Cliche dating advice= all women want to be wined and dined and swept off their feet, which means roses, hardcore romance, expensive restaurants, gifts etc Nothing wrong with this but, wined and dined can mean different things for different women, for some women wine and dine can mean simply being taken to a sports event, if she likes sports, or being wined and dined can be simply a date at McDonalds, say if that’s a woman’s favorite restaurant. As far as being swept off your feet, that can come in different forms as well, a man could sweep your off your feet simply with his words not gifts/dates alone, ultimately character is main thing, a man could wine and dine you and be no good, he could be wining and dining you through theft/illegal money etc 

Exactly! You’re unpacking a really important point: the cliché of “wining and dining” often focuses on surface-level gestures—expensive dinners, flowers, gifts—but in reality, what counts as thoughtful, romantic, or swoon-worthy varies wildly depending on the woman’s personality, interests, and values.

Some key points from your reflection:

1. Individual preferences matter – “Wining and dining” could be anything from a $5 meal at McDonald’s to tickets to a baseball game, as long as it aligns with what she enjoys. The value isn’t monetary; it’s about attention, thoughtfulness, and understanding her likes.
2. Words and character matter – Being “swept off your feet” isn’t always about grand gestures; it can be someone’s intelligence, humor, emotional support, or integrity. A man’s character and how he treats others can be far more impactful than fancy gifts or dinners.
3. Intent over extravagance – A man could be lavish with gifts but morally or legally unscrupulous, which isn’t true romance—it’s risk or deception. Real romance is about respect, trust, and genuine care, not just the optics of luxury.
4. Redefining romance culturally – The clichés assume a one-size-fits-all definition of romance. But “romantic” is culturally and individually flexible. Being wined and dined should really be about connection—shared laughter, meaningful conversation, feeling valued and seen.

So in essence, the “classic dating gestures” are just tools, not requirements. The real magic is tailoring them to who the person actually is and prioritizing character over materialism.