People have different opinions when it comes to the topic of how long you should wait before you say ‘I love you’ after starting a relationship. Some say six months is enough while others feel that this is too long to wait. If you are too late, your partner might think that you are just playing with their hearts. But if you are too fast, on the other hand, they might think that you are not serious.
Thus, appropriate timing is the best answer to this concern. Again, it might depend on the reaction of the other person in the relationship that you have started.
In Europe, a social study showed that up to 20 percent of couples who engage in a romantic relationship said the words within the first month of their relationship. Is this too fast? Well, these couples justified it by saying that there was nothing else that they wanted to wait for. After all, they had already fallen in love and all they needed are a few weeks to assess whether they had made the right choices or not.
What Determines the Time to Say ‘I Love You’
As mentioned, people can say these words at different times after meeting and making a decision to start a relationship. Some of the factors that determine this time include:
· How you met – Online platforms are now common meeting points for many couples. As people look for hookups, they already know what they want. For instance, if you are looking for a platonic relationship, it might take longer to fall in love with your partner and say the words. Surprisingly, people even stay together for a long time and never graduate their relationship to a serious one. But if you are looking for a serious relationship and agree with someone to engage in it, it might take you a shorter time to say it.
· The amount of time you have been friends – People who have known each other for a long time as friends, workmates, or business partners will find it easy to say ‘I love you’ almost immediately after deciding to have a romantic relationship. After all, they have already fallen in love and there is nothing more to wait for.
· Your feelings – Saying the words is all about how you feel about someone. If you have fallen in love, why should you wait to tell them? In this case, the words will come out sooner than anyone can think. However, you should assess this situation to know whether your partner has the same idea.
How to Choose the Appropriate Timing
By now, you should know that there is no definite time to wait for before you say ‘I love you.’ It is all about saying it at the right time to make sense to your partner. Surely, it is not expected a week after meeting someone because they need time to make their decisions as well.
Many relationship experts recommend going on a couple of dates before you say the words. Dates give people an opportunity to learn more about each other. This is when you will find out the ambitions of the other person and what they want to achieve from the relationship.
To be precise, two months are highly recommended because you will have interacted in a better way, especially if you were not friends before. The takeaway is: know the best timing to say ‘I love you.’