Let's Talk Relationships (Page 3)

Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor: Lillian Castro

Posted:

Relationships have incredible upsides, in fact too many to list here. But they can also be a lot of work if we’re being honest. We know the dynamics of romantic partnerships can feel somewhat like a mystery, especially if it’s your first or your first serious one in a while.

So to ease things up, our experts have agreed to provide key insights into navigating the ebbs and flows of relationships, and how they can add value and joy to our lives.

Our expert-backed content provides readers with the advice to approach relationships with intention, effort, and understanding. Whether you’re in a relationship or dating to find one, our experts want to guide you to take healthy steps toward meeting your goals.

We’ll recommend the best dating apps and sites for getting serious and discuss the steps you should take to settle down and commit. Our authors also cover the five love languages, attachment styles, codependency, and more helpful tips, so you can love better and live fuller.

1118 Results

What Our Experts Say:

61.
Navigating Casual Hookups: The History, Downsides & Tips
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

The first time casual sex was brought to my attention, I was a freshman in college and still on my religious high horse (but slowly teetering). While waiting in a doctor’s office one day, I begrudgingly picked up a magazine and came across an article where a young woman was talking about her preference for casual sex. She was in medical school and didn’t have time for a serious commitment.  I crinkled my nose...

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62.
The Dating Coach Who Helps Singles Regain Control Of Their Love Lives
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: At Kindling Dating, dating coach Eimear Draper helps fan sparks of love into bright, roaring flames. As a straight-talking coach with a positive attitude, Eimear helps singles come to terms with their greatest dating fears and insecurities. She believes that clients should lead the way to their own happiness, with the dating coach acting as a helpful guide.  Having a chauffeur drive you...

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63.
The Holistic Matchmaker Who Says Self-Reflection Can Prepare You For Love
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: When you put your heart in a matchmaker’s hands, you need to know that they’ll treat it with respect. Matchmaker Alexandra Freeman’s holistic approach to matchmaking means she’s gentle but firm with her clients’ hearts. By encouraging self-reflection and realistic expectations, she’s not only preparing her clients for love, but helping them understand themselves better.  Sometimes, it awes me...

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64.
The Emotional Ripple Effect of Weddings
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Most people know the feeling of being a wedding guest and becoming a little misty-eyed. The well of warm emotions for a bride and groom can cause even the most stoic person to feel lovey-dovey.  However, that emotional rush can also trigger a range of good and bad feelings that may prompt you to reflect on your own relationship.  I want to start with the good news: Attending weddings has been known to...

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65.
The Online Program Restoring & Strengthening Marriages
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: If you want to strengthen your marriage, Dr. Bill Harley advises you to build up the best parts of it. We talked to the psychologist, bestselling author, and marriage expert about why marriages may struggle and what you can do to restore your connection. My parents love watching movies together. They have a lot more time to watch movies now that three out of four of their kids have moved out of...

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66.
A Dating Coach’s Advice For Extraordinary Relationships Begins With Self-Awareness
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Valentina Tudose, a relationship coach based in Hong Kong, has spent 10-plus years in the coaching industry helping women discover their unique paths to what she calls “extraordinary relationships.” Having a common goal with your partner and expressing your needs are just two ways to make an extraordinary relationship a reality. The real test is whether you can engage in the necessary introspection...

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67.
9 Length of Dating Before Marriage Statistics[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Jules Chen

Jules Chen

Ever feel like everyone in your life has a different opinion on how long to date before getting married? Your mom says you can’t hurry love. Your friends insist that if your partner likes it, he needs to put a ring on it ASAP. Your partner says don’t go changing to try to please them.  You start to wonder why everyone is quoting songs at you. It’s a whole mess. Everyone can keep their opinions — I’ve done...

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68.
14 Dating Statistics By Age[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

Generational differences are never more stark than when your grandma suggests going to the “neighborhood dance hall” to meet “a nice young man.” I’ll get right on that, granny!  Baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z act like they all come from different timelines, and in some ways, it’s true. A baby boomer is far less likely to ghost someone on Tinder, and a Gen Z young adult is far more likely to split...

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69.
A Popular Polyamory Advocate Is Debunking Common Misconceptions
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Leanne Yau’s blog, PolyPhilia, started out as a fun side project, but has since transformed into a modern movement aimed at debunking commonly-held misconceptions about polyamory. PolyPhilia answers any questions you may have about polyamorous relationships, from the role sex plays to the frequency of infidelity.  Polyamory, a word once only whispered, is now in the mainstream — or closer to it,...

