How long till 'I love you'?

[userofthiswebsite]

Just curious, how long would you say is normal, before telling the boyfriend/girlfriend that you love them?
Would it be six months or nine months or a year after the first date or...?
I appreciate there is no 'correct' answer so just looking for opinions.

@VietnameseCrispyFish

Thank you.. get what you're saying but the things he's been through in life with parents & previous partner would make anyone put up barriers & find extremely hard to let down. . He's come such a long way recently though, initiating long term plans, affectionate, caring massive effort with my DC's that I'm happy to give him more time.. I doubt I'm an easy person to love, I can be quite cold & through protecting myself possibly give off a "don't give a shit" vibe..

2 wounded people who have both been single a long time coming together was never going to be easy

I think we said it after 6months (he said it first) that was 13 years ago ❤️

The three times I have fallen in love I've known within weeks. The first two times we both said it by week 3. The third time it was about 4 months but that's because we had one week together then 4 months of long distance. The night we saw each other again for the first time we both said it (we are now married )

3 months here

How long is "normal"? I wouldn't worry between about 6 months and 18 months. Before then for me would be too soon IMO. Personally I've never said it (am in a happy relationship of several years) but I don't think I'm normal.

I was with my OH 6 months, and I'm the type of girl who doesn't really show much affection in a girly I love you cutie kind of way. But his mum sadly passed away one night when I was at his house and it was so heartbreaking, Im only 22 now, so at 17 i just didnt know how to act or what to say, i was just so shocked. we went for a long drive at 3am when he came back from the hospital and I felt like he needed to hear it.
Now 5 years on I walk out the door to work and shout 'love ya' almost every morning.

I knew within 24 hours, said it a few weeks in. We’ve Ben together 16 years.

I was in an abusive nine month relationship where neither of us said it and I don’t think we felt it either. With my DP we said it after the second date.

@NorthEndGal Marriedfor 29 years but together for 24? Did you not meet for the first 5 years?

About three months.

Think we were about 2 weeks in, but we moved fast, three months in I was expecting, 7 months in living together, 2 years later married.

After a month I think, living together after two, moved countries together after a year and still together 5+ years later.

I really don't think there's a right time. Just say it when it feels natural.

I’ve always known within weeks. I think you just say it when you feel it’s the right time. And also it depends on how you generally are in telling people you love them. Personally I tell people I love all the time (and I always mean it) and try to show it in all sort of ways.

With my current BF I came away from our first date (we had spoken a lot before it though) with a strong sense that I could easily fall in love with him. Obviously I didn’t share that with him at the time (although I’ve since learned that he thought the same at that point). About 6 weeks later it seemed reasonable to let him know that I love him. He’d been circling around telling me but hadn’t felt confident so I just came out with it. He responded with, ‘Really? I love you too.’ 😆 It’s been 6 months now and I don’t regret letting him know how I felt.

4 weeks
He said it after 2 weeks

2 years ago
Been the best 2 years of my life.

@Ozziewozzie haha the bloody nine is right beside the zero! I did try to correct it right after, but as I was the last one one the page, my correction went to the next one.
Now I just look silly

Almost immediately, with both current boyfriend and ex. They said it first. With my ex I accidentally said it back whilst drunk and certainly did not believe it at the time. With my current boyfriend I whole heartedly meant it, and 5 years on, I am as in love today as I was a couple weeks in to dating. We had already known each other for a year, I think that makes a big difference. There's no rule book though.

It took DP thirty four years ......

I have loved reading this thread. Such lovely stories!

You, and only you know when. Something will click. Don’t look for it, don’t force it. It’ll happen

@NorthEndGal
Ha ha, I have those all the time. Sometimes though miss typing can be a lot more of a faux pas if you know what I mean.