I kind of raise an eyebrow at the folks saying Bridesmaids now isn't a downer because hey, there's a follow-up in an otherwise unrelated series and the MC only had to suffer the heartache anyway, and then be alone for more than a decade. I dunno, I'd consider that still pretty crappy.
I assumed the twelve years wasted included the time as just friends before the wedding because even though she understood each other's feelings she refused to act on them. Also, how could she have been married for twelve years and not pop out a couple of kids? And if I'm wrong, oh well, I like my version more.
No, I think the bride says she was married for 12 years. I mean, she says it was a loveless marriage, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have kids.
"I married a man I didn't love, for the sake of my family... and ended up turning my back on the person who mattered to me the most... I was a fool. Twelve years, wasted... until I managed to muster up the courage to do as my heart truly desired. She was there for me then, and when it all came to an end... It's always been her by my side."
It's ambiguous enough for me unless it's just due to how it was translated. The 12 years could either mean the amount of time it took her to follow her heart, including the time when they were friends before the marriage, or the marriage itself. I just have a hard time believing that she was married for 12 years and didn't pop out a kid, loveless or not. She got married for the sake of her family, you think she would have had a kid a few years later for the sake of her family as well.