Two Real Brides on the Challenges of Planning a Wedding with Migraines: 'It's Added Another Layer of Stress'
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.
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Sujata Setia, Mithail Afrige Chowdhury and Steve Gschmeissner awarded £10,000 each for images exploring domestic abuse, climate migration and the hidden dangers of cholesterol A Thousand Cuts, Sujata Setia, 2023, Urban Travel, Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, 2023, Cholesterol in the Liver, 2022, Steve Gschmeissner Click Here to download press images and captions LONDON, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellcome's 2025 Photography Prize celebrates three image makers whose work reveals the human stories behind science and health. 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Full list of Finalists - Top 25 Entries Striking solo photography Searching for Life – Sandipani Chattopadhyay (India) Urban Travel – Mithail Afrige Chowdhury (Bangladesh) Marks of Majesty: Vanessa – Julia Comita & Stephanie Francis (USA) Musa – Marijn Fidder (Uganda/Netherlands) The Light Will Come – Dora Grivopoulou (Greece) Cricket is My Emotion – Ziaul Huque (Bangladesh) Pie-by-Sam – Reatile Moalusi (South Africa) Beautiful Disaster – Alexandru Radu Popescu (Romania) Resilience Artist – Pyaephyo Thetpaing (Myanmar) Stereo EEG Self-Portrait – Muir Vidler (UK) Transparent Curtains – Oded Wagenstein (Israel) Self, Five Years On – Georgie Wileman (UK) A storytelling series The Loss Mother's Stone – Nancy Borowick (US Virgin Islands) A Dream to Cure Water – Ciril Jazbec (UK) Nemo's Garden – Giacomo d'Orlando (Italy) A Thousand Cuts – Sujata Setia (UK) I Spend 150 Hours Alone Each Week – Madeleine Waller (Australia/UK) The marvels of scientific and medical imaging From Butterflies to Humans – Amaia Alcalde Anton (UK) Ice and Fire Chronics: The Chagas Disease Invader – Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda & Vânia da Silva Vieira (Brazil) Cholesterol in the Liver – Steve Gschmeissner (UK) Blooming Barrier – Lucy Holland (UK) Submarine Fever – Jander Matos & Joaquim Nascimento (Brazil) Organoids – Oliver Meckes & Nicole Ottawa, Eye of Science (Germany) I've Got You, Under My Skin: Microplastics in Mammalian Tissue – P. Stephen Patrick & Olumide Ogunlade (UK) Brixton Road, Lambeth – Marina Vitaglione (France/UK) Exhibition Details Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition is curated by Laurie Britton Newell and Ligaya SalazarAt the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT17 July – 18 October 2025Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm (Wednesdays until 8pm)Admission free About Wellcome Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. Follow the prize:Instagram: @wellcomephotoprize Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 | Wellcome About the Francis Crick Institute We are delighted that the Crick are hosting this year's Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition. The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute with the mission of understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work helps improve our understanding of why disease develops which promotes discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King's College London. The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
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As a child who grew up in a home where violence was a daily occurrence, I carry that trauma like another limb. This recognition validates not just my story, but the invisible, intangible, yet deeply scarring legacy of gender-based abuse. Domestic abuse is one of the most widespread global crimes; and yet remains among the least publicly acknowledged health crises. I hope this moment becomes a catalyst for deeper dialogue and scholarship around the interrelation between domestic abuse and health. That is our collective hope.' Mithail Afrige Chowdhury was awarded the Striking Solo Photography prize for Urban Travel , a deceptively gentle image of a mother and daughter on a rooftop picnic in Dhaka. With few parks left in the city due to rapid urbanisation, this staged moment, a simple attempt to give a child a taste of nature, becomes an act of resilience. Nearly half of Dhaka's population today are climate migrants, displaced by increasingly extreme weather, and Chowdhury's work highlights the everyday consequences of these shifts: the loss of green space, of childhood rituals, of breath. The photograph is tender, composed, and yet filled with tension, a portrait of care and adaptation under invisible pressures. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury says, ' When I got the news, the first thing I did was charge my camera—not to take a photo, but to restart something I thought I'd lost. I won't dwell on personal or professional hardships, but this moment means more than I can say. I made this image two years ago, as part of a major project on climate change, urban sustainability, and public health. Then life intervened, and fear slowly pulled me away from the work I loved. But now, I can wake up with an objective. Because someone has my back. And that makes all the difference. Awards can feel technical but this recognition from Wellcome feels deeply human.' The winner of The Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging was announced as Steve Gschmeissner, whose electron microscopy image Cholesterol in the Liver reveals cholesterol crystals (shown in blue) forming inside lipid-laden liver cells (purple). These microscopic shifts, invisible to the naked eye, can have deadly