But if you’re wondering about what your timeline should roughly look like, here are some considerations.
How long should you wait before saying “I love you”?
(Here’s more onhow long it takes to fall in lovein general.)
How soon is too soon to say “I love you”?
It’s more about thenatureof the time spent together than theamountof time spent together, Brown-James asserts.
If that happens within a month of knowing someone, it’s OK to lean into that.
Should you say it first?
“I suggest taking a bit of time to inventory your feelings.
Honoring your feelings of vulnerability is risky and can be scary.
It is, however, a way to build intimacy.”
“Notice if these precursors to ‘I love you’ are in play.
If they are, it may be the right time to voice how you feel.”
What if they don’t say it back?
“If there is rejection, it can hurt.
It also doesn’t mean the relationship has to end right then and there,” she says.
“Instead, it can take time to build toward that feeling for a lover.”
However, it’s important to pay attention if mutual love isn’t expressed eventually.
