Many years ago, there was a wildly popular novel/movie called, "Love Story." The catchphrase for the movie was, "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
As insipid as this sounds, I think it has some validity. If you love someone and if that person knows you love them, then there should never be any occasion where you have to apologize.
For example, wife is preparing a fancy dinner, but you are kept late at work in a meeting and it is burned or cold by the time you get home. If your wife knows that you love her, then she knows that you were aware of the special dinner, and would have got home on time if it were possible, or at least called to tell her, if it were possible. But there are times when neither opportunity presents itself.
Of course you will say, "I'm sorry," but the apology will be accepted instantly because she knows that there is nothing you could have done about the delay. At least in theory.