Dating can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions, expectations, and excitement. But sometimes, it’s more like a crash landing into a world of awkward moments and absolute embarrassment. Have you ever had a date that started off great but quickly spiraled into disaster? Let’s dive into 17 real-life date disasters shared by internet users, each one more cringe-worthy than the last.

1. The Pricey Meal That Almost Broke the Bank

Have you ever been hit with a date who seems to think money grows on trees? One Reddit user recalled a first date at a fancy restaurant where their date boldly asked the waiter, “What’s the most expensive dish on your menu?” Now, most people would opt for something more modest, but not this date. As she continued to ask about other high-priced items, the waiter awkwardly replied, “Sorry, that’s unavailable tonight.” Talk about a moment that makes your stomach drop. The kicker? The guy ended up tipping the waiter generously, despite the entire evening being full of awkward tension.

2. Shellfish Allergy, or So He Thought

Imagine going on a date with someone who claims to be a “foodie” but completely ignores a major allergy. One woman shared her experience with a guy who insisted on picking the restaurant and ordering for them both. After taking a bite of her meal, she started to feel her throat tighten and panic set in. She informed him of her shellfish allergy, but his response was just, “I didn’t think you were serious about that.” She had to rush out for medical treatment, while he stayed behind to finish his meal. Yikes!

3. The Blind Date With a Major Fashion Fail

Sometimes, things don’t match up with what you expect. One user recalls a blind date where they were told to expect a guy wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. But when he finally showed up, he was wearing sweatpants instead. When confronted about it, he casually shrugged and said, “My mom hasn’t washed my clothes yet.” The awkwardness was palpable, and needless to say, the date didn’t go much further.

4. The Nervous Throw-Up Duo

Nerves are a part of dating, but for one couple, it took them to a whole new level. Both were so nervous about their first date that they ended up throwing up—before and after they met. It’s like an unspoken rule that when you’re both anxious, things tend to get messy. As one Redditor puts it, “We tried to play it off as food poisoning, but we both knew it was just the nerves.”

5. A Sudden Lactose Attack

Have you ever had an embarrassing situation involving your body’s unexpected reactions? One guy went on a date and shared some ice cream with his date, only to suddenly realize he was lactose intolerant. As the stomach cramps hit, he desperately tried to find a bathroom. The worst part? His emergency situation happened right in front of a balcony, where people saw him running and yelled, “Hey, look! That guy’s taking a poop!” Talk about not getting a second date.

6. Ice Skating: More of a Disaster Than a Date

Trying to impress someone by taking them ice skating sounds fun, but what if your date is a competitive figure skater and you’re a beginner? One guy recounts his first date at the rink, where he was completely outskilled by his date, who gracefully skated circles around him. The moment she asked to do a few laps alone, he knew things weren’t going to end well.

7. Mom’s Not-So-Secret Surveillance

Dating as a teenager can come with its own embarrassing moments. One 13-year-old recounts his first date, where he got a lift from his mom to meet the girl. Little did he know, she decided to stay and watch from afar. Halfway through the date, his mom shouted at them, “You’re going the wrong way!” Talk about a cringe-worthy moment.

8. The Dead Flowers and Glitchy Greeting Card

Sometimes, your best efforts still fall flat. One guy tried to impress his date on Valentine’s Day with flowers, chocolates, and a music-playing card. Unfortunately, by the time they got to his car, the flowers had wilted, and the card’s chip just buzzed instead of playing music. Despite the mishap, the date ended with a laugh and a kiss, proving that not everything has to be perfect to make an impression.

9. The Late-Night Walk That Turned Into an Awkward Wake-Up Call

Ever had a date go sideways because of timing? One guy went on a late-night theater date, only to realize that public transit had stopped running. With no money for a cab, they ended up walking back to the girl’s house. After falling asleep on her bed, the girl’s dad woke them up at 5 a.m. and interrogated the guy about his college studies. It wasn’t exactly the romantic end to the evening they had hoped for.

10. Falling Asleep at the Movies (With No One to Wake You Up)

Have you ever been so bored on a date that you just couldn’t stay awake? One woman remembers her date to the theater, where they went to see The Big Sleep—and her date literally fell asleep halfway through. To make matters worse, they had absolutely nothing in common, except that they were both introverted and socially awkward. The movie wasn’t the only thing that was a snooze fest.

11. Scooby-Doo and Everything Else

Nothing says awkward like a guy who is too into Scooby-Doo. One user went on a date with a guy who showed up dressed head to toe in Scooby-Doo gear. When they sat down to dinner, all he could talk about was the cartoon: favorite characters, episodes, and even asking if she ever considered dressing up as one of the characters. After an unbearable dinner, the date ended swiftly when she realized they had absolutely nothing in common.

12. The Coffee Mix-Up

On one date, a guy was invited to come up for coffee. He wasn’t a fan of coffee, though, and awkwardly turned down the offer. It wasn’t until halfway home that he realized the invitation was likely a subtle hint that things could’ve gone to the next level. This misunderstanding left both parties feeling weird, and the date ended without any further contact.

13. The Game Show Date Gone Wrong

What happens when your date is interrupted by an overenthusiastic grandmother? One Redditor shared a story about watching movies in his basement with his girlfriend, only for his grandmother to plop herself down between them and demand to watch the game show channel for hours. The date ended up being more about trivia than romance.

14. Nervous Vomit and Awkward Silence

First dates can bring out the worst in people, and sometimes, it’s because of sheer anxiety. One person recalled a date at Texas Roadhouse where they were feeling nauseous due to anxiety. The result? A date where they ended up throwing up in the parking lot in front of their date, all while trying to maintain composure.

15. The Tinder Date That Wasn’t Exactly What She Expected

One woman went on a Tinder date where her date ordered a pizza for them, only to get upset when she paid for it. According to the guy, he would’ve never eaten the pizza had he known a woman paid for it. The awkwardness from that moment was enough to end the date without a second chance.

16. The Nosebleed Disaster

How can a date be ruined? A nosebleed. One user recalls having a lovely dinner followed by a romantic moment that quickly turned disastrous when they had a nosebleed and accidentally smeared it all over their date’s face. The girl politely excused herself and ended the date on an awkward note.

17. The Water Spill at the Bar

The simplest mistakes can lead to embarrassing moments. One guy thought it’d be funny to pretend to pour water on his date’s head. But he accidentally poured the entire jug of water on her, completely drenching her in front of the entire bar. Needless to say, she didn’t find it funny, and that was the last time he saw her.

These 17 date disasters show that not every date goes according to plan, and sometimes, the most awkward moments can turn into lasting memories. Whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction, an unexpected medical emergency, or an unfortunate food-related mishap, the key is to laugh it off and not let it define you. After all, every awkward date is just a stepping stone toward finding the right person—hopefully, someone who can laugh at the funny moments too!