The most difficult years of marriage are those following the wedding.

The remark punctures the romantic assumption that marriage becomes easier once the ceremony is over. It suggests that the real work of partnership begins immediately afterward, when two people must translate vows and ideals into daily habits: negotiating finances, household labor, intimacy, family boundaries, and conflicting expectations. By calling the post-wedding period “the most difficult years,” the quote reframes early marital strain as normal rather than as evidence of failure. Its significance lies in its realism: it encourages preparation, patience, and deliberate communication, implying that marital stability is built through sustained effort rather than secured by the wedding itself.