On working through difficult times together: "Our relationship wasn't perfect. We had a couple years of fighting and of growing pains and hating each other, then loving each other and going to couples therapy and we worked it out. . . . We earned each other."
On why their relationship works: "I thought I had this life thing down pat when I met Dax. I didn't realize that I needed a much bigger toolbox to have confrontations and disagreements with people."
On all the work they've put into their relationship: "One thing I like to reiterate is that we've done a lot of work on our relationship. We're very focused on staying together. We've made a choice to love each other but realize relationships are a lot of work. I think it's responsible to be honest about that. We earned our relationship, which we're very proud of."
On how Shepard helped her with her temper: "I used to have a temper. I loved slamming doors — I wanted a dramatic exit! But he, having worked through a variety of emotional issues to get sober, said, 'This isn't going to work. This isn't how I'm going to communicate for the rest of my life.' When someone doesn't fight back and goes, 'I don't want to do this,' that threat is real. It makes you reevaluate your behavior. The way Dax and I argue now — and we argue a lot; we disagree on almost everything! — is so healthy."
On the greatest gift Shepard gave her: "Dax helped me learn that I don't have it all figured out. Sometimes that's the greatest gift someone can give you."
On Shepard's difficult past: "He's a wonderful father. He knows the value of things. He was an addict for many, many years and he pulled himself out of it, and he's been sober for 11, 12 years now. He knows how many times he's messed up and how many times he's been really close to losing everything."
On their low-key nuptials: "We got married in a tiny room in the Beverly Hills courthouse and it is still one of the best days of my life."