Bride's $700K Wedding Ruined by Botox Mishap

Marcella Santos says Botox injections left her 'unable to smile' on her big day.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:10pm

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Marcella Santos, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom from Austin, Texas, said her $700,000 wedding was 'ruined' after Botox injections left her 'unable to smile' and looking 'like a character out of Wallace and Gromit.' Santos had the Botox procedure just four weeks before her wedding to help relieve jaw pain, but the injections caused her jaw to become extremely tight, preventing her from smiling naturally on her wedding day. Despite having a 'blast' at the wedding, Santos was devastated when she saw the photos and felt her 'botched' smile made her look 'bored and something out of Wallace and Gromit.'

Why it matters

This story highlights the potential risks and unintended consequences of cosmetic procedures, especially when done close to a major life event like a wedding. It serves as a cautionary tale for brides-to-be to be wary of any medical treatments that could impact their appearance on their wedding day, and the importance of allowing sufficient time for procedures to fully take effect.

The details

Santos paid $500 for the Botox injections, which involved 30 units being injected into both sides of her jaw. Just two weeks later, she noticed her jaw was 'incredibly tight' and it was 'harder to smile.' Despite practicing daily to 'perfect' her smile, Santos became 'anxious and panicked' as her wedding day approached, feeling like a 'marionette puppet' unable to smile naturally. While the wedding day itself 'went well,' Santos was devastated when she saw the photos, which she felt made her look 'bored and something out of Wallace and Gromit.'

  • In February 2025, Santos received the Botox injections, just four weeks before her wedding.
  • Two weeks after the injections, Santos noticed her jaw was extremely tight and she was having trouble smiling.
  • Santos married on March 8, 2025 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
  • Santos received the wedding photos around eight weeks after the wedding.
  • Almost a year later, in 2026, Santos re-took some of her wedding photos.

The players

Marcella Santos

A 34-year-old stay-at-home mom from Austin, Texas who had a $700,000 wedding that she felt was 'ruined' by Botox injections that left her unable to smile naturally.

Cooper Ribb

Santos' 33-year-old husband, who is a chief technology officer.

Henry

Santos and Ribb's 2-year-old son.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like I was marionette puppet with strings holding me from smiling.”

— Marcella Santos (nypost.com)

“I looked uninterested and bored even though I had a great time.”

— Marcella Santos (nypost.com)

What’s next

Santos plans to continue taking a break from injectables and wants to warn other brides-to-be to be cautious about getting cosmetic procedures too close to their wedding day.

The takeaway

This story underscores the importance of doing thorough research, seeking informed consent, and allowing ample time for any medical treatments to fully take effect before a major life event like a wedding. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks and unintended consequences of cosmetic procedures.