Editor Unveiled: The Day I Lost My Hearing Before My Wedding

The Calm Before the Chaos

Three days before my wedding, I learned two things: one, never trust a Q-tip, and two, nothing says “bridal glow” like a round of steroids chased with sugar-free Red Bull.

What should have been a standard countdown to the big day — final fittings, manicures, maybe a last-minute seating chart adjustment — turned into something out of a medical drama. One casual swipe of a Q-tip and something suddenly felt strange. In a panic, I found some old ear ache drops and put them in my ear certain that I had avoided a mishap. Then it happened...the world went muffled, as if I were wearing noise-cancelling headphones in just one ear.

Single white cotton swab with studio lighting

Walgreens: The Bridal Boutique No One Talks About

I tried not to panic and told myself it would just pop at some point, like when you go swimming and get water in your ear. I went on about my life...I still went to my nail appointment (naturally), half-hearing traffic and wondering if this was how my marriage story started — with me walking into a bus I couldn’t hear coming.

After the nail appointment still nothing. I took a walk with my fiance and he encouraged me to try to pop my ear. I tried but to no avail, he told me to try harder, so I did (I'm a people pleaser)...I tried so hard I then muffled my other ear which caused a fun pre-marital tiff as you can imagine. At the end of our walk I raided Walgreens like a bride possessed: ear drops, compresses, bizarre little gadgets that looked more like medieval contraptions than medical devices. My fiancé trailed behind me dutifully holding an armful of ear products while I muttered about the indignity of going deaf before my big day. Spoiler: none of it worked.

By morning, there was blood. Yes, blood. How beautiful.

Urgent Care, but Make It Romantic

Off to urgent care we went, me clutching my tote bag of useless Walgreens remedies. In the waiting room, he filled out the paperwork. Under “relationship,” he paused for just a moment, before writing “husband” next to emergency contact and then looked at me and winked. Reader, I melted.

According to the Dr. my tiny moment of Q-tip self care knicked some thing or another in my ear and caused it to swell up and block my hearing. Meaning this was not a quick fix. I told the doctor we were getting married in just two days and then he gave me the greatest wedding gift of all...steroids. These beautiful little pills are vastly underrated as bridal prep. Between that prescription and sugar-free Red Bull, I powered through the next 72 hours like a woman possessed.

The Save

Did I hear my vows clearly? Not entirely. Did I look fabulous? Absolutely.

The ear drama faded into the background, and what I remember most about my medical drama is that first moment of seeing “husband” written down, and how even in the middle of absolute chaos, I felt completely sure of what we were walking into.

The Lesson Hidden in the Absurdity

Here’s the thing: you can plan florals, playlists, and escort card displays down to the last detail. But you cannot plan for your ear. The universe will always find some absurd, humbling way to remind you that perfection isn’t possible.

So pack a mini pharmacy in your wedding week survival kit. Choose someone who can make you laugh when you’re bleeding from the head. And if steroids and Red Bull are what get you down the aisle, I say consider it part of your bridal skincare routine.

With Love and Style,

-M