Your Friends & Your Date: First Meeting

This is the first blog in a series about various issues dealing with your friends and the people you date.

When you're excited about a new person, you often can't wait for them to meet your friends. The best time for this to happen is very early in the dating relationship. Some people prefer to have first dates be double or group dates to help mitigate nervousness and any potential for trouble. Just be sure to let your date know beforehand if other people will be there.

The second through fourth dates, however, are not a good time to introduce friends. These dates are critical in determining chemistry and interest between the two of you. After this level of comfortability has been established, it's good to let your friends get an impression of your new interest as well.

Don't wait too long for the introductions! Your friends may also be able to see things in your date that could be problematic- especially if you're quite smitten with the person. Hearing their opinions and concerns could save you from a lot of heartache later.

Meeting your date's friends is also a bit of a turning point within the datig relationship. It signifies that the person thinks enough of you that he/she isn't afraid to have you meet the people closest to him/her. In addition, it may publically establish you as dating (but not necessarily in a relationship). It is also a "tell tale" sign the other way: if you've been dating for a while and haven't met his/her friends, your date is either not serious about you or may be hiding something (like a spouse he/she forgot to mention!)