Exceptional love isn't flawless love. It is a wholeheartedly commitment of surrender. I open up to you and you promise to at least try your best to be gentle with my heart, and you open up to me and I try my best to hold your heart without breaking it.
Venus represents marriage in astrology because it is union and love. Marriage is a commitment of collaboration between individuals who love one another. We commit to put our egos down out of love.
Which means nothing but simply getting out of your personal perspective and allowing your consciousness to feel the other person. Only then we are able to truly understand each other and our judgements fall to the ground when we see through someone else's eyes.
Love without willingness to let go of your ego is just having another person around while you relate to yourself and yourself only.
Exceptional love is taking the other in as a part of yourself.