You know you are in a relationship but the world doesn’t know it yet. People don’t make their relationship official for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they aren’t sure whether it will last long and that’s the reason they feel it would be better to keep it under wraps. Then, some people like to keep things private and wouldn’t want to announce being in a relationship with the world. However, if you are in a serious relationship, there will come a time when the world will discover that you are dating someone. So, the question is when to make your relationship official?
As a general rule, you should make your relationship official when you are sure that you and your partner are serious about the relationship and are in it for the long run.
When you feel you are in a relationship with a wonderful person and are proud of being with them, you must not be apprehensive about letting the world know about it. If your relationship is official for both of you, then it should be official for the world as well.
How long should you wait to make a relationship official?
A relationship involves two individuals. Whenever you decide your relationship, you must consult your partner. If you think the time has come to make your relationship official, you must ask your partner whether he/she is ready for it too. You might feel that you have been dating each other for a long time and it is high time that you make it official. However, if your partner feels the need to wait further, then you must respect their decision. If both are on the same page and feel it is the right time to make your relationship, then go ahead and do it.
How many dates before you become exclusive?
If you ask me, I will tell you that you must go on 6-10 dates with a person before becoming exclusive to them. However, you shouldn’t go by somebody’s opinion on it. Follow your heart when it comes to getting committed to somebody. In the first few dates that you go out on a person with, you ‘try’ them out and in the next few dates figure out whether they are somebody you want to be in a relationship with. For some people, 2 dates are enough to arrive at that decision, for others 22. So go on as many dates as you want before committing to somebody. (Recommended article: “How Long Should You Date Before Proposing?“)
How do you know when to make something official?
When you are perfectly fine with the idea of people around you seeing you and your partner as a couple, it is the right time to make your relationship official. Until the time you are not sure if the person you are dating is somebody you want to be in a relationship with, you don’t want the world to know about it. When both of you are sure that you want to take things forward and are now officially a couple, you will have no issue with your family, friends and colleagues getting to know about it.
What are the 5 stages of dating?
For a lot of people today, dating is a very simple concept. However, when you break it down, you realize it has several layers or stages to it. If you are dating somebody and are serious about them, you will most likely go through all the 5 stages of dating.
1. Attraction and Romance
The first stage of dating involves getting attracted to a person and romancing them over a period. It all begins when you meet them somewhere, get drawn towards them and at a later stage, express your feelings for them. This phase is also known as the honeymoon phase as everything looks and feels perfect. During this stage, you tend to appreciate all the good qualities that your partner has and turn a blind eye to their imperfections.
2. Reality
The second stage makes you come face-to-face with reality and compels you to address the challenges associated with being in a relationship. This is the stage most couples have their first fight in. You would take note of the issues or flaws with your partner and confess to the fact that certain traits in them bother you. Remember that all these things do not point towards you falling out of love. You are still in love but now you don’t see your relationship with rose-tinted glasses.
3. Commitment
It takes a lot of courage to commit to somebody. So, if you feel nervous when you are about to commit to your partner, you must know that it’s perfectly fine. Now, you are not just dating and looking at multiple options but completely committed to one individual. Your love becomes exclusive to one person.
4. Intimacy
Physical intimacy is very important to keep a relationship alive. At the same time, it is not something you must rush into once you start dating somebody. This is the stage in which you get close to your partner. Being intimate with one’s partner is not just a necessity; it is something that helps you strengthen your bond with them.
5. Engagement
In the final stage of dating, you take things to the penultimate level. Getting engaged to your partner signifies that you are committing to them and promising to be with them for a lifetime. A lot of couples tend to break up long before they reach this stage. So, if you and your partner have managed to cross the four stages successfully and come up here, then you deserve a pat on your back.
Should a woman ask a man where the relationship is going?
Woman could ask a man where the relationship is going if she feels the need to. However, it is also important to be observant, so that you can gauge what’s going on in his mind. If you feel cracks appearing or something amiss in your relationship, you must try to closely observe his behavior and find out if he is any different from what he used to be. Several warning signs indicate a man being disinterested in continuing a relationship or taking it forward. If the frequency of dinner dates has reduced drastically and he doesn’t text or call you when he is on a trip, maybe it’s time you confront him.
How do you ask a guy where your relationship is going?
If you are feeling awkward at the prospect of asking your man where your relationship is going, then you must know it’s absolutely fine to feel so. You just need to remember a few things when you speak to him. If you feel there is a major issue in your relationship and want to talk to him about it, find a good time to do it. Speak to him when he is relaxed and happy. If you discuss this when he is in a bad mood or going through some work-related stress, things are bound to blow out of proportion. Another important tip is to be calm and speak to him in a polite manner and a relaxed tone. Be honest about your feelings and open up about the things that are making you feel comfortable.
Is it OK to ask someone if they want a relationship?
