logo
Two Real Brides on the Challenges of Planning a Wedding with Migraines: 'It's Added Another Layer of Stress'

Two Real Brides on the Challenges of Planning a Wedding with Migraines: 'It's Added Another Layer of Stress'

Yahoo23-05-2025
Wedding planning can be stressful. Between finding the perfect dress, choosing a venue, and wrangling guest lists, even the most laid-back bride can feel overwhelmed. But for brides living with chronic illnesses like migraines or autoimmune disorders, that pressure multiplies. What's supposed to be the happiest time of their lives often becomes a constant battle between what their bodies can withstand and the demands of the day.
Anna Konstantopoulos, a graduate student getting married in 2025, knows this struggle intimately. Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) at 15—a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and, in her case, causes chronic migraines—she's spent the past decade learning to manage symptoms that don't always follow the rules.
'People confuse [migraines] with headaches and think, 'Oh, it's just a bit of throbbing in your head,'' Konstantopoulos says. 'But for me, they always occur on the left side of my head and feel like a stake has just been driven through my left eye. I cannot stand any light or any sound. I just have to lie in a dark room.'
Mikaela Agnolin, a Miami-based real estate agent and another bride-to-be, knows that pain well — she's been 'dealing with migraines for about five years.'
For her, it feels like 'a dull ache behind my eyes that builds into a throbbing pain on one side of my head. Sometimes it feels like a screwdriver is being drilled into the sides of my head.'
Living with an invisible illness like migraines often means being hyper-aware of one's body. Konstantopoulos, for instance, keeps a Google Sheet full of her triggers, which help her try to manage the unpredictability of when a migraine might occur.
But even the most careful preparation can't guarantee relief. Migraines can come on suddenly, and even the mildest ones leave both women unable to function. 'Even the weakest ones I've had, I still can't do anything,' Konstantopoulos says.
Her most severe episode lasted nearly two months and left her bedridden. 'I had to drop out of school and was homebound. I could barely function,' she says.
Agnolin had a similar experience. She remembers having to leave her job after her illness started impacting her professional life. 'I've had a few major instances at big work presentations in front of crowds that led to me having to stop in the middle of the presentation, which for me felt very embarrassing to explain,' she shares.
Despite the inherent challenges of their conditions, both Konstantopoulos and Agnolin are determined to enjoy their wedding days. But living with chronic illness means making accommodations and adjusting every decision to reduce the risk of a flare-up. That includes choosing a venue with soft lighting, scheduling moments to rest throughout the day, and briefing the bridal party on what to do if a migraine strikes.
It also means taking steps weeks before the wedding to prevent a flare-up. 'I need to be extra cautious about the food I put in my body, eat, avoid strenuous exercise, and keep extra hydrated,' Agnolin says.
Konstantopoulos echoes this, adding that she's going to be focused on prevention and being very clean with her diet leading up to the wedding. And if she does have a migraine on her big day, she'll try her true-and-tried methods like eating sour gummy worms (she swears it works!) or wearing an ice pack. If it gets too bad, she'll go to the ER and get a migraine cocktail.
Ultimately, though, when it comes to migraines, there's only so much you can do. 'They're generally one of those things you don't have any control over,' Konstantopoulos says. 'It's not something that's just mind over matter.'
That's why being open about migraines is important. Agnolin says she often feels guilty when her illness forces her to cancel plans or miss out on key moments. 'There's a lot of guilt and shame because you feel unreliable when you have to cancel, and I wish more people understood the invisible toll migraines take on your life and relationships,' she says.
"I have to think ahead about lighting at the venue, how much downtime I'll need before the wedding, and how to manage overstimulation during the event," Agnolin adds. "I've also had to say no to some pre-wedding events to protect my energy. It's added another layer of stress."
Just like any bride, there's a lot that goes into one of the happiest days of your life — and having the support of friends and family through unpredictable moments is key to a memorable day, no matter what happens.
Read the original article on People
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Love addiction and social media stalking could be frying your brain, study finds
Love addiction and social media stalking could be frying your brain, study finds

New York Post

time16 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Love addiction and social media stalking could be frying your brain, study finds

