Okay, i know that the answers to this question will vary GREATLY from person to person, but i wanted to hear from some guys how long it took for them to tell their girlfriends/person they're seeing/whatever, that they loved them. or how long it took for them to realize that they loved them. maybe hear from some girls how long it took their boyfriends to say it....
This might sound unbelievable, but it is true. I fell in love with my wife from across the room having never met her before, and knew I wwanted to marry her. After our real first date after we met we talked for hours about everything, and I told her I was in love with her. A week later I asked her to marry me, and we will be happily 19 years this summer and there has not been a day that has gone by that I have not told her that I love her(even while deployed with the Army). It still boggles my mind.
What a lucky man you are - and what a lucky wife you have.
When I adopted my son as a baby I vowed I would never ever walk away from him without saying I love you. So the last words he hears when I drop him at work or school, or say good night is - I love you. I have forgotten a few times and either called him on the phone, driven back or woke him up. What we do for love!
In my case, i knew i loved my gf after 2-1/2 - 3 months. Finally got the gall to say it one night, and what do you know she loved me back! It was pretty slick though...we were lying in bed and she asked me like she normally does how much i like her, and instead of spreading my hands as far apart as possible to show her how much, i simply responded, I love you, that's how much i like you. Then she followed with the "whaaaaaaaaaaaat?????" hehe.....but she just wanted to make sure that i knew what i was saying and then she said she loved me too.
For me, love took about a year. She was a pretty girl, but marriage wasn't on my mind.I just wanted to be friends and not get serious. I liked my freedom. Then I looked around at all the different girls and thought that my girl was pretty special. She truly cared about me. If I was to keep her, I'd better get serious. We have been together for 47 years and she is my best friend in the world! She still is pretty special and I love her more than ever.
A lot of couples live together/get married hoping that the little things about their mate that they don't like/ can't stand, will change by smoothing it out with sex or just by time. Fact.... people don't change that much...bad habits they have now probably won't change. Another thing..there is always some jealous, heartless person trying to drive a wedge between a couple. They want what you share together, to be theirs. Poor planning with money is another big contributor as to why the divorce rate is so high.
If you plan to live together/ hang around full time with someone, you better know them pretty well before you do it...it saves so much time and money. Another tip for later... if you truly love each other, don't blow your or your folks life savings proving it with a big wedding ( money gone in one day)...keep it small and put it towards a home.