It's a real pleasure to meet you.
mi fa MOL-to PIA-ce-re co-NOS-cer-ti — stress on 'mol-', 'pia-', and 'nos-'. 'Piacere' has four syllables: pia-CE-re.
Said when first meeting your date in person, especially if you met online or through friends. Warm and genuine.
'Mi fa piacere' literally means 'it gives me pleasure' — a common Italian way to express that something brings satisfaction. 'Conoscerti' is the infinitive 'conoscere' (to meet/know) with the second person clitic 'ti' attached.
Finalmente ci incontriamo!
We finally meet!
Perfect for someone you've been chatting with online — expresses happy anticipation
Sei esattamente come immaginavo.
You're exactly as I imagined.
Sweet and slightly daring — implies you had thought about them before meeting
Ho sentito molto parlare di te.
I've heard a lot about you.
When set up by mutual friends — acknowledges the context naturally
Admitting nervousness ('ero nervoso/a') on a first date is considered endearing and honest in Italian culture, not a weakness. Italians appreciate emotional transparency — pretending perfect confidence can come across as cold or theatrical.