Love's got people literally losing their minds. Folks who obsess over their romantic partners — also known as 'love addiction' — were more likely to report brain fog, memory problems and trouble focusing, a new study conducted by a group of Italian researchers found. Even the mildly lovesick felt scrambled, especially when social media was involved. Advertisement 3 Can't stop stalking your partner on Instagram? Experts say it's wrecking your focus and driving up your anxiety. 'It can certainly be psychologically, emotionally and neurologically draining,' said Dr. Marisa Cohen, a New York-based marriage and family therapist. 'They may start to experience withdrawal symptoms when removed from that person or relationship.' The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Behavioural Brain Research, surveyed 600 Italian adults between July 2022 and May 2023, more than 70% of whom were women, using validated, self-reported questionnaires on anxiety, depression, resilience, memory ability, attention and social media use. Advertisement Most participants were between 26 and 35 years old, and over two-thirds held a university degree. The researchers found a clear pattern: the more someone clung to their crush, the worse their attention span became. Higher love addiction scores were linked to increased anxiety, depression and mental fatigue. Heavy Instagram and TikTok use worsened symptoms. 3 Even people in happy relationships said they felt mentally 'off' when love took over their thoughts and screen time. highwaystarz – Advertisement 'People have much easier access to this window into their [partner's] life,' Cohen said. Scroll-happy users fueled jealousy by constantly stalking their partners online, sparking obsessive thoughts and wrecking their focus at work. Many said they felt mentally and emotionally 'off,' even while still in relationships. Dr. Sheri Meyers, Los Angeles-based relationship expert and therapist, calls it emotional sex — a psychological 'affair of the heart' that messes with your mind. 'You begin to channel the bulk of your emotions, hopes and desires onto the other person,' Meyers said. '[It] feels like romantic love but can lead us to act in ways that are contrary to our ideals, values and relationship goals and better judgment.' Advertisement 3 Being lovesick might actually fry your brain, according to a new study linking romance obsession to memory loss and brain fog. – The emotional rollercoaster, from longing to jealousy to withdrawal, can throw off the brain's reward system and lead to mood swings, obsessive thinking and mental burnout, she added. Dr. Ryan Rahm-Knigge, a Minnesota psychologist who researches compulsive sexual behavior, said while 'love addiction' isn't an official diagnosis, the study's findings echo clinical issues he sees in therapy. 'My experience is that these issues are more than heartbreak or desire,' he said. 'We see people suffering with feelings like their love pursuits or sexual behaviors or urges are out of control or in control of them.'

NJ Rallies Investment Power, Leveraging Capital from Garden State Venture Partners to Drive MedTech and Maternal Health Innovation
NJ Rallies Investment Power, Leveraging Capital from Garden State Venture Partners to Drive MedTech and Maternal Health Innovation

Business Wire

time19 hours ago

  • Business Wire

NJ Rallies Investment Power, Leveraging Capital from Garden State Venture Partners to Drive MedTech and Maternal Health Innovation

GLASSBORO, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two transformative healthcare announcements this week mark a new era for New Jersey's innovation economy—with Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) emerging as a key catalyst behind both. These initiatives represent over $100 million in coordinated investment, a model of public-private partnership, and a strategic bet on New Jersey as the next national hub for health tech and equity-focused innovation. Share 1. MedTech Strategic Innovation Centers Backed by GSVP & NJEDA On July 21, NJEDA and Rowan University unveiled a major initiative to launch a Strategic Innovation Center, with locations in Camden and Mullica Hill, supporting early-stage medical technology companies with critical lab space, mentorship, and commercialization resources. GSVP, a New Jersey-based venture firm committed to fueling statewide innovation, is helping to make this possible through venture capital funding for early-stage medtech companies. Read release 2. A First-of-Its-Kind Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton Just one day later, Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy broke ground on a Trenton-based center dedicated to maternal and infant health equity. The MedTech Strategic Innovation Center will also have a presence at the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, which will focus on medical technologies that address racial disparities in care. Once again, GSVP will play a central role in helping bridge the gap between public health needs and private-sector innovation by accelerating promising, equity-driven health tech ventures. Read release Together, these initiatives represent over $100 million in coordinated investment, a model of public-private partnership, and a strategic bet on New Jersey as the next national hub for health tech and equity-focused innovation. GSVP's leadership and capital are essential to making that vision real. About Garden State Venture Partners Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) is a next-gen venture capital firm built to attract and retain companies and talent within the state of New Jersey. GSVP is uniquely positioned to deepen existing partnerships and forge new ones across the state—catalyzing innovation and driving sustained economic success by connecting and investing in the state's innovation ecosystem. Learn more about GSVP at and access full leadership team bios here.

Zoo Miami mourns loss of 17-year-old lion Jabari
Zoo Miami mourns loss of 17-year-old lion Jabari

CBS News

time19 hours ago

  • CBS News

Zoo Miami mourns loss of 17-year-old lion Jabari

Zoo Miami is grieving the loss of one of its lions that had to be euthanized Friday after worsening health conditions, according to zoo officials. Jabari, a 17-year-old male lion, was known for leading a pride and fathering cubs. For several years, Jabari suffered from chronic arthritis, primarily in his upper spine, which restricted his mobility and comfort, officials said. Despite extensive treatments to manage pain and maintain his quality of life, the lion's condition deteriorated recently, leaving euthanasia as the only humane option. Officials said that at nearly 18, Jabari surpassed the typical lifespan of a male lion in the wild, which rarely exceeds 12 years. Jabari arrived at Zoo Miami in November 2008 from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin, alongside his brother, Kwame.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store