Surprising Love Timelines: 17 % of Singapore Residents Say I Love You After Just Two Weeks of Dating

Relationship timelines are extremely subjective. Some couples wait a decade before marrying. Others tie a knot within a year.

The spectrum of opinions is just as wide when it comes to dating (if you’ve ever gone on a date with someone who asked to make things official within a week, you’ll know what we mean).YouGov surveyed 1,057 Singapore residents to ask them how long they should date before hitting milestones like getting engaged, going on vacation together, or meeting the parents.

And like those surveyed, we — a recently-married woman (Diane) and an engaged man (Nicholas) — had thoughts.<img alt="" data-caption="Saying "I love you" to your partner.
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“How long should you wait before saying I love you?”

Findings: 63 per cent of Singapore residents would say “I love you” before a year, with the highest proportion (17 per cent) admitting that they would say it in one to two weeks. 20 per cent of men would say “I love you” within a week, while only 15 per cent of women would do the same.

Nicholas: I can agree with the results here — I am definitely guilty of saying “I love you” very early in the relationship. Until my current significant other said, “Do you really mean it?”

Diane: Ted Mosby is that you?

Nicholas: I do have a love-hate relationship with Ted, but thankfully I don’t share his habit of going back to the same person again and again. You agree with the girls’ side of the survey? Only one in seven girls would say “I love you” within the first two weeks of dating.

Diane: It definitely didn’t take me a year to fall in love with my now-husband, but it took me like 1.5 years to say it so yeah LOL. Not that I wanted to be stingy with my affection, but more like, I needed more than a couple weeks of dating to differentiate love from infatuation.

Nicholas: Mad respect wei. I am curious to know how he reacted after you said it. I know when I first heard my fiance say the three magical words after a few months… It felt very special.<img alt="" data-caption="Meeting the parents.
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“How long should you wait before meeting the parents?”

Meet the Guardians: The Singapore Saga of Family Introductions

When it comes to tapping the “family meet‑up” button, Singaporeans aren’t rushing in. According to the latest survey feel‑stick, 22 % of couples say they’d hold off for at least a full year before waving hello to each other’s parents. And for the ultra‑skeptics, only 5 % plan to switch the doors on parents until after the wedding vows.

Why the Waiting Game? A Quick Dive

It’s not just a numbers story. The long whispers are for a good reason: you don’t want to step into the drama of a racist family or a mother‑in‑law who takes over all your chores just by asking you to serve her hand‑and‑foot. These are real triggers that can turn a promising romance into a cautionary tale.

“A year feels like forever,” says Diane. “Hooking up with someone for a year only to discover your partner’s family has deep‑seated racial bias or you’re expected to become a kitchen ninja,”
“I’ve heard friends break up after exactly a year plus,” confides Nicholas. “…”
“If you can, skip the one‑year delay and meet them early. It puts you directly in the family’s good books,” he recommends.

Timing Tips from the Field

Both Nicholas and Diane highlight the sandwich between too long and too quick:

Shorter than a month? Too early – the family may not have warmed up to you.
Around a month? That’s probably sweet‑spot.
A year? Risky… Unless your story is super healthy, you might be raising a red flag alarm.

Bottom Line: Stay Human, Keep It Human

At the end of the day, the whole “intro” routine is just a reminder that families are the ultimate jury. If you ship those introductions not too late or too early, you’ll avoid unnecessary drama and could even earn the nod of the in‑laws. So, strip off the drama, take the step, and keep your timeline tuned to your own pace.

“How long should you wait before going on holiday together?”

A Quick Look at Singapore’s “Waiting” Habits

The latest survey shows that 21 % of Singaporeans say they’d wait a full year before sharing a bedroom with their partner. Only 5 % would hop in after just one or two weeks, while 20 % feel they need to tie the knot first.

Why “Marrying Before” Isn’t the Only Key

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Conversation Snapshot: Nicholas & Diane

Nicholas: “I love a holiday, but why not settle it mid‑year? It’s just a test run, right? If you’re annoyed later, blame the missing toilet seat!”
Diane: “A vacation isn’t mandatory. Work, finances, that pesky Covid can block it. Think of it as ‘for better or for worse.’ Get married first, then trip abroad if you choose.”
Nicholas: “Even a staycation works. It mimics married life without the extra responsibilities.”
Diane: “Three days in a Sentosa 5‑star vs. a month with in‑laws vs. a decade in a cramped flat – all different. I want someone who’ll do the ‘for better or for worse’ stuff, not let the small things spiral.”
Diane (laughing): “I just started living with my husband this year, so I’ll revisit before we fight over thermostat settings!”
Nicholas: “Teach me, sensei.”

Key Takeaway

The debate isn’t about timing alone; it’s about partnership, shared values, and handling the day‑to‑day grind together.

“How long should you wait before sex?”

Singapore Dating 101: When Do People do the Whole Kit and Kaboodle?

Recent chatter on the social media scene has revealed that almost half of Singaporeans (49%) are ready to get physical within a year of starting to date. A smaller handful—about 20%—prefer to wait until the marriage altar before taking the plunge.

What’s the Scoop?

49% – Comfortable with sex early on, but with a 12‑month head‑start.
20% – Hold their cards close to the chest until the “I do” moment.
31% – Still undecided or “don’t know”—probably the “keep it ambiguous” crowd.