consequences: when cholesterol hardens from liquid to crystal, it damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease and strokes. Gschmeissner's colourised SEM image transforms this biological process into something visually striking, part data, part artwork. With a career spanning over four decades, and more than 10,000 images published in scientific journals, stamp collections, fashion collaborations, and music albums, his work exemplifies how imaging can bridge science and culture. Steve Gschmeissner says, ' When I discovered that Wellcome had reintroduced the Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging category, I was delighted to enter such a prestigious competition. I was thrilled to be shortlisted, and winning first prize is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my 50-year career of trying to bring the wonders of the microscopic world to all.' This year's prize drew submissions from over 100 countries. The Top 25 entries featured over 30 individuals from 18 countries, spanning Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Myanmar, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, the UK, USA and beyond. The winners were selected by an international judging panel comprising leading voices from photography, science, health and journalism. 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Using techniques such as portraiture, cyanotypes, drone photography, and light and electron microscopy, the image makers show how health is lived, documented and researched around the world. Many of the works respond to Wellcome's core focus areas, mental health, climate and health, infectious disease and discovery research. Together, they reveal how these issues overlap and take shape in different cultural and geographic contexts. The result is a layered and often unexpected portrait of health today, told through voices and perspectives that are frequently overlooked. Among this year's highlights are Marks of Majesty: Vanessa by Julia Comita and Stephanie Francis, a portrait honouring the life and choices of a person impacted by breast cancer who opted for aesthetic flat closure, challenging assumptions around gender, illness and identity. Beautiful Disaster by Alexandru Radu Popescu shows a lake of toxic mining waste in Romania that continues to expand each year, an image of both striking beauty and environmental damage. Resilience Artist by Pyaephyo Thetpaing captures a craftsman in Myanmar who creates lacquerware using his foot, offering a broader reflection on health, disability and the role of cultural tradition in healing. In the scientific imaging category, Ice and Fire Chronics by Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda and Vânia da Silva Vieira shows the structure of the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which affects millions across the Americas. Blooming Barrier by Lucy Holland presents goblet cells inside the gut of a child with Hirschsprung's disease, offering insight into how cell structures influence lifelong digestive health. From Butterflies to Humans by Amaia Alcalde Anton reveals the brain of a butterfly mid-metamorphosis, part of a study into neurogenesis with implications for human brain development. In addition to the Top 25 entries, the exhibition also features Things We Left Unseen , a youth-led photography project developed by Cape Town-based public health organisation Eh!woza. Created in collaboration with young people in the township of Khayelitsha, the project explores health, stigma, and daily life through the eyes of a generation growing up with high HIV and TB burdens, but also with hope and agency. The exhibition is hosted at the Francis Crick Institute, reflecting a shared commitment to making science more visible through culture. Ali Bailey, Director of Communications and Public Engagement at the Francis Crick Institute, said: ' We are delighted to host the top images from the Wellcome Photography Prize, showcasing the power of visual storytelling in health and science. The images explore a number of themes that resonate with Crick research, from the health effects of air pollution to neurogenesis. We hope visitors will be moved by the stories behind these incredible photos and also inspired by how beautiful science can be.' Notes to Editors: Media Contacts Sophie Balfour-LynnSutton [email protected] Mary-Kate FindonWellcome [email protected] Winners' Biographies Sujata Setia (Storytelling Series) Sujata Setia is an Indian-born, UK-based artist who's socially engaged, research-led practice combines photography with traditional artistic interventions to explore subaltern histories, cultural imperialism, and the politics of representation. With a background in journalism and a Master's in International Relations from King's College London, her work draws on academic research and community collaboration to centre marginalised voices, particularly through a feminist lens. Her acclaimed series Changing the Conversation marked a shift away from her earlier portraiture, interrogating the cultural and political construction of beauty. In 2024, she was awarded the Culture King's Grant to develop a lens-based, interdisciplinary project exploring the role of workplace structures for embroidery women artisans in Kashmir. She also recently received the Centre for British Photography Realisation Grant to further expand the scope of A Thousand Cuts , a powerful body of work amplifying the voices of survivors of gender-based abuse. Setia's work has received major international recognition, including the Sony World Photography Award (Creative category, 2024), LensCulture Critics' Choice Award (2024), Prix Pictet nomination (2023), BJP Female in Focus (2022), and Photographer of the Year at the Tokyo International Foto Awards (2021). Her photography has been exhibited widely—from Somerset House in London to Times Square in New York—and featured in leading publications including The Guardian , CNN , BBC , and Forbes . Beyond her visual practice, Setia contributes to education and advocacy through teaching ethical storytelling and photography at EFTI in Madrid, and through collaborations with organisations such as SHEWISE and WERESTART in the UK. Her work consistently seeks to reshape public narratives around identity, power, and care through interdisciplinary, justice-focused art. