30 Relationship Milestones That Bring You Even Closer As A Couple

The beauty of being coupled up is having someone with whom to share special moments and experiences. You go through the ups and downs of life together. Not only that, but you’re there for one another through thick and thin. Every obstacle that you overcome with your partner brings you two closer together. There is an infinite list of relationship milestones out there. However, here are some that will really make your connection stronger.

  1. The first time they meet your parents Some people want to introduce their significant other to their parents immediately. Some wait until the day they get married. Whenever that time comes, it’s a big step. Though you may say that you don’t care about your parents’ approval, deep down, you know you do. No wonder this is one of the biggest and most important relationship milestones.
  2. The first time they meet your sibling(s) Siblings can be your partner’s best friend or worst enemy. Depending on the closeness between you and your brothers/sisters, their opinion can either make or break the relationship. If your partner treats you well, they should be okay.
  3. The first time they meet your friends Right alongside siblings, getting in with the friends is also no easy task. You want to make sure that your friends like them, sure. But, you’re also hoping that your partner likes them. The last thing you want is having to decide between them. That can never work.
  4. The first big family gathering they attend Once they’ve made it past meeting the immediate family, then there’s the extended family. Once you bring them around to the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, then it’s all out in the open. Your relationship is official and they’re part of the gang. That’s special!
  5. The first really big fight Every couple gets into fights — they’re inevitable and completely normal. After the honeymoon phase is when the real work begins. Getting past the first really big fight is quite an accomplishment. It’s easy to call it quits when times get rough. However, moving past your issues is how you grow as a couple.
  6. The first time they see you without makeup on There’s a certain threshold that you eventually cross when you’re together a while. That threshold is the level of comfort you have with one another. Once you let them see you without makeup, you know they’re with you for more than appearances.
  7. The first time one of you farts in front of the other Yes, it’s a bit of an embarrassing topic, but sometimes you accidentally let one rip. We’re only human, and sometimes, those bodily functions are untamable. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that it’s a pretty big milestone.
  8. The first time you get sick and they’re there to take care of you One of the vows you make when you get married is being with that person in sickness and in health. However, you don’t have to be married for this to be the case.. You know that he really cares about you if he’s there to bring you soup and trashy magazines when you’re ill.
  9. The first time you spend the night together “Spending the night” is a fluid term. But, it’s not necessarily about hooking up. Spending the first full night together for the first time is a big deal. Sleeping in the same bed with someone is an intimate act, so don’t take it lightly.
  10. The first time you travel together Traveling with people can be tricky. It’s unpredictable and get pretty stressful if the person you’re traveling with isn’t great at it. The first time you travel with your partner is a huge test. It can also be a strong indicator of your tolerance for one another.
  11. When you move in together These days, not all couples are moving in together as a precursor to marriage. Some couples move in together without even thinking about long-term plans. Whatever your situation, living together takes your relationship to a whole new level. You’re exposed in all ways and so is the other person. This is when you really get to know each other, for better or worse.
  12. The first time one of you says “I love you” This isn’t a phrase that you should throw around to just anyone. There’s so much more meaning behind it. And you don’t know how much meaning the person on the receiving end attaches to it. Once you say those three words, you’ve said it all.
  13. The first wedding you attend together Going to a wedding together can plant a lot of seeds in your mind and in theirs. It makes you think about your future with your significant other. Plus, it can change the way that both of you view the relationship.
  14. The first time you experience a death together Just by being together, you’re celebrating life. That’s because you’re sharing your life with someone else. However, there’s nothing more difficult than grieving death. Experiencing a death together puts you at your most vulnerable. It’s something that can also bring you closer together as a couple.
  15. The day you get engaged Getting engaged is almost like the icing on the (figurative) cake. When your partner proposes, they’re choosing you to be with you forever. And when you say yes, you’re making that same decision. That’s major.
