How to Survive the Birthday of Someone You Just Started Dating
If You've Been Dating Three Months or Fewer, Not Exclusively
Same rules apply as above in terms of party behavior: if you go to a celebration, be prepared to buy drinks and go home together. A card is necessary, a token is nice but not mandatory. Buy breakfast the next morning, make sure he or she isn't too hungover, mingle with friends, etc.
If you're invited to a more intimate celebration, such as dinner at a restaurant with friends, don't feel obligated to attend. Of course, it's lovely if you do—but if you don't feel you're quite yet at the Birthday Dinner With Friends level yet, you can offer instead to take him or her out for a birthday drink on your own (possibly at a later date).
If you don't participate in a group celebration, some sort of acknowledgement about the birthday is still necessary. Next time you see the person, have a card, or offer to foot the dinner or drink bill in honor of their birthday.
If You've Been Dating Six Months Or Fewer, Exclusively
So you're a couple, albeit a relatively new one. Ask early on how they want to celebrate, and plan accordingly. (Maybe they want their birthday ignored all together—but you've got to ask.)
You'll definitely be expected to participate in any and all existing birthday plans. Dinner with friends? You're going, and, if you want to earn huge brownie points, you'll take care of the whole "splitting the bill among eight people" ordeal. Party? You'll arrive with the Guest of Honor and stay as long as he or she does. The next morning? You're doing the coffee and bagel run.
In addition: Some sort of celebration or token of your own is required here. You don't have to spend a lot of money, and it certainly doesn't have to be anything elaborate. But a book, a cd, a trip to a favorite restaurant, an inside joke from an early date—some kind of little gift to let the person know you're psyched about dating them, excited about their birthday, and ready to take on this "Significant Other" role.
If It's Your Birthday
As psyched as you are about being in a relationship on your birthday, don't put too much pressure on your newly minted significant other to make the day special. Remember, it's their first time going through the birthday gauntlet with you, so this one is mostly about setting the tone. Go ahead and make plans with your friends as if you were single, and just invite your "Significant Other" along. It's far less pressure on your relationship.
*--Written by Chiara Atik for HowAboutWe.com
*Got your own strategy for celebrating birthdays with the significant other? Share them with us below!
More from HowAboutWe:
The Smooth Second Date Move That Works Every Time
5 Things That Are Unfair to Casually Drop On a Fifth Date
17 Ways You Know You've Found the One
More Ways to Get Glamour:
NEW! Now You Can Read Glamour on Flipboard!
Visit ShopGlamour.com for cute stuff starting at just $10!
Download Glamour Magazine for your iPad--print subscribers, it's now part of your subscription plan!
Enter the latest Glamour sweepstakes!
Photo: Thinkstock
