Taking the next step from dating into a relationship isn’t always easy, especially if you’re feeling all shy or awkward about it.

But sometimes, you may be completely sure that you’re in love even though you may not know how to share the news.

If you’re wondering how to tell someone that you’re in love with them, don’t hold that thought.

Falling in love is special, and revealing how intensely you like someone is just as special.

You may feel shy, awkward, or just confused at first. But you’re not alone.

Telling someone you like that you love them isn’t an easy step to take.

After all, expressing your love for someone is also a commitment that you’d have to pledge.

If you’re certain that what you have in mind is true love, here are a few cute and yet special ways to tell a special someone that you’re in love with them.

How to tell someone that you love them

There are many ways to pour out the thoughts in your heart, but as with everything else, there are a few good ways and a few not-so-good ways.

When you’re ready for more love in your life, use these three different ways to get the message across.

THE DIRECT APPROACH

Can you tell someone that you like them face to face? There really is no better way to propose your love for someone than this. For the timid lovers, fret not, we’ve got a few sweet ways to create a special memory here.

# When you’re sitting next to each other

When you’re sitting next to this person during a date and it’s just the both of you, sit close and prepare yourself for a confession. Go close to them and whisper it in their ears. It doesn’t matter if you’re shy or feel awkward about it, it’ll seem cute and very romantic. You can just say it, kiss their cheek softly while you’re at it and flash your cutest smile.

# Build the tension

Call your date up a day earlier and tell them that you want to say something important and feel really shy to talk about. Even if your date asks you to talk about it over the phone, just hold the thought and make plans for the next day.

When you’re sitting together after a warm date the next day, blush and smile a lot, and when your date does ask you to say what you have in mind, just smile a lot more and  tell your date that you’re feeling really awkward about it. Wait for your date to start pestering you, which they eventually will.

Within a few minutes, all your nervousness will turn into excitement and both of you would be laughing and teasing each other. And somewhere along the way, your confession will slip out even before you know it!

# After a separation

Has your sweetheart gone away for a weekend or a little vacation? Do you miss them? Use it as the perfect opportunity to get the message across. When you meet again after a while, tell your date that you missed them a lot. And somewhere in the conversation, hold their hand and tell them that you think you’re falling in love with that person, more with every day…

You could also use this move after a special date that you plan beforehand. The romantic date would have created the perfect setting to reveal your true feelings for the one you love.

THROUGH A LETTER

If you just can’t work your courage up to express your love for the special someone in a conversation, here are a few other ways to express your love in a manner that’s just as special.

# Write a letter

You don’t need to be a writer to express your feelings for someone. Think of a few lines and start writing. Very soon, the words will follow. You could these tips on how to write a romantic love letter to help you write the perfect one. And end the note with a heartfelt “I love you…”

# Give a greeting card

If you can’t use your voice, use a Hallmark. Pick a perfect card that expresses your feelings and the next time both of you meet on a date, find a quiet moment to give the card or slip it into your date’s bag. Sometimes, a beautiful card can make quite a deep impression.

# Send a gift

Too scared to even be seen around your date when you express your feelings? Sending a beautiful gift may be the best way forward for you. Pick a romantic gift for your date, be it a box of chocolates, flowers, or anything else that you know your date would love. And within the gift, add a small note which says “I love you”.

OVER THE PHONE

Expressing your love for someone is always best done face to face. But if you want to use a phone to get the message across, so be it.

# Text a love message

Texting is pretty impersonal. So don’t text your date when you’re far away from each other unless you have no choice. If you can brave up for this, write a sweet romantic text before a date, and when you’re sitting next to this special someone after the date, text your message to them. And once they do read it, there’s a pretty good chance your date would be beaming or blushing!

# On a late night call

Do both of you spend late nights talking to each other over the phone for long hours? Then you’d know that there would be occasional bursts of romance, love and mush every now and then in phone conversations. It may start off with an “I miss you” or an “I’m so happy to have met you”, but work your courage to say “I love you” too. You may be nervous, but once you get the words out, you’d feel a lot better about it.

Any other way is just not right

Always try to keep every expression of love personal and memorable. There may be many other ways to proclaim your love. But other than a few exceptions, most non-face-to-face proclamations are just not perfect.

Using the internet, passing the message through a friend, using a newspaper ad, or any other impersonal ways just don’t sound right unless you mix it with a personal effect. Use voice mail, and your date may end up thinking it’s a prank!

After the confession

Now that you’ve proclaimed your love for your date, don’t be too eager for an answer or force your date into answering something. Sometimes, proclamations of love can take some time to sink in.

If your date responds with an “I love you too”, that’s good for you. But if your date just smiles or appears awkward, don’t think too much about it. It may break your heart but it’s not the end of the story. Perhaps, your date just needs more time to think about it.

Don’t create an awkward moment at that point, talk about something else and take the awkwardness out of the conversation. If the relationship has enough love to take the next step forward, you’ll hear a positive reply in a few days.

No matter how bold or shy you are when it comes to love, use these simple and yet cute tips on how to tell someone you love them, and chances are, it’ll create a memorable moment that may lead to something better soon.

via ynaija