Life is great! You have something that you love to nerd out over. Even better, the person you love is into the same things! Now, you can enjoy the things you love together. Where’s the best place to do that? At a con, of course!

The only problem is that you’ve never done the convention scene with a romantic partner. That’s not quite the same as going solo or with friends. How do you make sure both of you have a great time, together, and with other people? Here’s a guide to make that happen.

What To Do Before The Con

Set your couple’s convention experience up for success. Take these steps ahead of time, and you’ll be on the floor sooner and in a great mood. 

Set Up Your Hotel Reservations Early

Many conventions have contracts set up with specific hotels that can get you discounted rates if you are attending the convention. However, these room blocks are often very limited and can fill up very quickly so if you want that discounted rate definitely set up those reservations as early as you can. 

Make Sure You Have Your Passes

Many people make the mistake of buying the passes at the door and while that is perfectly fine to do it is much cheaper to buy the passes as early as possible. You may find that buying a single day pass costs just as much as the entire weekend pass did a couple of months beforehand. Save yourselves some money and get those passes early. 

If you’ve reserved your room in a discount block, the hotel may hold your convention passes for you. Just ask the beautiful mature woman or handsome guy working at the front desk.

Check Out The Schedule Before You Head To the convention

Conventions have a lot of different kinds of programming to enjoy, such as guest speakers, people to talk about certain aspects of a comic or tv show, or even just silly events in which you might participate in a game of trivia for some prizes. Sometimes the schedule might put two events you want to check out in the same time slot. Rather than deal with that disappointment in the moment you and your partner should look over the schedule and figure out what you want to do together, apart, or just don’t mind skipping. 

Pack a Con-Bag

Supply pack, emergency bag, and any other name you can think of for it. This is essentially a medium sized bag, about the size of a kids backpack, that is filled with a variety of essential items. These items make surviving a convention so much easier, and so much more enjoyable for you, your partner, and everyone else around you. The basic needs of a con bag can vary from person to person but here are a few examples of items you may want to consider. 

  • Portable battery pack and charger
  • Sanitary pads and tampons
  • A roll of toilet paper
  • Deodorant (we recommend avoiding aerosol sprays due to the potential reactions people around you may have.)
  • A small first aid kit
  • A container for medications
  • Pain reliever
  • Water bottles
  • Multivitamins
  • A card with emergency information such as allergies and emergency contacts
  • Emergency cash
  • A small sewing kit
  • Super Glue
  • Dry Shampoo
  • Leave in Conditioner
  • Baby Wipes
  • Mints

This may seem like a lot of items to be carrying around, but if you think about it many people who have purses carry all of these things and more around with them every day. Each one is a necessity in order to help you keep up with your hygiene, keep you on your medications, and will also help in many of the common emergencies you might find yourselves having in the convention hall. 

Plan For Your Trip

It’s very likely that you and your partner are going to be going on a trip to head to your convention location, which means you will need to make travel arrangements. Make sure to book your tickets, vehicle rentals, use of public transport, and more before you head out to your convention. If you don’t plan accordingly you may find that you’ll end up missing the entire convention due to lack of poor planning on your part. 

Make a Packing List

For some a convention is a small trip that only requires a few items. For others however, a convention is a huge event where they can show off their love for their fandoms, with things to sell and cosplays they have made. Make sure that if you are planning to head out for a convention, no matter how big or small that you make a packing list. This way you’ll know exactly what you are bringing, how much you are bringing, and what you need to still get. 

Live, love, and Learn The Rules

All conventions have rules that the guests must adhere to in order to ensure the safety of everyone at the event. Rules may also vary from venue to venue depending on specific guidelines set by the venue. Read the rules, and don’t be afraid to contact the event if there are any rules that you are not quite understanding. But also remember that the rules listed might not be the only rules you need to follow. 

Many con-goers follow a strict code of conduct that may not officially be in the rules, but are essentially a way to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone around them. One of the most popular rules is the saying “Cosplay is not Consent”. Which is a phrase created by many con goers in hopes to deter people from randomly grabbing at and touching cosplayers and their props. Many social media sites and blogs have feeds that can teach you a lot more about the silent rules that most con goers are tasked with following. 

Surviving at the Convention

So you and your partner have finally made it to your first convention, congratulations. Now that you are settled in and have your badges you must feel very well prepared. If not, that’s no problem. Conventions can be overwhelming in person and can easily leave even a veteran feeling disoriented. So now that you are at the convention here are a few tips to help you survive while you are there. 

Establish a Meeting Place

Conventions can get hectic and while you probably want to spend most of the day together it is also very likely that you and your partner may end up getting separated for some reason. Therefore it is always a good idea to establish a set meeting spot in case you are separated. Meeting places should be in areas of high visibility, that are out of the way of convention hall traffic, and do not encroach in areas you are not supposed to be in. 

Make Sure to Take Breaks

Conventions require a lot of walking and use of energy so make sure that you rest whenever possible. You may find that groups of friends are constantly sitting on the floor. This is not weird, or strange, it is perfectly normal for this to happen. By taking time to rest you and your partner will be able to enjoy the convention much longer

Reread the Rules and the Schedule

Sometimes the rules might change or become updated due to specific events or needs. Make sure to reread those rules so you are up to date with any potential changes. The same thing goes for the programming schedule. Things might change due to certain needs, and you might find that your initial plans might need to be adjusted accordingly. 

Treat Other Con Goers With Respect

Everyone is there to enjoy themselves and share their love for their fandoms. It is important to ensure that everyone at a convention is having a good time without it being at the expense of the enjoyment of others. 

Don’t Push Yourselves Too Much

A convention is a lot of fun and it is incredibly easy to get lost in the excitement. However, it is important that you and your partner limit yourselves in order to ensure your own health and safety. Take a step back, schedule breaks as you need them, and just enjoy yourselves. 

Final – Remember You Can Enjoy The Con at Your Own Pace(s)

Yes, you are going to the con as a couple. That doesn’t mean you have to be joined at the hip. If one of you is a social butterfly and the other isn’t, take that under consideration when you make plans. It’s perfectly fine if one of you decides to attend every party and panel while the other takes breaks to re energize in the hotel room.