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury (Striking Solo Photography) Mithail Afrige Chowdhury is a documentary and street photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Raised in the city of Khulna, his photography is deeply rooted in the lives of ordinary people. 'Since then, I have always tried to understand people's lives—their pain, joy, and the complexities shaped by social, economic, political, and environmental changes.' He began photography in 2015 and chose to document what he knew best: life around him. His work has captured the Rohingya refugee crisis , the effects of climate change on Bangladesh (an ongoing project), major festivals, urban water crises, slum fires, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Mithail has won numerous international photography awards, including the Life Press Photo Award (Ukraine), Xposure International Photography Competition (UAE), Compass Photo Competition by the University of Oxford (UK), and contests in China. His work has been featured in The Guardian , The Daily Sun , The Times of India , Global Photography , and publications from the University of Oxford , ASCE , and Saturday Magazine . Steve Gschmeissner (The Marvels of Medical and Scientific Imaging) Steve Gschmeissner is a UK-based photographer and electron microscopy specialist whose career spans over four decades in scientific imaging. After earning a degree in Zoology, he spent 25 years at the Royal College of Surgeons, eventually leading the electron microscopy services, followed by 15 years leading the EM unit at Cancer Research UK. In 2002, Gschmeissner retired early to dedicate himself to freelance photography, specialising in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Over the past two decades, he has built an archive of more than 10,000 images, widely published across scientific, medical, and popular media. His work has featured in everything from textbooks and advertising to art, fashion, and music, appearing on album covers for Peter Gabriel, artworks by Damien Hirst, on US Postal Service stamps, and as visual inspiration for an Iris van Herpen's fashion collection. In 2021, he was awarded the Lennart Nilsson Award for his lifelong contribution to microscopy. His images continue to bridge the worlds of science and visual culture, offering new ways of seeing the invisible. Full list of Finalists – Top 25 Entries Striking solo photography Searching for Life – Sandipani Chattopadhyay (India) Urban Travel – Mithail Afrige Chowdhury (Bangladesh) Marks of Majesty: Vanessa – Julia Comita & Stephanie Francis (USA) Musa – Marijn Fidder (Uganda/Netherlands) The Light Will Come – Dora Grivopoulou (Greece) Cricket is My Emotion – Ziaul Huque (Bangladesh) Pie-by-Sam – Reatile Moalusi (South Africa) Beautiful Disaster – Alexandru Radu Popescu (Romania) Resilience Artist – Pyaephyo Thetpaing (Myanmar) Stereo EEG Self-Portrait – Muir Vidler (UK) Transparent Curtains – Oded Wagenstein (Israel) Self, Five Years On – Georgie Wileman (UK) A storytelling series The Loss Mother's Stone – Nancy Borowick (US Virgin Islands) A Dream to Cure Water – Ciril Jazbec (UK) Nemo's Garden – Giacomo d'Orlando (Italy) A Thousand Cuts – Sujata Setia (UK) I Spend 150 Hours Alone Each Week – Madeleine Waller (Australia/UK) The marvels of scientific and medical imaging From Butterflies to Humans – Amaia Alcalde Anton (UK) Ice and Fire Chronics: The Chagas Disease Invader – Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda & Vânia da Silva Vieira (Brazil) Cholesterol in the Liver – Steve Gschmeissner (UK) Blooming Barrier – Lucy Holland (UK) Submarine Fever – Jander Matos & Joaquim Nascimento (Brazil) Organoids – Oliver Meckes & Nicole Ottawa, Eye of Science (Germany) I've Got You, Under My Skin: Microplastics in Mammalian Tissue – P. Stephen Patrick & Olumide Ogunlade (UK) Brixton Road, Lambeth – Marina Vitaglione (France/UK) Exhibition Details Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition is curated by Laurie Britton Newell and Ligaya SalazarAt the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT17 July – 18 October 2025Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm (Wednesdays until 8pm) Admission free About Wellcome Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. Follow the prize: Instagram: @wellcomephotoprize Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 | Wellcome About the Francis Crick Institute We are delighted that the Crick are hosting this year's Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition. The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute with the mission of understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work helps improve our understanding of why disease develops which promotes discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King's College London. The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. 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