If you are in an unhealthy marriage that has been dysfunctional for years, it may be hard to accept the reality that your marriage and/or your spouse is not going to change. You've invested time and energy into this relationship and don't want to give up now. Maybe you keep thinking that once life settles down, or you get that new job, or the kids are more independent, then things will get better.
After three years of dating, my husband and I got married six months ago. Our wedding was amazing. We rented a chateau in the south of France, it was black tie, and we danced all night. We're incredibly grateful to my parents, who saved up for years, and to all our guests who flew in from the U.S. and took time off of work. We asked for no gifts, but some people gave us money anyway.