7 Things To Consider Before Dating A Friend + Why You Should

Lasting Love is the result of a powerful strategy. Ready to get started? Click here to learn the strategy (it's free)

Dating a friend you’ve known for years can go one of two ways. Best case scenario, you end up like Monica & Chandler and live happily ever after. Worst case scenario, it doesn’t work out, you struggle to get your friendship back, and you’re left wondering why you ever thought it was a good idea to date.

But wait, there’s one more possibility. You realize you’ve got feelings for your friend, but you’re too scared to say anything or risk your friendship, and you spend the rest of your life wondering, “what if….” Trust me, you don’t want to be there, living a life of woulda coulda shoulda. So I’m all for dating a friend, but there are some things to consider before taking that step.

Did you know that studies show we find people more attractive once we get to know them? So falling for a friend is natural. Psychology professor Jessica Cameron has done a lot of research on friends who become a couple and suspects that couples who start as friends tend to have happier, stronger relationships. Why? Because romantic relationships are more fulfilling when there’s a friendship. She’s in the middle of researching whether this is true. Plus, in a 2021 survey, two-thirds of respondents said their current partner started as a friend.

So, if you are thinking about dating a friend, you’ve got research in your corner.

friends to relationship

7 Things to think about before dating a friend

1. Remember that good friends don’t necessarily make good romantic partners

Just because you’re best friends with a guy and everyone tells you how cute of a couple you’d make doesn’t automatically mean you’ll have a smooth transition to a romantic relationship. Friendly relationships and romantic relationships are different and require different things from people. In a romantic relationship, you’ve got to communicate effectively, make decisions together, compromise, navigate physical intimacy, understand each other’s love languages, and be committed. You may find you’re not compatible in these ways.

2. Are you seeing him clearly?

When we’re attracted to someone and have a crush on them, it’s common to view that person through rose-tinted glasses. You might only see positive things and be blindsided by his flaws and the polar differences between you.

Editor’s note: Ready to attract love with a proven strategy? Watch this free video to learn the 7 powerful steps

Sure, you might love the same TV shows and be equally addicted to pizza, but maybe you have different values and lifestyle choices. And because you’re crushing, you focus on the former while ignoring the latter. But you’ve got to be honest with yourself if you’re considering dating a friend. Do you think you’re compatible in a romantic way? Can you see yourself building a life together?

3. Check in and see if you’re on the same page

Before dating a friend, get real about how likely it is that he feels the same way. Have you seen any signs that he would like to be more than friends? For example, does he flirt with you, compliment you, or avoid talking about girls he’s seeing with you? Also, pay attention to his body language. Strong eye contact, mirroring your body, leaning in during the conversation, and finding excuses to break the physical touch barrier are all indications he might like you more than a friend.

You’ll probably know if he has caught feelings because human beings are not great at hiding how we feel!

man and woman flirting

4. Manage your expectations

The great thing about dating a friend is you can avoid the game-playing and potential awkwardness of meeting a total stranger and having to build a connection from nothing. You’ve got a solid foundation to build on, and you probably know a lot about each other already. You feel safe with him and can have deeper conversations that you probably wouldn’t have with a stranger.

But while dating someone you already know can help you skip past the traditional dating phase and echo the warm, fuzzy feelings of a new relationship, there are bound to be other questions on your mind. For example, will the relationship work? And if it doesn’t, will our friendship survive?

5. Are you both ready to be in a relationship?

You’d be surprised how many people overlook this, but it’s essential to consider it before dating a friend.

First of all, are you both single? Because if other people are involved, you’ve got to consider their feelings – don’t be a homewrecker! Second, did one of you just come out of a relationship or a bad breakup? It takes a while to heal and be in a place where you’re ready to date again, even if you were the one who initiated the breakup. He might only be interested in something casual right now. Are you both going to be in the same place for the foreseeable future, or does one of you have plans to move states or countries for work?

These are all important things to consider because they affect whether you’re ready to be in a relationship. If one or both of you isn’t, then there’s no point even thinking about dating.

dating a friend you’ve known for years

6. How will you navigate the transition from friends to dating?

Before dating a friend, you’ve got to consider how you’ll transition from friends to romantic partners. For example, how do you both feel about PDA (public displays of affection)? Will you become exclusive immediately or give yourselves time to adjust before putting a label on it? Will you spend more time together than you already do, or less?

Although the foundation of friendship is a great place to start, moving to partners can be awkward when you know each other so well and already hang out regularly. Take some time to discuss the above, and it can squash some of the difficulty.

7. What will happen if you start dating your friend and it doesn’t work out?

Nobody starts a new relationship thinking it’s not going to work out. Heck, if we all did that, nobody would ever start one! But it’s important to consider, particularly when you’re already friends. Some women are great at being friends with their exes, but generally, I don’t recommend it because this hinders you from fully moving on after a breakup. So if your relationship does end, it might be the end of your friendship, at least while you grieve and try to heal. That doesn’t mean things can’t or won’t go back to how they were, but it is important to consider.

If you do find you break up and struggle to get back to friends, hanging out together with mutual friends can make it easier by creating a sense of normality.

4 Reasons why dating a friend is a great idea

1. Friendship is one of the three components of the lasting love formula

In our Love Accelerator program, we teach the lasting love formula:

Attraction + Compatibility + Friendship = Lasting Love

As you can see, friendship is one of the three key components for a connection and love that lasts. That’s why starting as friends first is a great foundation to build on, especially if you’ve caught feelings.

