10 Tips to Say "I Love You for the First Time"

Have you experienced that moment – a smile in her eyes that erased all your worries, a simple gesture that formed butterflies in your stomach, or a deep conversation that made you feel understood – when you were suddenly sure that your special someone is the one?

Suddenly, the world was clearer than ever, and your love for your special someone was just as clear that you want to finally utter the words “I love you”? However, your throat became dry and you paused thinking – how do I know when to say I love you for the first time?

Worry not! Love is best expressed when felt, but we know it isn’t always easy. We’re here to help you express your feelings and ensure that you’re saying these words at the perfect time! Read on for tips to know when to say “I love you” for the first time.

Making Sure It's Right: Tips on When To Say "I love You" For The First Time

1. After having a meaningful conversation and feeling a special connection. 

Meaningful conversations are always the best way to form deep connections with others, especially your partner. Talking about your past, present, and future as individuals and as partners not only help you know each other but also help you picture a life together. What better time to say “I love you” for the first time othan when you’re talking about a future you are planning together, right?

If talking about your past with your boyfriend makes you feel accepted and loved for who you are, don’t be afraid to say “I love you”! If talking about your future with your girlfriend makes you 100% sure that she is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with go for it! There is no better timing than when you deeply feel the emotion, so don’t hesitate to say “I love you” after deep and meaningful conversations.

2. After spending time gazing into each other's eyes and feeling a strong bond. 

Sometimes, words aren’t necessary to feel the love. In fact, a study found that gazing into another person’s eyes for 2 minutes is enough to produce passionate feelings toward the person!

When you’re thinking of when to say “I love you” for the first time, after a strong, deep gaze with your partner may be one of the best times. We’re sure that your love will not only be welcome but will also be accepted.

Imagine this – you come home after a long, tiring day at work and you sit down at your favorite hearty dinner prepared by your partner. You gaze at each other lovingly while talking about your respective days, and you feel all your worries from the day start to disappear. You feel so much love that you want to finally say “I love you”. Then, say it!

3. After a deeply passionate and romantic kiss. 

When better to say “I love you” than after a passionate and romantic time together? It is most often in these moments when we feel our emotions greatly, so why not go ahead and use the momentum to finally say what you feel?

After ending a great date with a romantic kiss and you feel your heart pounding with excitement and emotions, don’t be afraid to say “I love you” for the first time! Sometimes, just saying what you feel without overthinking it is the best way to go.

4. After holding each other close and feeling secure in each other's embrace.

Similar to a romantic kiss, a warm embrace can strengthen your feelings for your partner and may make you want to say “I love you”. This is also a good time to say these words for the first time – make your partner feel warm and secure by assuring them of how you feel!

Embracing your special someone is guaranteed to make them feel loved, and saying “I love you” for the first time after a long embrace is sure to make them feel the love two times over!

5. After sharing an unforgettable experience together.

Shared experiences are always guaranteed to deepen our connection with others – our family, friends, and partners. Whose bond wouldn’t strengthen after getting lost in a new country or camping in the dark woods one summer night?

If you’re wondering when to say “I love you” for the first time, it might be a great idea to declare your love after sharing an unforgettable experience with your partner. What better time to declare your love than after an 8-hour hike to a beautiful sea of clouds while the sun is just beginning to peek through the horizon? How romantic!

6. After hearing an emotional story and feeling even closer to your partner.

If you’ve been to a spiritual retreat where you talk about your experiences with others, it’s almost always guaranteed that you feel a little bit closer to the people in the retreat group after hearing their stories. Hearing other people’s emotional stories can make us get to know them better and feel more connected with them.

The same goes for hearing your partner’s story. Not only do you feel even closer, but you also tend to feel a deeper love for them after hearing their emotional story. May it be the first time that you talked about your traumatic past or you’re talking about a bad day at work, this is a good time to reassure your partner of your feelings by saying “I love you”.

7. After telling each other your deepest secrets and feeling accepted and loved. 

Similar to hearing your special someone’s emotional story, knowing their deepest secrets can help make you understand your feelings for them better. It’s after these talks about your secrets that you get to know them better and evaluate whether what you feel for them is true love or just infatuation.

If one night, your partner tells you that they killed someone, you’ll probably reevaluate whether you want to remain in a relationship with them, right? But if your partner tells you of a traumatic experience that left a negative effect on them and you feel that you care for them more, it’s also a great time to declare your love and reassure them that you are always there for them.

8. After your partner does something special for you and shows that they care. 

Almost everyone loves surprises, may it be as grand as a romantic cruise on your anniversary or as simple as a picnic date at the park on a Sunday. Surprises make you feel cared for and special. As such, you may also feel the urge to say “I love you” to your partner after a surprise gesture – and we encourage you to do that!

When your boyfriend surprises you with homemade chocolate fudge on Valentine’s Day, say thank you by declaring your love for him! When your girlfriend randomly gifts you with a leather wallet after seeing your extremely used old wallet, don’t be afraid to say “I love you”!

9. After completing something together, like a project or chore. 

Sometimes, we tend to take for granted the little things that we accomplish together with our partners – doing the laundry, walking the dogs, or finishing moving together. However, it’s after completing these things that we also realize how lucky we are to be with someone who can do things with us. These times are also great if you’ve been thinking of saying “I love you” to your partner for the first time!

You might have completed designing and building this wonderful bookcase to put your collection in, and you realize that you couldn’t have done it without your partner. Don’t hesitate to thank them and say “I love you”! It’s guaranteed to make them feel appreciated!

10. After spending a beautiful evening together and snuggling close.

Saying “I love you” for the first time may be a grand gesture, but the situation doesn’t need to be grand to do it. It’s sometimes in the simplest moments that we feel our deepest love for someone, and you shouldn’t hesitate to say it when you feel it!

Imagine you and your partner just spending a cool evening together, watching your favorite movie while snuggling under the blanket. You suddenly realize that you want to spend more of these simple but sweet nights with your partner, and you feel the urge to tell them how much you love them. Go for it – say “I love you” and tell them how much they mean to you!

It’s all about the timing

“I love you” may be three short words, but they hold so much meaning that you may find it difficult to say them for the first time. After all, you’re getting rid of your walls and declaring your love for someone who may or may not accept it in the way you want them to.

If you’re wondering when to say “I love you” for the first time, remember: it’s all about the timing! The best time to declare your love is when you feel it the most! In this post, we shared some moments when you may feel your love for your partner the most, and we suggest that you use these moments to say “I love you” for the first time. You may feel nervous at first, but you’ll know when the timing is right so go for it!

It's always best to say “I love you” for the first time in person, but if you want to let your partner feel the love virtually, you can always send virtual gifts! With Gifft.me, you can even send an “I love you” note with a personalized photo and message, all for free!

Try our free virtual love letter and make your special one feel loved whenever you are.