Dos and Don'ts: Dating in the Czech Republic

We’re going to start by assuming that you are on a date; helping you get one may be a bit beyond our expertise. Suffice to say, the days of simply flashing a foreign passport and expecting to charm someone are probably over – if it ever were that simple.

So you’re about to meet Ms./Mr. Right for the first time. What do you do? Except in very rare circumstances, a kiss, usually a peck on the cheek, is not only the norm, it’s expected. Offering on your hand will make it seem a bit too business-like. Perhaps, not the mood you want to create.

So you’ve made it through the early stages. You’ve negotiated your way through any cultural differences, you have a lot in common, heck, you don’t even mind his or her parents. You might be thinking about popping the question.

In the Czech Republic, it is expected that the man will ask. Female friends and colleagues have told me that across social groups women will wait for the man, usually dropping hints along the way without asking themselves.

The engagement ring is the traditional diamond. Once a guy has proposed, he is then expected to tell the woman’s parents over dinner. In the past this was very much like asking for permission. Today, it is more a semi-formal way of telling them, usually over dinner at the parents’ home.

We might not be able to help you find true love, but we hope we’ve at least smoothed the path somewhat.

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