DH and I were friends for many years before we ever dated. About 3 years before we dated, on his birthday, I gave him a birthday kiss on the lips. (No tongue or anything, purely a friendly kiss). But at that moment, I felt the sparks, and I knew that I loved him. We were both dating other people, and it took us a few years to realize that we were supposed to be together. He says he fell in love with me that day, too.
The first time we said "I love you", we were up north at my family's cottage on a lake. There was a meteor shower that night. We sat out on the boat under a blanket, just watching the stars. I finally got enough courage to stutter out "I-I-I- llllove you". He laughed and said "You know I love you too, silly" It was like a movie, and it was perfect.
I think for both of us, falling in love was a gradual processs, but it happened fairly quickly, if that makes sense. It's not like all of a sudden I realized that I loved him and vice versa. We went away on our first mini-vacation to Quebec City only 2 months after we met. The first night of our trip was when my husband told me loved me. He said it in a way that made me laugh. I think he was really nervous to get it out. I'm glad he did though. We've been together for almost 7 years, and we still laugh when we talk about that first vacation.
I knew after two weeks of dating. I didnt tell him that I loved him then, but I did tell him we would be married someday. Now thinking back it was a little "fatal attractionish" but we are married so I was right.
The first time I told him that I loved him it was completely on accident. My sister was leaving the house just as I was getting off the phone with him. I told her that I would talk to her later and told him that I loved him. It was a little uncomfortable. I was totally embarassed. It is not that I didnt love him, but I wasnt ready to tell him that I did. He was quiet for half a second, then giggled and told me he loved me too.