HAVE THE WEDDING of Your DREAMS

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

The perfect wedding is low on stress. While worries will inevitably pop up as you plan your nuptials, the more at ease bride and groom feel, the better the whole experience will be. To take the stress out of planning, take some advice from the professionals. Afterall, they are experts in helping you get hitched without a hitch!

Perhaps most important is delegating tasks. Hand over the reins to a professional. Selecting a venue that offers day-of coordinating, set-up, and clean-up will undoubtedly help as you move responsibilities from your plate to other’s. If the venue offers packages for rehearsal dinners, as well, that can help pare down costs and tasks.

Perhaps most important is that a property is prepared for weddings. Instead of getting married somewhere off the beaten path, a wedding venue is already primed and ready to host a big day affair. “Our gorgeous property offers multiple aesthetics for your picture perfect wedding,” says Teri Lawrence, owner of Viaggio Estate and Winery “While we are spacious, there are options to host intimate weddings, like our Secret Garden surrounded by willow trees, white roses, and wildflowers.” This way, there are less items to bring in including rented furniture and decorative florals.

Teri’s best advice for planning for a wedding—pandemic or no pandemic—is focusing on the three areas most important to you. “For example, if you want a beautiful venue, great photographs, and your dream wedding dress, budget for those three and compromise other areas,” she says. Compromises may be on catering costs, the size of your guest list, or decorations.

Planning for a wedding is hectic anytime but putting pen to paper during a global pandemic comes with extra stressors. Flexibility will help get brides through, so you don’t have to put off your wedding plans if the COVID-19 situation takes a turn. At

Viaggio, weddings can be rescheduled up to one year after the original wedding date. And, there is flexibility in wedding size and space, with areas set to handle outdoor affairs of more than 500, 350-480 guests indoors, or more intimate parties throughout the property for brides who are focused on a minimony. “We can work with any special accommodations and concerns you may have,” Teri assures.

The loss of something special or someone close to you is often difficult and may leave one to experience a variety of emotions. Hope Counseling, a grief and mental health program offered by Community Hospice, the oldest and largest not for profit hospice provider in the Central Valley, offers resources to help ease the pain and burden one might experience, no matter where one might be in life’s journey. Although there is no right or wrong way to deal with a loss, there are ways to cope that, in time, will allow you to heal.

Loss affects people in many different ways and may present emotions such as anger, anxiety, loneliness, disbelief, fear, guilt, physical symptoms, shock, and sadness amongst other emotions. As one travels their journey, it is important to acknowledge and accept one’s emotions and learn ways to cope that will allow you to continue to live a productive and healthy life.

As one begins their grief journey, it is important to accept the reality of the loss and develop a strong support system; no one can do it alone. It is common to experience obstacles along your journey. Increasing your understanding of the grief process may help you recognize signs, experiences,