It is perfectly OK to ask someone if they want a relationship. If you have been dating someone for a while, you would want to know whether they see a future with you or are looking at it as a temporary arrangement. What is the worse that could happen? The person will say a ‘no’. I have had many friends who have asked this question to their partners after going on a bunch of dates with them. Whatever their answer be, it will help you get clarity on your equation and enable you to decide whether you should continue to date that person or look for love elsewhere.
How do you ask a guy how he feels about the relationship?
You must pose this question to him whenever you feel it is the right time to do so. Just sit with him when he is in the right frame of mind and tell him you want to discuss something important with him. You can then pose the question in a subtle but honest manner and request him to be honest with you too while giving a reply. If you wish, you can plan a ‘build-up’ to the question. For a couple of days, do things for him that will give him an idea of what you feel about him and how serious you are about the relationship. Now that you have made your feelings and intentions of being in the relationship clear, you have all the right to ask him what he feels about it.
Can I ask him where we stand?
You can ask him where your relationship stands and whether he is serious about it. Gone are the days when men were expected to take charge of the relationship. In today’s world, women have an equal say in everything. So if you feel he is not IN the relationship, you could confront him and ask whether he is serious about the whole thing or not. If you are bothered about him not making enough efforts to sustain the relationship and if you don’t speak to him about it for too long, it could drive you crazy. Therefore, it is better to speak to him as soon as you get the feeling that it is something that needs to be addressed immediately.
How do you know where to stand in a relationship?
If you are not sure and want to find out where you stand with your partner, you have to talk to them. Ask your partner how serious they are about the relationship that both of you are in and find out whether both of you are on the same page. When two individuals are dating or are in a relationship with each other, it is very important to have the same kind of feelings about it. For instance, if you feel you are ready to commit but your partner believes that they are several dates away from knowing you properly, then it could be a bit of an issue.
How do you know when you are into someone?
If you feel a significant improvement in your state of mind and tend to be very happy when you are around that person, then you must know that you are into that person. I am saying all this from my own personal experiences. Several other signs indicate you falling in love with a person. Respect is one of the most important elements in love. If you have begun to respect someone very deeply and admire them for who they are or the kind of qualities they have, then it just shows you are interested in them. You would be curious to discover more about them and want to spend quality time with them. You will feel a sense of impatience and anxiety running through your mind when you don’t get to see them for a long time.
How do you know he’s into you?
Even if you are marginally observant, you will be able to notice the signs that will let you know that he’s into you. One of the first signs is him always being the one to text or call you and making plans to go out. Your instincts will tell you whether a man wants to just be friends with you or have a very specific goal of being in a relationship with you. Observing his body language will also help you get some important clues regarding this. Making eye contact, accidentally touching your hand frequently, blushing when you are around and raising his eyebrows when you come across are some of the most prominent behavioral signs of him being interested in you.
Related Questions
How soon is too soon to define the relationship?
You can define the relationship as soon as you are sure about it. Years ago, I went on a date with a person and was able to define our relationship right there! The right time is when you are sure about it. Most people would say you should not define your relationship or proclaim that you are in a relationship before you are sure that you know the person you are dating very well. For some people, just a couple of dates are enough to decide that they want to take things forward and for some, even a hundred dates don’t suffice. So, it all depends on when you are sure about it.
Why he doesn’t ask me to be his girlfriend?
There could be several reasons behind him not asking you to be his girlfriend yet. He might be dating you but is not sure whether he wants to commit to a serious relationship. For him, it could be a temporary fling. There is also the possibility that he is beginning to get serious about you but wants to know you a little better before he can commit to you. I have had many friends who dated women but were too commitment-phobic to be in a serious relationship with them.
Why is he not defining the relationship?
Some of the other probable reasons behind him not defining the relationship include not being over his past relationship and not being a believer in using labels to define a relationship. There is also a possibility of him wanting to take things slow and not rush into anything. A lot of men understand the importance of being patient while being in a relationship and let things take their course. If the man you are dating is not very expressive, then it would be foolish to expect him to define the relationship too soon. Give him some time and if you feel he has made you wait for way too long to define the relationship, then you could take the first step towards defining the relationship.
Should I wait for him to define the relationship?
You could wait for him to define the relationship till the time you feel it’s not too late for him to do so. If you feel you have waited for long enough, you could take the first steps towards defining the relationship you are in. You have to tell your partner what you make out of the equation that exists between the two of you and how you wish to take it further. By doing this, you will also get to figure out whether both of you are on the same page or not.
How long should you wait to define the relationship?
If you ask relationship experts, they will tell you that a couple takes 6-10 weeks to define their relationship and make it official. However, if you ask me, I will tell you that nobody can fix a timeline for you and your partner to define your relationship. If you feel it’s high time you define it or give it a name or a title, then you must speak to your partner and ask them what they feel about it. While the waiting time to define a relationship shouldn’t be too long, you shouldn’t rush into it either. Give your partner the time and space you think they require and don’t put any undue pressure on them to define the relationship.
Header photo © Jakob Owens / Unsplash
