Can Friends Go On A Date? (All You Need To Know About Dating A Friend)

Dating someone new can be a thrilling experience but it’s bound to feel stressful to a certain extent.

You might have been through all the ups and downs in a previous relationship that didn’t work, eo you’ll probably have to carry all that weight while you prepare to date someone new.

But when it comes to the hot topic of dating a best friend or if it’s wise for friends to go on a date, that’s a whole new ball game.

Friends can go on a date if both sides are genuinely interested in getting to know each other romantically. It can be quite a relief when you already know so much about each other when you don’t need to go through those first awkward moments but this doesn’t mean there isn’t any challenges.

There have been many successful cases where dating a friend has led to marriage but there has also been cases where friendships have ended because of dating.

On the bright side, it really depends so don’t let this put you off just yet.

The benefits of dating a friend are no doubt encouraging and if you and that friend are ready to try this out, then you’re in luck.

If you’d like to explore the pros and cons of friends going on a date or dating a friend, you’ve come to the right place.

There’s also a few things to be aware of before you make that first move. Here’s everything you should know.

Pros And Cons of Dating Friends

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, let’s take a quick look at the positives and negatives of going on a date with a friend.

Pros

You Know Everything About Each

One of the most obvious factors is that you know just about everything when it comes to likes, dislikes, traits, personality, and more. This can be a huge benefit in catering to what the other person needs.

There are No Misunderstandings

Since the history between the two of you are already established, it’s easier to understand where the other one is coming from. This makes it simple to avoid arguments or silly misunderstandings. Most importantly, loyalty is already established over here.

You Already Made Memories Together

Making memories that are worthwhile with friends is great but when this is carried over in a relationship, it can further build the bond between the two of you.

You’ll also have fond moments to reminisce about the past and be excited to make new memories together in a much different way than before.

There’s No Awkward First Date

The stressful thing about going on a date with someone you hardly know is actually discovering undesirable traits that put you off.

You also have to go through those really awkward moments of trying to figure each other out but when you’re with a friend and have been out together in the past, there’s no room for awkwardness mostly due to the fact that you have spent time together before.

However, this depends on the type of friends you are. Some may feel really awkward about the situation while others who are really comfortable with each will just laugh it off and go with the flow.

Either way,  you guys will get be able to overcome it quite quickly.

Cons

It Could Put Your Friendship At Risk

It’s uncertain as to how your progression from friends to lovers will turn out mostly so because it is a drastic change. You might work really well as friends but this doesn’t mean you will work well as partners.

Even in friendships, we may tend to hold back sometimes from really being who we truly are and when you form that deep relationship with a partner, you might not turn out to like a few certain traits or behaviors of your friend when you’re actually in a relationship with them

You Know Too Much About Each Other

Knowing too much about someone can be a bad thing and this can lead to jealousy or possessiveness sometimes.

You may also jump to conclusions and assume your friends’ reactions are a certain way because of that person’s reactions in the past when it could be totally the opposite.

If you divulged information and secrets to this friend in the past or this person was the one you turned to when things went wrong, you’ll find it difficult to seek them in case you feel guilty or might end up stressing them out.

You Could Lose Your Friend Group If You Break Up

If you and this friend are part of a group that is close with others, this may prove to be a challenge later on if your relationship does not work and you can never be friends again.

Not only does this make it difficult for your mutual friends to pick sides, but you’ll also find it hard to hang out with all of them together again if you have to see this friend who you have now dated.

Reasons Why You Should Date A Friend

Now that we have a general idea as to why it might be fun to go on a date with a friend or not, let’s take a deeper look at a few reasons why you should give it a chance if you’re still on the fence:

1. There’s Immense Trust And Loyalty

Building trust and loyalty with someone new is incredibly difficult and a lot of times, it’s never really there.

But when you have the opportunity to go on a date with a friend who is and has been completely loyal in the past, it’s honestly freeing.

If you choose to have a relationship with this person, there’ll never be any doubt as to whether this person will cheat on you or betray you in some way.

See also: Should Friends Be Honest With Each Other?

2. They’re Always Been There For You

A person who’s never let you down in the past without a valid reason is someone you need to cherish and hold on to.

If this friend is someone you can count on, it’s highly likely they will continue doing the same when you’re in a relationship and vise versa.

See also:  How To Tell If Someone Is Your Friend: 10 Signs Of A True Friend

3. They’ve Seen You At Your Worst And Highest

When someone knows your strengths and weaknesses, it’s easier for them to understand you better and support you in the way that they know will help you.

You won’t have to feel worried or scared that they might not like you if they see you at your lowest simply because this friend has already been through everything with you. There are not many surprises to be had.

4. You’re Probably Well Acquainted With They’re Family

Meeting the parents and family of your boyfriend or girlfriend can be a nerve-wracking experience and you can never be too sure who will approve of you or not.

In this case, since the two of you have already been well acquainted with one another’s family members, this may cut down on the awkwardness of meeting the parents however, I’m sure there will be nevousness when announcing that you’ve upgraded from friends to partners!

Crucial Things To Be Aware of If You Date A Friend

There’s no certainty as to how the date with your friend will go or if a relationship is what the two of you need but here are two main things you need to consider carefully if you plan to go on a date with a friend:

It Might Not Be As You Expected

One of the major concerns boils down to compatibility issues. You guys might not work well as partners whereas being friends is more suited for you.

There’s no certainty you or your friend can give each what you really require in a relationship and it may in fact be better off as friends.

However, to truly discover if this is true or not, a bold and brave step will have to be taken to find out if the two of you are compatible as friends or partners and that is by going through the stages of dating.

Losing Your Best Friend

This one can be a hard pill to swallow but it is possible for the two of you to stop being friends if your relationship turns out to be rocky and unfilling.

There are times when friends can go back to being friends but a lot of times it’s difficult to transition back.

You’ll really have to weigh the pros and cons when deciding to date your friend or whether it’s worth the risk of losing your best friend.

It’s hard to say if your friend likes you romantically as much as you do or not, and this can affect the outcome of your relationship whether it lasts or not.

Tips For When Going On A Date With A Friend

Here are a few useful tips you can use if you plan to move forward with this decision.

It could just be a platonic date or a serious one, however, but you might be surprised how well you guys clicked:

• Go to someplace fun or casual or a simple dinner date to test the waters and then try a romantic date if things seem to be going well
• Be honest with each other so there’s no misunderstanding about whether you’re just dating each other for the sake of it or are serious about dating
• Be committed. Moving from friends to being in a relationship is a huge change and you guys may need to figure things out to accommodate each other in your lives.