What's your favorite stage of a relationship?

SurfersMatch members weighed in on this question. Here’s what 1,397 people had to say.

favorite stage of a relationship

The Winner

Top answer
It's just gets better over time
41.5% of votes — 580 out of 1,397

Poll Results

It's just gets better over time
41.5%
580
When you start falling for them
22.6%
316
Those first-date butterflies
13.4%
187
When you get to say 'I love you'
11.9%
166
When you first... you know...
10.6%
148

Demographics: Gender Breakdown per Answer

It's just gets better over time
Gender breakdown
Men
66.7%
Women
32.9%
Couples
0.0%
Other
0.3%
When you start falling for them
Gender breakdown
Men
66.5%
Women
33.2%
Couples
0.0%
Other
0.3%
Those first-date butterflies
Gender breakdown
Men
58.3%
Women
41.7%
Couples
0.0%
Other
0.0%
When you get to say 'I love you'
Gender breakdown
Men
66.3%
Women
33.1%
Couples
0.0%
Other
0.6%
When you first... you know...
Gender breakdown
Men
84.5%
Women
15.5%
Couples
0.0%
Other
0.0%

Demographics: Age Distribution (All Voters)

18–24
3.6%
25–34
7.9%
35–44
13.2%
45–54
20.9%
55–64
26.6%
65+
27.8%

What the Data Shows

The most popular answer — “It’s just gets better over time” at 41.5% — is quietly profound. These members aren’t chasing the honeymoon phase; they’re in it for the long arc. It suggests a community that values depth, trust, and the kind of love that compounds with shared history.

Falling for someone (22.6%) and the first-date butterflies (13.4%) are the romantic high-wire moments that still captivate many. Together with the “I love you” milestone (11.9%), about half the community are most alive in the charged early chapters of love.

The “when you first… you know” answer (10.6%) is the discreet choice, and it skews notably male and toward the 45–65+ age range. Reading across the full breakdown, it’s clear this is a community that spans passionate early-stage romantics and steady long-haul optimists — a healthy mix for a dating platform.

This poll received 1,397 responses from SurfersMatch members. Demographics are self-reported. Poll published September 18, 2024.

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