  16. The day you get married The day that you’ve been counting down to has finally arrived. And this day changes your life forever. Getting married is almost like a rebirth of a couple because it’s a whole new journey that is only just beginning.
  17. The day you have kids Having children together and becoming a parent is a commitment even larger than just getting married because you are devoting your lives to a whole other human life and choosing to raise this human life together. You are both putting that child’s life ahead of yours and it’s one of the biggest milestones achieved between any couple.
  18. The first Green-Eyed Monster moment No one wants to feel jealous in their relationship. Still, it’s probably going to happen sooner or later to one of you. It can actually be a good sign because it shows you care about your partner and don’t want to lose them. If you feel nothing about him sharing texts with his ex or they don’t bat an eyelid when you mention you’re working late with your colleague for the second night in a row, then that’s a bad sign. Not feeling any jealousy means you don’t care much, which is a worst thing to confront than the jealousy itself.
  19. The first time they introduce you as their girlfriend The first time your partner introduces you to someone other than their family (who obviously knows you’re their girlfriend) is filled with anxiety. Will they call you by name or specify the girlfriend title? The latter is a crucial milestone because it shows they’re serious about you and want to shout it out to the world.
  20. The first comfortable silence We’re sometimes afraid of silence, as though it’s a sign we have nothing to say to our partners. But. you can’t talk all the time. Being able to sit and be comfortable without talking, like if you’re reading or watching a movie, shows you can let your guard down. You can just be together without the desperate need to fill every silence.
  21. The first time you act like best friends You can’t be in romance mode forever. When you’ve been dating for a while, friendship is crucial. One of the biggest relationship milestones is being able to act silly with each other. You can chat about embarrassing moments, tease each other, and share a laugh while vegging in front of the TV. Those moments are awesome and really solidify you as a couple. It proves you have way more between you than just sex.
  22. The first time you admit attraction to other people Reaching a point in your relationship where you are stable enough to admit that someone outside of your relationship is hot without it becoming a fight is worth celebrating. It means that you can be honest with each other without ringing any warning bells. You’re both mature and into each other enough to know that you can share awkward things without feeling awkward. Nice one.
  23. The first time you sleep with each other without having sex Having sex for the first time is a common relationship milestone. But, getting to sleep with your boyfriend where you actually fall asleep with each other is a whole new level of intimacy.
  24. Feeling confident to text back immediately This is one of the biggest relationship milestones. At first, you never want to seem too eager, or too available. Once you’re at the point where you’ll text him whenever you feel like it without analyzing it first, you’ve officially made it past the “casually dating” phase.
  25. Your first inside joke Not only do you get each other’s humor, you’re actually able to laugh together at things no one else gets. You have things that only the two of you share. That always brings people closer together. Just try not to alienate other people by referencing your jokes in public all the time.
  26. Your first nicknames for each other And no, “babe” doesn’t count. We’re talking the kinds of nicknames that make zero sense. The ones that relate to something weird they once said or did. The kind that no one else will never call them.
  27. The first time you can tell they cleaned up just because you were coming over That phase where they still care what you think and want to impress you is a great part of a new relationship. Enjoy it, because it’s only a matter of time before you see what their real hygiene habits are all about.
  28. The first time they show up with food without needing to ask what you want They know exactly what your regular orders are. Yep, right down to holding the carrots in your shrimp Pad Thai. And you know they’ll never eat a slice of pizza that has come within a foot of of an olive.
  29. When they to watch a certain show with you and only you If they like the idea of having little traditions like following a TV show together, they probably think you have serious relationship potential. If you start watching a show and then break up halfway through the season, all future episodes will be tainted by the memory of your failed love. And no one wants that.
  30. The first time you plan something more than a few days in advance You’re past the phase of taking it date by date. You’re pretty sure you’ll still be seeing each other a few weeks or a few months from now. That’s when you really start looking forward to the future and what it could hold.
Lindsey is a Digital Advertising Professional and Freelance Writer based in New York City. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee. Follow her on Twitter @lindseyruns
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