“What Wedding?”: Husband Bewildered At Wife For Seemingly Forgetting They Got Married

Some people say that love lasts three years. Heck, there’s even a book written about it! But research shows that it’s not that simple. Marital satisfaction decline depends on how happy the couple was at the beginning of the marriage. Stress levels, communication, aggression, and personality traits also play a big role.

Interestingly, this couple faced a different kind of challenge after four years of marriage. Suddenly, the wife started claiming that the couple wasn’t married. She asked her husband to call her his “girlfriend,” refused to wear her wedding ring, and generally acted like the wedding hadn’t happened. Frustrated and confused about why she was acting this way, the husband asked for advice online.

A husband became worried about his wife after she kept insisting that they had never married

Husband bewildered talking to wife on bed, confused expression about wedding and marriage conversation.

Image credits: shotprime / envato (not the actual photo)

Because the marriage seemed fine otherwise, he couldn’t understand where this was coming from

Husband bewildered at wife denying their marriage, confused by her wanting to be called his girlfriend instead.

Text excerpt discussing a husband bewildered at wife appearing to forget their wedding despite shared memories.

Husband bewildered at wife for seemingly forgetting they got married, questioning their wedding and marriage shift.

Husband bewildered as wife stops wearing wedding ring, seemingly forgetting they got married after two months.

Husband bewildered as wife acts like they are not married, causing awkward moments with friends about their relationship status

Husband looks bewildered as wife seemingly forgets they got married, showing confusion and emotional reaction.

Woman in a mustard sweater sitting on a blue couch, covering her face, reflecting confusion about wedding and marriage.

Image credits: AmnajKhetsamtip / envato (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a husband bewildered at wife for seemingly forgetting they got married, seeking advice on marriage.

Image credits: throwra_lovehelp

Personality changes are natural over time, but sudden, strange behaviors signal something more alarming

This story seems quite peculiar: how would you explain the wife’s behavior? Did she forget she got married because of dissociation or a more serious mental health problem? Is it an identity crisis brought on by the pressure of the “wife” label?

People change throughout life; that’s just how it is. The person you married four years ago might be different from the person you are living with today. Research confirms that personality traits in spouses change over time. A 2018 study, for example, found that husbands become less agreeable and extraverted but more thorough. Wives, in contrast, come to be less open, agreeable, and neurotic.

Still, marriage does increase happiness for many people. A 2012 study showed that marriage satisfaction remains high for many couples during the first year. However, after that, it settles into the baseline, similar to what it was before.

But sudden personality changes, like many commenters pointed out, can mean a serious health emergency. In some cases, peculiar behavior might be triggered by PTSD or depression, undiagnosed conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, medication or other substances, concussions, heart attacks, strokes, brain tumors, Lyme disease, or Parkinson’s disease.

But is there really an unexpected personality change in this case? According to the husband, the wife still acts as she always did, things in the bedroom department are peachy, and the couple is even considering children. However, we only have the story from one side, and the husband never posted an update or even made any comments. Was there really something wrong with the wife? We may never know.

Many relationships follow a similar evolution

Image credits: Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Just like people change, relationships evolve as well. Research has shown that many relationships follow a similar progression as both spouses evolve, change, and grow closer together or further apart.

Here are the five relationship stages:

• The honeymoon phase. This is the infatuation period, which starts soon after meeting each other. The couple falls in love and may be blind to or choose to ignore the things that irritate them about their partner more often.
• Getting together. This is when the couple starts living under one roof or eventually gets married. Small changes in the behavior of both partners might start popping up, like differences in doing chores and daily habits. Still, both partners are willing to overlook annoyances because it’s still the early days.
• Disillusionment and the struggle for power. This phase is more challenging to navigate. It might become apparent that values and life goals are different, like one partner wanting kids and the other changing their mind. Some couples break up during this stage; however, others even grow stronger after they conquer the hurdles.
• Commitment. When and if the couples get through the third stage, their relationship is made forever stronger. Partners start accepting differences in their spouses and adapt to each other’s personalities accordingly.
• Collaboration. When the relationship is stronger than ever, the couple creates something new together. A house, raising a puppy, getting pregnant – these are the goals many strong couples navigate toward when they feel like they can take on the world together.

Changes in a relationship are natural, but couples need to take them on together. When the couple changes together, a relationship can evolve. If one partner changes without the other (decides they no longer want to have children, be married, live somewhere the other doesn’t, identifies as another gender, etc.), the couple may need time and effort to make it through.

“Sounds like a mental breakdown,” many commenters said, suggesting that the wife was denying reality

Text post reading No kids until you find out what the hell is going on, showing husband bewildered at wife seemingly forgetting they got married.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing concern about a mental breakdown and recommending seeing a doctor or therapist.

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Husband bewildered as wife seems to forget they got married, sparking confusion about their wedding status.

Comment suggesting to ask why wife still calls herself girlfriend, relating to husband bewildered at wife forgetting marriage.

Comment expressing concern about wife’s behavior, suggesting she may be forgetting marriage and needs professional help.

Husband bewildered as wife seemingly forgets their wedding and denies they are married, causing confusion and concern.

Comment explaining husband's bewilderment at wife seemingly forgetting their wedding, highlighting mental health concerns.

Alt text: Husband confused and bewildered at wife who seems to forget their wedding and marriage details.

Reddit user shares personal story about marriage struggles and dementia affecting wife’s behavior and memory.

Comment expressing concern about a husband bewildered as his wife seems to forget they got married.

Husband bewildered at wife seemingly forgetting they got married, showing confusion and concern in a personal relationship.

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Comment stating a husband is bewildered at his wife for seemingly forgetting they got married, mentioning a psychotic break.

Comment expressing concern about scheduling a brain scan for tumors or lesions despite potential trolling in an online discussion.

Husband bewildered as wife seems to forget they got married, showing confusion and concern in the conversation.

Commenter discusses husband bewildered at wife seemingly forgetting their wedding and suggests mental health help.

Comment expressing confusion and concern over a wife seemingly forgetting they got married, confusing the husband.

Comment advising caution about having children with a spouse who seems to forget their marriage, highlighting mental health concerns.

Comment on forum post showing concern for wife's mental health and husband bewildered in a marriage situation.

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Comment on Reddit questioning wife's memory, husband bewildered at wife seemingly forgetting they got married.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment describing a mental breakdown after pretending major wedding events didn't happen, showing husband bewildered.

Screenshot of a forum post sharing a husband’s story about a wife seemingly forgetting they got married.

Screenshot of an online comment expressing concern about a wife possibly feeling trapped in marriage, confusing the husband.

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