How important do you think saying "I love you" is in a relationship......

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

and do you think that a relationship can be a "loving" one without those words actually being spoken??

it can def be loving - but its nice to hear those words.

I think it a relationship can be very loving even without the words.

Actions speak louder than words and all that.

DP doesn't actually say it often but does loads of things that show me he loves me.

i think its more important to show you love someone rather than to say it. dh tells me he loves me everyday and it kind of feels like routine to me now. i'm not really that kind of person and only say it occasionally.

of course it can
i say it a lot. dh is more the strong silent ie repressed type
but i feel loved nonetheless

• I was hoping that was the response I would get - as that's what I was thinking this morning.

DH and I are now getting along brilliantly again (we even went to bed at the same time last night ) and I was wondering this morning how "necessary" it was for those words to be spoken when the actions that are made are really loving.

Can definitely be loving without the words being said, providing the actions speak for themselves. It is nice to hear and say the words to though.

Nowhere near as important as showing that to your partner, every day, through your actions.

I used to say I'd rather have respect than love, now I know they are one and the same.

DH is not one to say it, he doesn't have to. He shows me all the time.

Course it can. Actions speak louder than words as Charlee said. It's those little gestures that make you feel loved.

I mean, it's nice when it's said, but often it's said out of habit, not out of feeling, iyswim.

"See you later, love ya" means less than a cup of tea brought to you in bed without you asking, iyswim.

I agree with mytwopenceworth that loving is an action.
You can say the words all you like but it's how you treat the other person that counts.

I find this very difficult to say - much more than dh. But I have recently made an effort to get into a habit of saying it to dd (26 mo). It felt very odd at first but I'm getting the hang of it. She doesn't say it back - although she has started picking up toys and saying that they love her! Jill

I agree is much more important that you show it rather than say it. I agree with Kerrykatona - if you say it alot it sort of loses some of the impact.
Actions speak louder than words..

Well, DH says this all the time, which is nice, but I have to admit it really does not mean as much as all the things he does that show me that he loves me. I also find that occasionally "I love you" is supposed to act as some sort of instant cure all for whatever he has done to piss me off rather than a genuine declaration of affection. If you feel loved that is the important thing

my dp sys love you all the time but sometimes his actions dont speak it if you know what i mean i think you can have a great relationship with lots of love and attention shown to you but i think deep down we want it all the words as well as actions as we all want to be and feel loved

some people dont do them words well but doesn't mean they dont love you and if they show you love and you know they dont say them words easily i think that feels nice as you know its there way of showing you love