and love is in the air.
USA TODAY entertainment reporter Erin Jensen persuaded us to launch a nationwide search to help her find a valentine for her dream date in New York City. Nominations came in from coast to coast.
As Jensen prepared for her first date, we wanted to give her ‒ and others in the dating pool ‒ some inspiration, so we asked readers to share stories of their first date with their partner.
From high school sweethearts to casual dating app meet-ups, here are a few of our favorite stories:
These submissions have been edited for style, length and clarity.
His brother's perfect match
In 1966, our high school, Herricks, in New York, sponsored a Computer Dance. We filled out questionnaires, and the answers were fed into a room-sized computer. (Those over 50 will remember the cards with penciled-in responses.) The computer spit out matches, and we were all given three numbers of our ideal match. At the dance, we wore our number and looked for the perfect mate! However, I had my eyes on a young lady who, ironically, matched with my younger brother. I convinced him to swap numbers. He wound up with a very attractive cheerleader, and I pursued my dream date. It was a great night for me, and I even took my date out for ice cream at the local Howard Johnson.
So now I’m debating with myself how to handle this situation. Do I tell her she really didn’t match, or should I just let fate decide our future? At the door of her house, we said our goodbyes, and I made the decision to speak truth and spill the beans. I wasn’t sure how she would feel about my switch with my brother. Fortunately, she was charmed that I went to these lengths to pursue her. And the rest is history.
We dated through college and married in 1971, had three amazing kids, have seven wonderful grandchildren, and we are so lucky to have have a nuclear family that cares for one another and truly brings happiness to all of us when we are together. By the way, I still have her badge from the dance in my scrapbook. Little did I know what it would mean all these years.
Submitted by: Howard Zlotoff, Pennsylvania
Years together: 53
Midnight somewhere
New Year's Eve, 1966, I attended a party hosted by a co-worker (whom I knew) and his cousin (whom he knew). I walked in the door, and almost immediately a tall, handsome man in a three-piece suit approached me while I was putting on my party hat. He had a military-style haircut because he had just gotten out of the Army, but I thought, "Hair will grow." (Don't forget this was in the era of the Beatles, and long hair was in style.) He said to me, "That hat is you," and stayed by me the rest of the night. Every hour before midnight, he tried to kiss me and said, "It's midnight somewhere," but I resisted and made him wait until midnight for my last, first kiss. We left the party to get some fresh air, and he showed me his white 1965 Mustang with red interior. He said, "That's my horse," and I broke out laughing.
We agreed to meet at the Mummer's Day Parade in Philadelphia. I bought us coffee and went to our arranged meeting place. I was afraid I would forget what he looked like. I didn't. We spent the next five hours watching the parade, and then he took me to see the Ice Capades. We married in 1968, and then he started bringing me coffee!
Submitted by: Kathryn Becek, Virginia
Years together: 56
Not-so-casual after all
In the gay community, sometimes first dates are scheduling a hookup … and canceling when you find someone hotter. I usually fell into that trap as a gay 20-something who identifies as a "hopeless romantic but not looking for anything too serious." I was an avid user of any and all dating apps: Tinder, Grindr, Hinge. I was scrolling late one night and realized there was a particularly cute suitor that I forgot to answer for more than two weeks. To dig myself out of this, I had to swing big. I messaged, "Let's make out" to said boy, who responded, "Sure, when?”
After somehow resuscitating this almost flat-lined connection, we planned to meet at his place on a Sunday night. However, I canceled again, given my rule of no first dates on a weekend. So then, on a humid Monday in June, we had our first date. It consisted of late night talks, nothing too deep or superficial, with light roasting of his empty apartment. He was intriguing, insightful and captivating with his curly mullet, charming light brown eyes, and playful tattoos that danced on his toned, olive-glowed arms as he talked. This casual hookup turned into four hours of genuine, riveting conversation. It was a magnetic night without agenda or manipulation that I typically engaged in.
Submitted by: Jack Guerci, Pennsylvania
Years together: 2 ½
Party helped them strike love
It was 1987. We met at a party neither of us really wanted to attend, especially him! He saw my silhouette from across the large, dimly lit banquet hall as I made my way to the ladies' room upon arrival. He quickly connected with a mutual friend to ask who I was. Our friend, Ronnie, was happy to introduce us. John seemed nice and proved to be a gentleman as he walked me to my car after the party.
