A bride says her $700,000 wedding was ‘ruined’ after Botox left her “unable to smile” on the biggest day of her life.
Marcella Santos spent $500 on the injections in February 2025 after her dentist suggested the treatment could help with cracked teeth and persistent mouth pain.
Within two weeks of the procedure, the 34-year-old realised something felt off when she noticed her “jaw was extremely tight”.
“I felt like I was marionette puppet with strings holding me from smiling,” the 34-year-old said.
“I was in a complete panic and every day I would look in the mirror to try different smiles but nothing looked convincing.
“I’m a bubbly and goofy person and I felt like I was giving Mona Lisa and it just wasn’t me.”
With her wedding approaching quickly, Marcella travelled to Riviera Maya, Mexico, where she married her now-husband, Cooper, in March.
After factoring in venue expenses, accommodation, and the extra fees that come with hosting a destination celebration, the couple’s wedding cost reportedly reached $700,000.
Marcella, a mother from Austin, Texas, said she still enjoyed the day but struggled with how she felt in the spotlight.
The mother, from Austin, Texas, added: “I loved my wedding day – and I really enjoyed it.
“But I didn’t feel confident and as the bride where everyone is looking at you, I wanted the opposite!
“I was in my own head thinking I wasn’t attractive and looked botched.”
She said the experience affected her mood throughout the day, leaving her frustrated that one cosmetic treatment seemed to overshadow such a major moment.
She added: “It really put a damper on my emotions and I was angry after having spent all that money for the day to be ruined by a jab. All I kept thinking was ‘am I smiling enough, do I look happy?'”
Although she says the wedding itself was wonderful, she was upset when the professional photos arrived around eight weeks later.
She said that seeing the images back made her feel anxious, as she believed her expression didn’t reflect how happy she really was.
The mother continued: “Looking back, there was just a massive pit in my stomach and I looked like something out of Wallace and Gromit.
“I looked uninterested and bored even though I had a great time.”
About a year after the ceremony, Marcella put her dress on again and arranged for some wedding photos to be retaken.
She also shared her story to encourage others to be cautious and fully informed before having cosmetic procedures.
“I don’t want to say I’ll never take injectables again, even though I am now on a break from them,” she added.
“But I want to warn other people to make sure you seek informed consent and you know what you are doing to yourself.
“You may not always be warned about the effects but please ask questions.”