Two months may be too soon to say “I love you” for some people, while the same period of time may be perfect for other couples. You may also want to consider checking on your own feelings. Lust and infatuation can sometimes mimic aspects of romantic love, and could lead you to say “I love you” prematurely.
“There is no absolute rule,” says Dr. Lauren Kerwin, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. “[Falling in love] can happen instantaneously or take weeks, months, or years! It happens differently for everybody and takes different forms.”
Ideally, you should go on at least five dates or spend at least three months before you say “I Love You.” Try to wait out this period even if you feel it is love at first sight.
According to 2020 OKCupid data on 6,000 people shared with mindbodygreen, 62% of people think you should say "I love you" "as soon as you feel it," whereas 22% think you should wait "several months," and 3% think you should wait "at least a year." On average, research has found men take about three months to say "I ...
An curved arrow pointing right. Dating gurus on TikTok recommend a new rule to weed out incompatible partners. They call it the three-month rule, where people can evaluate potential partners for 90 days. They recommend not exclusively dating someone — or even kissing them — for these first months.
While early relationship feels (and hormones) can be intoxicating, relationship experts warn that it might be a red flag if you or your partner is too quick to say, “I love you.”
The honeymoon phase is an early part of a couple's relationship where everything seems carefree and happy. It usually lasts from six months to two years and can be marked with lots of laughs, intimacy, and fun dates.
Men usually say it first, and it's for the reason you think
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Sociology Psychology found that, while both male and female college students believe women tend to say “I love you” first, it's actually men who fall in love faster and say the L-word earlier.
Infatuation is often a fantasy-based, passionate longing for someone else. It can prevent you from acknowledging their weaknesses, and may even land you in an unhealthy situation. Love is often based in reality and is fed on closeness and knowledge of the other person.
Many times, the true signs are in the little things like his body language, the way he prioritizes you, or when he goes out of his way to try to make you happy. Other signs he loves you are that he asks for your opinion on things and he says nice things about you.
Around 1-3 months is considered “normal” for most couples.
If you've been dating someone for a week or two and you're wondering when most couples have the exclusivity talk, don't worry. Many long-term couples made it official after a few months of casual dating.
In fact, researchers found that men thought about confessing love six weeks earlier, on average, than women. The general consensus among studies on love is that men fall in love faster than women.
Timelines vary from couple to couple, but most experts agree that you should be dating for at least 1 year before moving in together. Talk about important issues before you move in together, like the division of chores, finances, and alone time.
"The right time is when you are both in agreement that you want to take your relationship to the next level," says therapist, marriage coach, and relationship expert Lesli Doares, LMFT. "You've talked about what living together means. You both feel comfortable with the agreement and can commit to abiding by it."
Researchers concluded that falling in love is much like the sensation of feeling addicted to drugs with the release of euphoria, including brain chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline, and vasopressin.
Passionate love feels like instant attraction with a bit of nervousness. It's the "feeling of butterflies in your stomach,"Lewandowski says. "It's an intense feeling of joy, that can also feel a bit unsure because it feels so strong."
Takeaway. In many ways, men may fall in love in a way that mimics the female experience. The early stages can involve an infatuation with someone else, which can slowly deepen into trust, compassion and deep attachment. Men may also fall in love quickly and feel a strong need for affection from their partners.
No timeline really exists. A couple of months may be enough time for you or it could be way too soon for other people. Assessing passion, intimacy, trust, and commitment in your relationship may help you determine if you're ready to say it.
While “love at first sight” might be true for some, saying “I love you” after just a few dates may not always be a good idea. If he says those words within at least a couple of months or more, that doesn't guarantee that he knows you enough to back those words up. Chances are, he might mistake love for something else.