Congratulations to you! You’ve met someone and are no longer interested in pursuing other relationships. You’ve joined the millions of happy couples who’ve found love through online dating. Now if you want to keep it way, there are a few housekeeping items to check off of your list and some of them may be a teensy weensy bit painful.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to take down your online dating profile and/or cancel your account. Your significant other will appreciate this vote of confidence in your newfound relationship. However, it may take some work to tie up loose ends. If you’re ready to remove your online dating profile, you are likely serious enough about the other person that you’re no longer interested in dating others. So for any dating contacts you’ve been messaging back and forth with, it’s best to reach out to them and let them know that you’ve found someone and are taking your profile down.
This is probably easier for some than for others and it may mean having to cancel dates you’ve already scheduled in advance before you decided to become exclusive in your new relationship. But the last thing you want to do is to stand someone up or just disappear without letting your dating prospects know about your new relationship. We all know how it feels to be rejected, so it’s best to avoid causing anyone else anguish or confusion. And while you’re at it, wish them well in their dating search. This shows your respect for them and that you want the best for them too.
If you receive any unkind replies as you’re tying up loose ends, just ignore them and remind yourself that you’ve found someone and done your best to show everyone else in the running the respect and consideration you would expect if you were in their shoes.
If you’re inclined to keep a first date because you find it too difficult to cancel, it’s best to let your new significant other know about it. If the date is coming up in a day or two, this can be a tough call and hopefully your significant other understands. However, if your decision to keep the date is out of curiosity of that date’s potential and not because you are certain you’ve already met someone whose worth your exclusivity, you might not be ready to be exclusive after all and will want to honestly ask yourself about your motivations. Above all, you want to be honest with everyone. So if you do decide to keep the date, don’t allow it to end by giving that person a false sense of hope. Gently let them know, that it was nice meeting them, but that you are in the process of removing your profile from your dating site because you’ve just started a new relationship.
Once you remove your profile from the dating site (if you haven’t outright canceled your account). You’ll want to create a reminder on your calendar to cancel the account before it auto renews. If things are going well in your new relationship, there’s no reason to pay for a service you no longer need. And if your new relationship doesn’t work out after all, it’s very easy to sign up again and renew your profile. So no worries about starting over again if you find yourself single.
The last and most important step left is to let your significant other know that you are really happy with the relationship and no longer looking for dates. This might be obvious, but it’s good to communicate for the health of the relationship. And if you’re both ready to make it public, let your friends know, and celebrate by changing your relationship status on your social media accounts!
MAY
About the Author:
Kate is Brad's other half and after 10 years working in public relations and photography, she is pleased to be fully employed as a stay-at-home mom and blogger for Dating Advice Guy during her spare time.