If you have been through a few relationships, you may have noticed that you and partner hit some recognisable dating stages which seem to follow the same patterns time and time again. As a couple gets to know each other and the relationship develops, they will hit various levels of intimacy and bonding reflecting how much time they have spent together.
These stages can usually be broken down into five distinct categories: attraction, reality, commitment, intimacy, and engagement.
If you are feeling uncertain about which stage you are currently at, take a look at our article below and see if you can spot the stage which most applies to your relationship.
Initial Attraction
This is the first stage of your relationship and plays a big part in the development of your relationship in the beginning. Whether you meet cute while out with friends, or hook up using a dating app, your attraction level will be immediate and obvious.
And if you are both willing, this initial attraction will turn romantic. During the first few months of the relationship, attraction will play a major part in what is known as the “honeymoon period,” where everything feels new, and your partner seems practically perfect.
Facing Reality in Your Relationship
As the honeymoon period begins to wear off, you and your partner will need to start navigating the reality of your lives and who you really are, During this time you may begin to notice habits and flaws which you didn’t during the first few months of the relationship. But this is nothing to worry about – no one’s perfect.
Sometimes this is the stage when a relationship begins to falter, but if the romantic feeling is strong enough couples will find a way to build their relationship together, settling into each other’s lives.
Couples Committing To Each Other
After accepting the reality of each other, couples will hit the commitment phase, when they plan to date each other exclusively and begin building a life together. During this period couples start talking about their life goals and making plans together for the long term.
Entering the Intimacy Stage
After a year or so, couples will usually have spent enough time getting to know each other to begin developing a true sense of intimacy and trust. Couples begin to connect on a deeper level and their love begins to deepen as they become increasingly important in each other’s lives.
During this time, defensive walls may come down and people feel they can be vulnerable with their partner about things they normally keep to themselves.
Deciding to Commit Long Term
The final stage in developing a relationship is usually commitment and engagement. This stage comes when both partners decide that they love and trust each other enough to invest completely in the future of the relationship.
Couples commit to being with each other through the ups and downs and supporting each other through the challenging times in the future. Couples will pledge to make it through whatever life throws at them as a team.