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70.
10 Best Christian Dating Books for 2024
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

Christians in need of advice are likely to turn to the most popular advice column in history — the Bible, of course. But there are some specific problems that the Bible just can’t answer in a straightforward way. For example: “What should I do if all my friends have gotten married, but I haven't?” Or, “How can I tell my partner that I can’t afford to buy tickets to the Eras Tour?” Or even, “How can I recover from a...

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71.
The Lifestyle Platform Made For and By the Non-Monogamous Community
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Kasidie is an online social community that simplifies connections for people interested in swinging, ENM, kink, and other non-monogamous lifestyles. Founders Scott and Nicoleta Purcell talked to us about why they founded the website, some of its features, and how it is redefining digital connections for non-monogamous daters. Every dating app has special features and mechanisms that make it...

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72.
What Is a Dating Coach? Do I Need One?
Jules Chen

Jules Chen

A dating coach is a professional who helps you identify the positive and negative habits in your dating life. They provide the encouragement and insights to break out of a rut and get results. Images of smooth-talking, smarmy types might come to mind when you think of a dating coach. In the film Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ryan Gosling’s womanizer character takes a hopeless Steve Carell through a series of...

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73.
Everything You Need to Know to Have a Successful Date Night
Ashayla Blakely

Ashayla Blakely

Date nights are the glue that keeps a relationship going. A date night is an intentional, planned occasion where couples set aside time to focus on each other and nurture their relationship. A lot of people love the cupcake stage of relationships because that's when couples invest more energy and dedicate time to going on dates — but what if I told you that the cupcake stage doesn't have to be a stage at...

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74.
14 Dating Statistics by Race in the U.S.[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

Cultural differences, societal changes, COVID-19, and political divides have made dating more complex than ever before. Diversity has always been this country’s strength, but people from different ethnic backgrounds encounter adversity — even in the dating world. Whether on dating apps or in the real world, people of color can experience unique challenges. These statistics don’t only put our differences on...

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75.
The Jewish Matchmaker Who Transforms Your Love Life Into A Romantic Comedy
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Matchmaker Jessica Fass gives her clients a movie star makeover in order to raise their confidence, renew their faith in love, and match them up with the person of their dreams. The founder of Jewish matchmaking service Fass Pass to Love, Jessica specializes in transforming secular and conservative Jewish singles alike into the heroes of their own personal rom-coms. True love never feels more...

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76.
New Research Says Long-Distance Relationships Can Work 
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

I get asked this question all the time: Can a long-distance relationship (LDR) actually work? I usually respond with another question: What do you mean by “work?” There are many kinds of relationships that satisfy a menu of needs, from emotional and sexual to financial and social.  A long-distance relationship can certainly meet some, if not all, of these needs. However, if your definition of a...

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77.
One of the Nation’s Top Couples Counselors Believes Some Couples Should Accept Divorce
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Dr. D Ivan Young helps couples come to terms with their good and bad relationship habits. For couples to gain insight from counseling, they need to tackle their own personal baggage, establish emotional intelligence, and accept the possibility of failure. Dr. D’s goal isn’t to save your relationship, but to save each individual in the relationship.  There’s no such thing as a relationship...

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78.
9 Senior Dating Stats That Show It’s Tough Out There
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

Senior dating can be a complex topic to breach, but that doesn’t mean it has to feel like a Darren Aronofsky film. There’s a happy medium where realistic expectations come to reside, and we aim to find that meeting place in this article.  Through these nine statistics, our goal is to paint a picture of the unique complexities experienced by seniors in the dating world—ones that can deter those in their golden...

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79.
Why Christian Singles Should Focus On Personal And Spiritual Growth Before Marriage
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Jill Monaco, Christian dating coach and founder of Single Matters ministries, is passionate about helping Christian singles find love by working on a spiritual and emotional level. By focusing on one’s personal health, spiritual growth, and self-improvement journey, Jill guides her clients through the faith-based dating process.  For those driven by religious values, finding like-minded...

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80.
Digital Deception: Survey Reveals Levels of Honesty Among Online Daters Across America
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Online dating has revolutionized how people meet and connect, offering a convenient platform to find potential partners from the comfort of one's home. However, the anonymity and distance afforded by these digital interactions can sometimes lead people to present themselves in ways that do not entirely reflect reality.  It is not uncommon for users to misrepresent their age, profession, or physical appearance...

