Most people agree that good friends make great girlfriends and boyfriends. You've even seen the wedding invitations that read "Today I Marry my Best Friend." Dating someone who has been a friend decreases the awkwardness of getting to know one another.

you already like and trust your friend and have a shared past, a context in which to create a new relationship. In dating a friend you aren't starting over but adding a new dimension to a relationship that you already value.

That said, trying to start a dating relationship with a friend can be like skating on thin ice. What if she considers you more like a brother than a lover? What is he doesn't want to risk losing your friendship and refuses you? Is it all worth it?

The last is a question that only you can answer. If you decide that you are ready to swallow your fears and ask your friend for a date, keep the following suggestions in mind:

Be Clear

"I'd, uh, kinda maybe like to take you out sometime."

My great friend John and I were having another one of our late-night conversation marathons when, in a moment of silence, he had nervously blurted out those words. He stared at me, waiting for a response.
Be Prepared

Be prepared for your friend's reaction. Anticipate questions. Anticipate him or her asking you for time to consider. You may even want to offer it by saying something like, "I know this is a change/big step/something you may not have ever thought about. Feel free to take a few days to consider it." This will allow your friend to truly consider the effects dating may have on your relationship. It will prevent him/her from making a rash decision or sharing a gut reaction. It is also courtesy to your friend to whom the thought of dating may have never even occurred.