If you want to learn more about the lasting love formula, along with a ton of other strategies and lessons to help you get out there and attract the man and relationship you desire, you can apply to join our program today.

2. You already enjoy each other’s company

One of the best parts of dating a friend is that you already spend time together because you enjoy each other’s company. There’s no superficial reason or ulterior motives such as looks, money, or status.

A 2015 study found that couples who were friends before they started dating differed more in levels of physical attractiveness than couples who started as strangers. Researchers suggested that those who had a friendship were more attracted to their partner’s personality rather than looks or that they became more physically attracted over time because of their personality.

This is a great place to be because it doesn’t matter how good-looking someone is; physical attraction always fades over time, so you’d better like the person sitting opposite you at the dinner table; otherwise, things will go south quickly!

signs he likes you

3. You know him well

Another reason I’m all for dating a friend is that you already know a great deal about each other’s likes, dislikes, values, quirks, and flaws. There’s already a level of trust, comfort, and familiarity, and this can make that initial dating phase even more enjoyable than it is with a stranger.

You’re not trying to figure out if there’s a major incompatibility, if he wants marriage and kids as much as you do, or if he’s trying to sleep with you. You also don’t have to look beneath the roses and champagne to see what this guy is like when he’s not trying to impress you – you already know. This means you can talk more openly and honestly than if you had just met, and it will put you both in a more relaxed vibe where you can focus on having fun.

4. There’s a foundation of care & warmth to build on

The final reason dating a friend is a great idea is because you already care a lot about each other; otherwise, you wouldn’t be friends. There won’t be any game-playing, ghosting, or pulling away when things get serious because you love and respect each other and your friendship way too much to do that.

Naturally, you will have concerns running through your mind like, will it work, and if it doesn’t, will our friendship survive? But because you’re friends, you can discuss all of these scary questions together without it feeling heavy or awkward.

dating a friend

Conclusion

Dating a friend comes with its risks, just like any relationship does. But if you’ve caught feelings, and you think you’d make a great couple, then you owe it to each other to give it a try. No one wants to live a life wondering, what if… Plus, if you are as good friends as you think you are, trust that if things don’t work out romantically, you’ll eventually be able to salvage a friendship.

Have you ever dated a friend in the past? Is there a friend in your life who you would consider dating? What are your biggest concerns about transitioning from friends to more? I’d love to hear your experiences on this subject, so drop me a comment below!

What do you think? Share your thoughts below...

Subscribe
Notify of

11 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Deborah
1 year ago

No…if someone only wants a friendship and makes this clear, why risk making a fool of yourself by trying to date this person. I have done that…aired my feelings…after two days of talking with him; he distanced himself from me. Our friendship is over for me because of other factors.

Rika U Mitchell
1 year ago
Reply to  Deborah

Dating a friend is definitely not for everyone. My young adult daughter is in a relationship with a man who had been a friend to her for at least a few years. And he is her first boyfriend to ever date. Because of that, she thinks that that is the best way to date (friend first then boyfriend.) Although I’ve never been in this boat (was friends with someone but later dated him), there is a lot to think about. Yes, what if it doesn’t work out? I usually don’t keep in touch with my exe’s so if he and… Read more »

1 year ago
Reply to  Deborah

I don’t understand why we have to pursue anyone without stopping in our own life. Enjoy this life, this joy makes life for us become more meaningful

Cherilynn
1 year ago

This is a really thoughtful article and I wish I’d read it earlier. I am in the midst of trying to restore a friendship after trying (and it seems now failing) to work out well in a romantic relationship. There is a challenging twist. We probably need more distance and time apart now to heal and disentangle from the romantic dimension so that new romantic possibilities can open and our soulful friendship can be restored. But we are also dependent on one another for the success of a joint professional project and thus the time away that would serve the… Read more »

Roxanne
1 year ago

Yes, I ve been friends with a man for over 2 years now and I definitely have caught feelings for him. I believe he has feelings for me as well, but he won’t act on it , we hug goodbye everytime we we see each other . But I dunno.

Carolyn
1 year ago

I have a best friend who I would totally date, but we have talked about it and he is not looking for a relationship right now. We are best friends and talk about everything and after talking about the possibility of dating our relationship is stronger than ever because we know where we each stand in our feelings.

Goldie
1 year ago

Yes, I am in a situation-ship with a man I have been friends with for years very occasionally being at the same gathering or seeing each other at church. I’m now recently divorced and he is single and not in a relationship. In the past year we have started to walk our dogs together regularly a few times week and have developed a close friendship. I did think he was showing interest last year after months of flirting and inuendo. However, when I playfully asked him if he was trying to ‘get somewhere’ with me – at first he made… Read more »

Debra
1 year ago

My friend ,a male.we are both in our 70 s
We grew up together.hes with a woman 25yrs now..he loves her but not in love with her…my hubby passed 5 yrs ago.
We love each other..but what should we do…?carry on because of our ages or straighten things out as friends again…?

Cherieda
1 year ago

Absolutely ❤️ All three points.
Emotions & thinking can definitely mess you up.

1 year ago

For an inexperienced person in love, I read your article with a completely receptive attitude with the hope that I will understand my lover in the future.

11 months ago

Thanks for the info

Other articles you may like...

1

Dating in Your 40’s and Beyond for Successful Single Women

1

First Date Fumbling? 4 Tips for Better Conversations

1

10 Harsh Truths about Dating Men You Wish You Knew Sooner