- We are right in the middle of cuffing season — the period between autumn and winter where finding a partner is more appealing.
- Dating and relationship expert Sami Wunder told Insider the human desire for love and companionship is accentuated in winter.
- But there are a few warning signs to look out for that could mean your love interest is just looking for some warmth before they dump you again in the spring.
- "Someone who says things like 'I just want someone to snuggle up to in the cold, or someone to bring to a family dinner,'" Wunder said. "If someone is mentioning it's for the holiday season or for the winter that's a big red flag."
- Someone looking for a winter boyfriend or girlfriend might want to escalate things to mimic true intimacy, but it's important to pace yourself so you don't get hurt.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
You can tell winter has arrived when the evening starts at 4 p.m. It's also clear from the amount of messages you receive from love interests telling you how much they want to drink mulled wine and curl up with you by the fire.
Singletons are now seeking somewhere cosy to stay rather than be tossed outside in the cold after a one night stand, which can only mean one thing — it's cuffing season.
Cuffing season is the period during the autumn and winter months where finding a boyfriend or girlfriend is suddenly a lot more appealing. It officially starts in September when the temperature turns, but it's around now people are putting in a last-ditch effort to be paired up for the colder months if they haven't found a partner yet.
Dating and relationship expert Sami Wunder believes in the existence of cuffing season, because the human desire for love and companionship is accentuated in winter.
"I don't think it's a strategic thing," she told Insider. "Especially with the holiday season, it can intensify those feelings of wanting to be with someone when it feels like we're surrounded by happy couples."
Celebrities are not immune to cuffing season. Andrew Garfield and Rita Ora got together last November but split up the following February.
"They were a bit of an unlikely couple, so it wasn't a huge surprise that after enjoying the winter months together, they went their separate ways," Wunder said.
'I just want someone to snuggle up to in the cold'
There's always a chance a relationship that begins in cuffing season will last, she said, so don't close your heart off to someone completely. But there are some red flags to be aware of that the person you've just started talking to might just want some temporary warmth, before they dump you again when spring comes around.
"I think some red flags to look for are someone who says things like 'I just want someone to snuggle up to in the cold, or someone to bring to a family dinner,'" Wunder said. "If someone is mentioning it's for the holiday season or for the winter that's a big red flag."
She also warned not to get exclusive too quickly. Someone looking for a winter boyfriend or girlfriend might want to escalate things to mimic true intimacy, but it's important to pace yourself so you don't get hurt.
"Singles will get hurt if they get into something too intense too quickly," Wunder said. "Make sure you really want to introduce him or her to your family before you do, feel the freedom to not introduce the person you're dating to your parents. If you meet someone in November you don't have to invite them to the Christmas dinner table."
Wunder tells all her clients to date "rotationally," which means going out with several different people until one commits.
"Dating" does not mean the same as "sleeping with," as Wunder recommends not having sex until they have proven themselves as someone who is right for you. By keeping this up, someone is less likely to fall into a cuffing season trap.
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