You’re lucky to have had such a casual setting to meet your wife. We should all be able to meet that way, but a meal is usually the way on a date. I’m saying don’t be a cheap*ss and use a coupon on the first date if a ‘meal’ is involved. It’s not brain surgery. You can get cheap after the wedding. :)
My wife wasn't the first woman I ever went on a date with.
I NEVER took a FIRST date to a meal in a restaurant.
Second date and on, perhaps.
First date, NEVER.
I understand that a "meal" is normal as a first date but I decided long ago that I would never take a first date to a restaurant for a meal. I AM cheap and wouldn't want to spend the money to try to impress a woman that I didn't know if I wanted to take the time to get to know.
If money was an issue on the first date, the woman probably wouldn't have wanted anything to do with me anyway.