We all love that moment in a relationship when you take things to the next commitment level, and it a lot of cases, that means getting exclusive. Exclusive dating can have different meanings depending on who you ask, but the go-to exclusive dating definition is when both partners are solely committed to each other and are no longer seeing other people.
Exclusive Dating Versus Boyfriend/Girlfriend Relationships
To a lot of people, exclusive dating means just dating each other and no one else. This can come with varying levels of commitment based on many personal factors. For many, the labels "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" go hand in hand with exclusive dating, while others view this as a totally different commitment level.
The distinction can come down to how much of yourself you plan to dedicate to the other person. For those that view boyfriend/girlfriend labels as separate from exclusive dating, they may see boyfriend/girlfriend as meaning you need to dedicate all of yourself to each other, prioritizing each other over friendships and other commitments. On the other hand, exclusively dating would simply mean the person is no longer interested in dating multiple people.
For people who see boyfriend/girlfriend and exclusive dating as the same thing, they may see exclusive dating as exactly the same commitment level that goes along with the labels boyfriend and girlfriend.
If you're thinking you want to move your relationship to a more exclusive status, you can start by asking your dating partner how they feel about exclusivity. This doesn't have to be a serious conversation. You can just feel them out by chatting about your dating past and how you both feel about whether or not you see other people.
Identify What Exclusive Dating Means to You
To determine how you define exclusive dating, think about what this term has meant to you in the past and what you would like to define it as going forward. Once you have determined what it means to you, you will have an easier time sharing it with your partner. Keep in mind your friends, family members, and past partners may all have differing ideas of what exclusive dating means. This can become confusing, so it is best to figure it out for yourself. After all, you are the one at this point in the relationship.
The trouble with the term exclusive dating is it leaves a lot of room for interpretation. What may be exclusive dating to you may mean something completely different to your partner. It is important to communicate openly with your partner so you both can decide how to define your relationship, how you want to introduce each other, and what the next level of commitment would look like going forward.
Clarify Your Partner's Interpretation of Dating Exclusively
Once you have figured out what exclusive dating means to you, think about how you came to this conclusion. It may be based on your past experience, your culture, your age, your upbringing, and your social group. Before chatting with your partner about what it means to them, share what it means to you and why you feel that way. You may want to ask your partner a few questions to help get a sense of how they see things:
- What does exclusive dating mean to you?
- How would you like to introduce each other?
- Are you comfortable using the labels boyfriend and girlfriend?
- What's the difference between dating and exclusive dating to you?
Related: Ways to Move Your Relationship From Just Dating to Exclusive
Enjoying This Relationship Stage
Getting to this relationship stage is exciting, no matter what exclusive dating means to you. You and your partner have determined you want to see each other and no one else. Be sure to specify how you want to define this term as a couple so you can stay on the same page, and then enjoy your new level of commitment.
