How to know when to take dating apps from texts to face-to-face meetings
So, you’ve been chatting with your latest internet dating or dating app match, the flirting is on point, they’ve got rizz, and you’re falling for it.
You’ve been swapping messages for a while now, maybe even building your own inside jokes, cute nicknames and discovering a shared mutual love for the same obscure band. Things are flowing right? But there’s always that lingering question in the back of your mind: When is the right time to take this offline?
Dating expert April Davis, founder and president of LUMA Luxury Matchmaking, knows this dilemma well. According to her, timing is everything in the talking stage. But when exactly is the right time to transition into something more?
Should you suggest grabbing a coffee (or a cheeky cocktail) and see how things feel face-to-face? Or do you wait a little longer, riding the wave of anticipation, the hope of something more, until the time feels just right?
And there’s that other little thought creeping in. What if they’re perfect online, but in person? Well, what if it’s just not the same?
What if the chemistry doesn’t translate beyond the screen? What if the spark fizzles the moment you sit down across from each other, and the flow of conversation isn’t as effortless as it seemed in those late-night snap marathons?
You might find yourself putting off a face-to-face meeting as long as you can while pondering these anxiety-inducing questions, savouring the ease of the texting stage, until it starts to feel like it might be too late to move forward. So how do you time it so it’s not too soon, and not too late?
When to move from talking to dating
If you’re living in the same city, the answer is easy: don’t wait more than one to three weeks to meet in person. You can only learn so much through messages. Meeting in person allows you to find out if that chemistry is the real deal or contained to your chat apps.
That endless cycle of messaging without actually meeting? Yeah, it’s a trap. And the longer you stay in it, the harder it is to get out.
You might think you’re building something solid, but the longer you wait, the more you build expectations, and those can get shattered pretty quickly if the in-person vibe doesn’t match up.
Signs it’s time to move to the next level
If you don’t live in the same city, it can be more complicated, but the sweet spot is right when you notice they’re as invested as you are – when they’re making the effort, asking the questions, and hinting at wanting something more.
If your chats are getting deeper, and you’re both starting to talk about more than just your favourite Netflix shows, like, real life stuff (goals, values, future plans), that’s a pretty good sign it’s time to meet up. When you’re talking about what you both want out of life, it’s usually a sign you’re both ready to explore something more serious – that’s your green light!
Don’t get stuck in the messaging loop
To avoid getting trapped in the endless chat cycle, April suggests setting a loose timeline. If after two weeks there’s no talk of meeting up, it might be time to make the first move. Don’t overthink it. Suggest something casual – a coffee, a drink, or even just a walk. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, but meeting face-to-face will give you a much better sense of whether there’s actually something there.
Look, the talking stage is fun – it’s all cute emojis and flirty banter – but you can’t live there forever. If things are clicking and the effort’s mutual, don’t let it fizzle out in the DMs. Get that date locked in within one to three weeks. Because let’s be real: if the vibes are right, why waste time? Chemistry happens in person, not over endless texts. So, stop overthinking, and just make the move – you’ve got nothing to lose.
LUMA Luxury Matchmaking is a high-end matchmaking service that caters to professionals, executives, and millionaires who are serious about finding a long-term partner. The firm’s experienced matchmakers, many of whom are also life coaches, use their expertise to carefully match clients based on their personality and lifestyle, aiming to create meaningful and lasting relationships.
