You know one another's history and still like one another. In dating it can be intimidating to let the person you are dating see your flaws. Sometimes we have a history that we have either overcome, or that we are not exactly proud of, or just one that is interesting, and this can put a stress on a relationship because you are not ever sure of the right time or place to let them know that about your history. It can be something like how large your family is, where you grew up, etc. or it might be more serious stuff like you got pregnant in high school, or used to be a drug addict. When you date a friend, chances are they already know that stuff about you, and they still like you, so you do not have to feel awkward or like you are hiding something. Already knowing what formed them to be who they are today can really help a relationship out.

There is none of the awkward getting to know you stages. If you date someone you are friends with already, you already know them. So, you can have real, deep, and more meaningful conversations early on in the relationship instead of the ones that get you the basics like where they grew up, what foods they like, and who their favorite sports team is. This can help you get to the stuff that matters faster, and thus determine if the relationship has a real chance or not before you get too attached to it.

Another huge pro of dating your friend is that you are likely to have the same friends. All too often when people meet and start dating one or the other, or in some cases both, kind of give up their friends in order to spend time with one another. It is very difficult to get both groups together to do something as chances are they differ from each other significantly. So, you choose your significant other over your friends for a while. Most friends are very understanding of this. It is a natural part of dating, but if you date your friends it eliminates this and can mean fewer hurt feelings, and better relationships in the long run.

Cons:

The cons of dating your friends coincide nicely with the pros. The first con is that if you date a friend, you have the same interests which means you do not get to enjoy the aspect of dating that introduces you to new things, some of which you may hate, but some of which you may like. If you never try something it can be hard to know if you like it. Dating people outside our usual circles helps you experience more.

The next con is that knowing one another's history you do not have the chance to start fresh, and there may always be a little bias. For example, if your friend saw how you treated a past relationship they may always fear you will do that to them as well, and never trust that you have changed, or want something different for this relationship.

Next, because you skip the awkward getting to know you stages the relationship may move too quickly and not really have a chance to develop how it should. Sometimes it is better to be forced to take things slowly simply because you do not know one another well enough.

Lastly, sharing the same friends is absolutely wonderful when you are dating, but if you were to break up it can make things very awkward. For example, if it is not an amicable breakup you may force your friends to choose between the two of you or it would be awkward to spend time with the both of you.

There are of course other pros and other cons to dating your friends, many of which are going to be specific to your own case, such as you already know your friends or family approve of your choice of partner, or that you bring out the worst in each other, etc. However, whether or not dating friends is a good idea or not is up to you. For some it is perfect, and for others it is rather disastrous, but no matter what way it is, you will need to learn how to go from being friends to being more.

How do two people make the transition from friends to dating?

First of all, in order to smoothly make the transition from friends to dating both people should be on the same page. While it is very possible for friends to become more over time, if one of the two wants to only be friends, and the other is pushing to be more, it can ruin both the friendship and the potential for a relationship. Until you both want the same thing, it is wise to not try and make the transition. So, talk about what it is you are looking to gain by becoming more, and make sure that you voice any concerns so that the two of you can discuss them without open minds and careful thought. For example, if one friend really likes the other, and wants a relationship but worries about losing their other friends if the relationship goes south, this is something that should not be ignored or put off, but addressed.

Another real concern for people transitioning from being friends to dating is that the two are not exactly sure how to act around on another. The rules are changing, and sometimes this results in other changes as well, often personality changes. Dating breaks many of the rules of friendship, and can be awkward if you have been friends long. For some even holding hands in public and kissing one another goodbye might seem difficult and awkward. If a relationship is going to work, these essential parts of it can't be weird or ignored. So, the best thing to do is explain the discomfort you feel, and see if you have the same concerns. You may also want to decide how best make that part of the transition. For example, you may reserve the physical side of your relationship for when others are not around until it becomes comfortable and more natural. Sometimes it just takes time.

The next thing you have to take into consideration is how long you have been friends before you started the transition to dating. The longer you have been friends, the stranger it may be to transition as you have been establishing habits and traditions for interaction with one another. Changes are never easy. So, ask yourself how much time and patience you should give the transition. For example, if you have been friends for 7 years, and you start dating and it feels awkward, do not break it off too quickly, instead give yourself time to adjust the change in interaction. However, if you have only been friends a few months and then start dating, the transition should be easier, and if you are still feeling too much awkwardness after a few weeks, it might be an indication that you should not be dating each other.

Last but not least, when you work on developing a friendship into something more, and you are working on the transition it is important to realize that for many the relationship will move too fast simply because you can skip the getting to know you stage. Just because you already know one another and do not have to spend time on that part does not mean you should jump right into the serious aspects of a relationship. If you move too quickly, you will not give your romantic relationship a chance to grow and establish roots, and chances are it will wither and die out. Take things slow, like you would any other relationship, and don't let the pressure to get somewhere else ruin the relationship for you.