Why the Divide?

It’s not all about pill addiction or portable hookup kits. The reasons are a blend of tradition, personal choice and parental pressure.

Religious & Moral Views: Some folks are bringing their faith and family values into the equation.
Financial Worries: “Are babies really that pricey?” is a real question for many—so they’d rather hold off until money’s in place.
Body Image & Confidence: A few prefer to save the “first” to reduce awkwardness or ensure they’re comfortable.

Conversation Snapshot

Nicholas: “Where does this 1‑year rule even come from? Who’s actually answering these questions? I have a gut feeling I’m the odd man out.”

Denise: “Got it! Some of us are spilling the tea because of religion, or just because we’re scared of the pre‑marriage hiccup—thanks to the rising baby budget.”

Diane: “No matter which group you’re in, remember: this is a personal choice. Talk it out with your partner before you go all-in.”

Nicholas (closing tone): “And don’t let external pressure push you. Stay true to your timeline.”

Bottom Line?

Pick your pace, talk openly, and respect each other’s rhythm.

It’s got nothing to do with ‘doesn’t feel like it’—it’s about mutual trust and, yes, the thrills of novelty.

Finally, do you want your single life to be a prolonged bachelor or your well‑thought‑out moment? The decision is all yours.

“How long should you wait before moving in together?”

Findings: Only 39 per cent of Singapore residents would move in together before marriage.

Nicholas: Finally got something in this survey I agree with. To me personally I would wait a few years or after marriage.

Diane: Yeah lor, if you can live with your family first, save that rental fee for your resale flat or BTO.

Nicholas: On the other hand, if renting a place together would save you a couple bucks, it makes sense — now that’s an actual preview into life living together!<img alt="" data-caption="Buying a home together.
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“How long should you wait before buying a home together?”

Findings: Only 25 per cent of Singapore residents would buy a home together within a year of dating.

Nicholas: Who are the jokers that said they will buy a home with their significant other anything less than a year. This is akin to getting married leh, I think having to wait a couple years makes sense to me.

Diane: I’d love to meet the one per cent who answered “after one to two weeks”.<img alt="" data-caption="Getting engaged to your significant other.
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“How long should you wait before getting engaged?”

Findings: 23 per cent of Singapore residents would wait at least a year before getting engaged.

Diane: Sounds about right, but on a more exciting note — two per cent would get engaged after one to two weeks of dating, and eight per cent “need to be married” before getting engaged?? Please explain.

Nicholas: They should have left that answer out specifically for this question. But yeah, at the very least, there should be discussions about the future of your relationship after a year or two.<img alt="" data-caption="Getting married to your significant other.
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“How long should you wait before getting married?”

Singapore’s Love Countdown: When Do Couples Crawl Into the Marital Zone?

In a recent survey, 22 % of Singapore residents said they would wait two years before tying the knot, while a surprisingly higher 38 % opted for a one‑year or shorter wait. The data shows the city‑state is leaning toward a hurry‑up lifestyle—and the very people who got hitched this year are good stories for the books.

Trigger‑Happy Couples on the Picket Sign

Nicholas* – “I was surprised to see quite a few trigger‑happy couples in the survey looking to tie the knot within the year. I’m on the side of “wait a few years.” I’m getting married this year, and I’ve been with my significant other for just over four years— but then again, we could have said “I do” earlier if not for the crazy pandemic.”
Diane* – “Hmm technically I’m in the “wedding within a year” camp, if you count from when we started publicly acknowledging each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. But we’d been friends and had explored dating long before that, so it still felt like we took our time.”

How Do They Define a New Relationship?

Both interviewees are eager to know how the respondents frame the term “dating / in a new relationship,” as this sets the clock for all those milestones.

Nicholas* clarified, “For my case, I actually had to officially ‘ask’ my significant other to be ‘steady’ so that is when we count our anniversary, not when we started dating. My fiancé is also the first relationship I had where she wasn’t a mutual friend at first— but that’s a first‑date story for another article.”

Diane* seemed to agree that the start of a romance can be a fuzzy thing, often marked by a series of dates, calls, or even a mutual friend’s subtle hint.

Want to know more about who says when to say “yes”? Stay tuned – the next chapter will dive deep into how relationships are timed in the Singaporean scene.

“How long should you wait before having a baby?”

Findings: 20 per cent of Singapore residents said “after marriage”.

Nicholas: Call me old fashioned, but bringing new life into the world is a super major commitment and should be after marriage lah — unless you really got your entire life together (I know I haven’t). So I definitely agree with the majority. Since you just got hitched, have people asked you when you are getting a baby?

Diane: Wow, I’m shook that only 20 per cent answered “need to be married”! Maybe Singapore is more liberal than I thought — or maybe the respondents answered wrongly?? I’m not even ready to have a kid within a year of marriage, let alone within a year of dating (or within two weeks of dating, like one per cent of respondents answered).

ALSO READ: Dating deal-breakers: 1 in 2 Singaporeans says they will dump a date for being too messy

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.
marriageSurveysWeddings and engagementsDating/RelationshipsSingaporeans

Surprising Love Timelines: 17 % of Singapore Residents Say I Love You After Just Two Weeks of Dating

“How long should you wait before saying I love you?”

“How long should you wait before meeting the parents?”