On average, people need 5 to 6 appointments to make it official. By the second or third date, you should have a pretty good idea of whether you like this person enough and if they're a good match on paper. You might want to be exclusive after four dates, or you might feel comfortable waiting until date ten before making that change. Being exclusive means that you don't date other people and you certainly don't engage in any sexual or physical act with other people.
You might feel those undeniable butterflies after the first date, but it takes a little longer to go from a casual date to a committed relationship. Yes, there can be a lot of messages back and forth between dates, but that can't be compared to the volume of words exchanged in person. So it might take one or two fewer real dates to get to the stage where you're seeing someone compared to if those dates are very close. A lot of people subscribe to the 10-date rule, also known as, if you've been on ten dates, then you're probably in a relationship.
Unfortunately, with all the matters of the heart, including romantic relationships, there isn't a specific number of dates that equates to exclusivity. One bad date after another can leave you feeling insecure, unstable and wondering if you'll ever meet someone who wants a long-term relationship. But how many dates do you need before you and this new person in your life form an exclusive relationship. The large number of conversations you can have in an entire day can help you build bonds much faster than if it were extended to several appointments.
