Cecilia has been on a few dates with Ryan. She was nervous on the first date, and after two dates, she felt pretty comfortable with him. However, when Cecilia’s best friend asked about where their relationship is going, she could not answer that question.
‘How many dates are required before making the relationship official’- is a dicey question. When does one make the relationship official? It is often on the minds of the couples who have been dating. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer, and many of you might have felt similar to Cecilia.
This article will focus on how many dates you need before making the relationship official.
You might go on a few dates with a person. But this is not at all the same thing as dating that individual. By going on the dates, you understand them and decide whether you will pursue them anymore.
After two to three dates, you will have a good idea about whether you like the person and whether your wavelengths match. But, again, trusting your instincts is the best way forward.
Try and understand through these five questions whether you want to continue with the person or end the matter then and there. If you have been going on dates with a person for or over four times, you can safely say that you are dating the person.
In most cases, it does not take much time for individuals to move from dating someone to the ‘seeing someone’ phase. Suppose an individual has gone on a date more than four times with a person, and the length of the dates is also increasing. You might be visiting each other’s homes now. If that is the case, you can say that you are seeing the person.
If there have been physical interactions like sex or other intimate things, then it surely means that you have moved past the dating phase to the ‘seeing them’ phase.
Quality always matters more than quantity in these cases. For example, the number of dates that you have with a person is less significant than the amount of quality time you spent together on the date.
Suppose you meet your date after work and you drink with one another. Now compare this with a date where you spend an entire day with the person at the beach. You gorge on good food and drinks and spend your time at the beach. The time you spend on the beach will be high on the quality element.
You will understand the person better, know about the individual’s likes and dislikes and have good communication. In addition, it will help you bond better with the person.
In this digital world, messaging has become essential for couples in between dates. However, one must bear in mind that nothing can compare with the words you say personally. That has a bigger and better impact.
Though messages cannot be an excellent substitute for actual words, they can strengthen the bond if you cannot meet each other frequently.
You might be both busy with your work and going on dates frequently might not be possible. In such a scenario, the duration between the dates will increase. Messaging can be a saviour in those times. You can keep in touch with the person and also connect with the person emotionally.
If you have surpassed the ‘seeing’ phase and embarked on a proper relationship but a long-distance one, then here are the tips to keep your long-distance relationship alive!
When you can’t meet each other often, you think about that person; you feel the desire to meet them or be with them. So you might end up fantasising about them or think about how they will be as your potential boyfriend or girlfriend.
It will help in building anticipation, and you will look forward to your dates. Hence, you can see that even a few face-to-face meetings are needed for forging a great bond among individuals.
You might be going on dates with different people. However, there is one among them with whom you want to put in your honest and earnest efforts. If an individual can give you this feeling, then that person can become the partner in the future.
You might consider discussing the idea of becoming exclusive to each other. Exclusive means that you will not go on dates with other people, and you will also not engage in physical activity or sex with other people. Many people consider this as making the relationship official.
Many individuals feel that you can say that the two individuals are in a relationship with this commitment.
However, there is a difference between being in a relationship and being exclusive to some other individuals. Therefore, they might take this stage to explore the other serious aspects of a relationship without or before becoming an official couple.
Or you might want to keep your relationship secret.
But you may also want to ‘test the waters’ before calling them yours. For testing the waters, individuals might spend time with each other on weekends or meet with each other friends. Going on a weekend trip for some days will also be a good way of spending time with one another.
You can engage in serious talks about the relationship and where it is heading. Many feel that one needs to talk about where they would like to live, how many kids they want, or how to handle finances. Covering all these topics is better before you think of making the relationship official.
There is no definite answer as to how many dates you need to go on before deciding to make the relationship official. It varies from one person to the other. Some might make it official after three dates, while some might need longer to make it official.
It is the personal choice of an individual. Your emotional connections with the other person matter the most in making these decisions.
It is better to have an honest conversation with your partner before deciding on making the relationship official. In this way, you will both be on the same page, which will pave the way to a good relationship.
