( CNN ) -- Obviously , we 're kidding with the headline , but President Barack Obama spent the bulk of his wedding anniversary apart from the first lady this year â€ ” and his motorcade nearly ruined another couple 's big day , too . Speaking at a campaign rally on Friday for Massachusetts gubernatorial hopeful Martha Coakley , Michelle Obama said she may not get to see her husband on their anniversary because they 're both traveling . `` It just happens to be our 22nd anniversary today , '' Michelle Obama told the audience . `` This is how important these elections are to us , because I might not even see him today because I 'm on the road and he 's on the road . '' It 's not the first time their anniversary fell on a less-than-perfect date . Two years ago , they had their 20th on the same day Obama was roundly criticized for his performance in the first presidential debate with GOP nominee Mitt Romney . Last year , the couple 's special date came amid the government shutdown and as the Obamacare website was making headlines for its massive glitches . The President , who was speaking Friday at a steel factory in Indiana , was congratulated by an audience member after his speech . `` Thank you , '' Obama said . `` Twenty-two years she 's been putting up with me . '' Obama , who flies back to Washington on Friday night , went on to spell out some advice he recently gave to a young newlywed couple . `` I said , 'It takes about 10 years to train a man properly , so you got to be patient with him because he will screw up a bunch , but eventually we learn , it just takes a little longer . We are not as smart ' . So , Michelle has been very patient with me , '' he said . Speaking of patience , a groom in Chicago on Thursday waited anxiously at the altar as his bride was stuck in traffic caused by the President 's motorcade . The bride-to-be , Debra-Ann Robinson , was stuck on Lake Shore Drive for half an hour , Robinson told Fox 32 . Her groom waited at Cook County 's Marriage Court , worried they would miss their slotted wedding time . Meanwhile , Robinson stood outside her car with other halted commuters , at least one of whom tweeted a photo of the stranded bride in traffic . The couple eventually got married Thursday , and their dramatic wedding story was featured on the local news that night . . CNN 's Ashley Killough , Chloe Sommers and Eric Weisbrod contributed to this report .
This marks the first couple 's 22nd anniversary . President Obama 's motorcade delays a wedding in Chicago . Obama and his wife are still together and may not get to celebrate .