The next day, he planned our date: bowling. "Huh, excuse me, did you say bowling?" "Yup, give it a try." "OK." When we arrived at the alley, I saw all kinds of people bowling ... it blew my mind! I loved it, and I have been bowling ever since. I even joined a league and hit 299, just one point shy of a perfect game. That was exciting. And, fast forward to 2025, we have been together ever since. We got married in January 1990, and have two beautiful adult children, one who blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter. I now bowl better than hubby, and I love it!
Submitted by: Michelle Fountain, Virginia
Years together: 37
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Sweetshop date lead to lifelong sweetheart
When I was a sophomore at Purdue University, a friend of mine advised me that Nancy Dillon, a freshman, wanted to meet me. After three tries, I contacted her and arranged a Coke date on a Sunday afternoon in the sweetshop of the student union on campus. I bought two cokes, and we sat down get to know each other. I learned that she lived in Indianapolis with her mother and sister, having lost her father when she was 13. She graduated from the largest high school in the state. She learned that I grew up on a farm and attended one of the smallest schools in the state. I also learned that I liked her very much and asked her for another date. She agreed.
We never dated anyone else for the rest of our lives. She passed away in 2023. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where I will join her one day.
Submitted by: Lynn Webster, Delaware
Years together: 63
'Call me if you find what I'm looking for'
I was managing a bicycle shop in Charleston, South Carolina, and Cindy came in to buy a bike. She didn't find one she liked, but she left me her phone number and said, "Call me if you find what I'm looking for." For our first date, we went to a comedy club to see Pat Paulsen, who was a popular comedian at the time. It was love at first date for me!
Submitted by: Terry Dockery, Georgia
Years together: 40
Prince Charming missed his dinner reservation
We met on a Christian dating site. Both having given up on finding love (we are both older), we made a date after calling each other. I didn't think this would work, as we were two hours apart. We met on a Friday evening in my hometown. He kept calling to say he was going to be late. We missed our reservation, but he finally showed up! When I saw him, I was instantly mesmerized ‒ very handsome, a dapper, sophisticated gentleman. We spent the evening talking for hours, and it felt like it was "meant to be." He asked me to meet him for lunch, offering to stay in town just so he could see me the next day.
We met on Saturday, and being with him at lunch was even better than dinner the night before. We have been together for more than two years. We still can't believe how lucky and blessed we are to have found each other! We both had been heartbroken before, and our deep faith in God has made us that much closer to each other. I have found the person with whom I want to spend the rest of my forever with. He has shown me that not all men are bad, and that love does conquer all. It is like a fairy tale for me, he is my Prince Charming.
Submitted by: Linda Cook, North Carolina
Years together: Two
Meet me halfway
My partner Avery and I started out dating long distance. He’s from North Jersey, and I'm from Philadelphia. We met at Penn State University a month before graduation. Our first date was a meet-in-the-middle with a hike and lunch at a brewery in Princeton. We love the outdoors and have taken hundreds of hikes since ‒ and drank our fair share of beers since then too!
Submitted by: Cailyn McCutcheon, New York
Years together: Five
Chili cheeseburger and a drive
We were 16 years old. Rose was mature for her age; I was not. I couldn’t believe she agreed to go on a date with me. She was beautiful, and again, I was not. I took her to Rip Griffin’s truck stop for a chili cheeseburger and fries. I sat next to her, instead of across the table. She was so attentive to me. She heard me talk about myself like I was somebody important, and I knew I was because I was sitting next to her. We drove around for a while, and then I took her home and walked her to her door. Chastely, I kissed the sweetest lips I had ever touched. My heart was beating frantically in my chest when I asked if she would go out with me again. She smiled and said yes.
We eloped our senior year and had three of the most beautiful daughters a man could ask for. And they gave us seven wonderful grandchildren. The secret? Romance her. Romance her. Romance her, for the rest of your life. Never stop.
Submitted by: Ken Bailey, Oklahoma
Years together: 22
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First date stories to celebrate love, from our readers
