it doesnt really matter when you say it, it matters if you mean it or not....but then again different people have different views on what it means, so people should try to understand what eachother want out of the relationship in the early stages of dating. if i said it to my partner and he didnt say anything back hahha.....i'd hit his head with a book until he did say something back, lol but i know he loves me anyway so that's not really a problem..but i like to hear it....any girl in a serious relationship would. if somebody said i love you to me, like not my bf, but someone said it out of nowhere, i'd be like ok then......cia bye. maybe they liked me and they felt the need to tell me...but i wouldnt take it seriously, i'm not going to change my feelings for anybody if i don't hold any feelings back.....i'm sure many wouldn't.