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81.
Clarity, Commitment, & Honesty: Everything You Need to Know About Dating for Marriage
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Your dating journey will look different depending on what you’re seeking. Therapist and author Marcia Naomi Berger addresses marriage-minded dating, from the initial stages of dating to marriage preparation and the highs and lows of long-term partnerships. Dating changes depending on the expectations you bring into it. Looking for a casual fling? Dating is going to look and feel a lot different...

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82.
The Most Romantically Compatible States in the U.S.
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Finding your forever person is no easy feat, and knowing when and where that will happen can feel like a game of chance. But what if we could take out all the guesswork and point you in the right direction? At DatingAdvice, we embarked on a quest to uncover the secrets of romantic compatibility across the U.S. We surveyed residents in each state, asking them to rate various traits they look for in a partner....

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83.
Understanding Relationship Status: What It Means & Why It Matters
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

What is a relationship status? It's simply where you're at in terms of romance. When asked if you’re single or seeing someone, your response defines the relationship status. There are multiple answers you can give, and it may not be crystal clear what to say (sometimes it really is complicated). A relationship status sets the tone for you and your partner. Imagine you’re at a social function and someone refers to...

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84.
What Is Exclusive Dating? Definition, Benefits & Challenges
Lexi Inks

Lexi Inks

In the past, marriage was the ultimate form of commitment. Nowadays, romantic relationships look a bit different. While plenty of modern connections still follow the “relationship escalator,” aka the standard progression from dating to engagement to marriage, the dating phase often lasts longer and has sub-phases. If you’re in the dating pool, it’s likely you’ve encountered the phrase “exclusive...

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85.
Breaking Down What a Significant Other (S.O.) Is
Ashayla Blakely

Ashayla Blakely

“Will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend? Check box yes or no.” In school days, little notes may have been the easiest way to make things official with someone you liked. But once you’re grown, you’ve got to learn to have an actual conversation to DTR: define the relationship. All the 90s babies like me remember a time before texting and relationship statuses made dating so complicated. In the olden days, you didn’t...

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86.
Signs That a Man Is Ready for a Relationship – Advice From Dating Coach Kelsey Wonderlin
Emma Patterson

Emma Patterson

The Short Version: Dating coach Kelsey Wonderlin helps women identify when a potential partner isn’t ready for a long-term relationship. Outright asking “Are you emotionally available?” doesn’t guarantee an authentic response, which is why Kelsey gives women tips, tricks, and tools to help reveal just how ready a man is for a serious relationship.  It’s a story dating coach Kelsey Wonderlin has heard time and...

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87.
How to Rekindle the Spark (5 Tips)
Hunt Ethridge

Hunt Ethridge

Falling in love is great! You get butterflies in your stomach when you think of that special someone, you write sappy poetry, and you moon over them to your friends. Your body is releasing dopamine, serotonin, some cortisol (the stress hormone), and your pulse races! Eventually, around a year in, those infatuation hormones start to wear off and the fireworks of love turn into something with a slower, steadier...

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88.
A Guide to Planning a Romantic Getaway
Ashayla Blakely

Ashayla Blakely

After going on several baecations with my boo, I realized that traveling is a love language of mine. There’s just something about going to a new place and spending one-on-one time with your partner. Whether we’re cruising to Montego Bay in Jamaica or road-tripping to Canada for New Years, romantic getaways have rejuvenated my relationship in more ways than one.  And I’m sure I’m not the only one.  A...

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89.
This Relationship App Helps Couples Rediscover the Spark — and Deepen Their Bonds
Jordan Sprogis

Jordan Sprogis

The Short Version: When your relationship started, it was probably like your favorite rom-com: filled with spontaneous adventures, conversations that lasted for hours, and undeniable chemistry that electrified every movement. But as time passes, that initial spark gets dimmer — not that it’s fading entirely, but more that it settles into a grounded reality. It’s almost too easy to let romance take a back seat as you...

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90.
Every State’s Favorite Taylor Swift Lover
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

All’s well that ends well to end up with you — but of course, life doesn’t always go as planned — even for pop princess Taylor Swift. Taylor may be known for her 11 studio albums that have shaped the music industry as we know it, but no icon gets to where they are without a few bumps in the road.  Every great artist has a muse, and lucky for us, Taylor has several ex-boyfriends who have inspired...

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Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor-in-Chief

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted by the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, and AskMen, among others.

See Amber's full bio »

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