So, you’ve impressed your partner ever since your first date, but now it’s time to up the ante: introducing the parents. If your partner has asked you to meet their parents, it typically means they think you’re going to be around for the long-haul so you must be doing something right! And you want to keep it this way, obviously.

But meeting the parents can be seriously nerve-racking that even the best of us can slip up under the pressure. Rest assured, we’re about to tell you how to impress your partner’s parents (and yourself by how well you pull it off). Get ready to top all of their expectations. 

Hold a Friendly Smile

Now we know you can do this. A simple smile will go a long way in creating a lasting impression. If you smile at strangers in the street with no ulterior motive, smiling at your partner’s parents should be easy, in theory anyway. “When you are meeting your partner’s parents for the first time, it’s easy to forget to smile as feelings of anxiety set in,” says Sandra Myers, Matchmaker, Relationship Expert, and President of Select Date Society.

“You may be feeling intimidated or nervous about trying to make a good first impression, but don’t let your nerves show on your face.” Myers explains that when you smile, it actually makes the other party feel happier and calmer, so smiling is a great way to naturally make your partner’s parents feel positive about you without trying too hard (no one likes a try-hard). Knowing they’ll feel at ease if you smile makes the act of smiling seem easy again, right? 

Dress To Impress 

The way you look will be the first thing they see, and you only get one shot at a good first impression. No matter how much you smile, if you’re dressed totally inappropriately, it’ll go completely unnoticed if their eyes won’t make it past your outfit. “Make sure that your appearance reflects the fact that you put thought and effort into looking good. Keep in mind that you are trying to impress your partner’s parents, not your partner,” says Myers.