Nurturing Independence, Promoting individuality and Enrigching the Lives of Our
Residents
Summer is in full swing and at V3 we celebrate July with our annual Wedding Compendium. This issue provides brides and grooms the opportunity to link up with the vendors that can make their big day everything they wanted it to be. From picking the perfect ring to finding the venue to say their “I do’s” we let the professionals who do it best tell their stories.
The amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into planning a wedding is something anyone involved in the process never forgets. The flowers, the dress, the honeymoon, the cake, the invitations, hair, make-up, catering, planner...on and on it goes. So many I's to dot and t’s to cross. You could do it alone, but why risk your sanity?
While marriage is the ultimate commitment, the relationships you forge with the industry professionals that make a wedding day special create lifelong relationships. They take it seriously because they care, and this annual ode to nuptials gives you a peek at what it means to them to deliver the best services in the business. Making your wedding day a dream come true.
We hope you enjoy it!
-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
A COMMUNITY AGAINST CANCER
AdventHealth Redmond’s Cancer Pavilion provides whole-person-centered care to cancer patients with new services and a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Beyond the typical scope of treatment, they have established a team that aids in physical, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual support, with plans to expand community and educational services even further.
One of the hardest fights in the medical industry is the ongoing battle against cancer. Patients and practitioners alike face the strain of it every day, and its regularity prompts the need for more spaces dedicated to the betterment of cancer care.
AdventHealth Redmond is expanding the scope of their cancer services with their new Cancer Pavilion. Following AdventHealth's goal to promote “whole-person-centered care,” this facility will simplify screenings, treatment, and support by offering a space for cancer patients with a team of oncological specialists.
Marcy Cent, Director of Oncology Services for AdventHealth Georgia, says, “As we continue to deliver on AdventHealth’s mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, we knew that improving access to quality, whole-person cancer care closer to home, through a facility dedicated to this cause, was important for our Rome area patients and their families.”
While AdventHealth has established a cancer center in Calhoun and offers cancer services at Redmond, the Rome Floyd County community has had a “significant need for increased cancer services.”
AdventHealth’s Northwest Georgia Market sees cases of breast, prostate, colon, and primarily lung
cancer daily. The pavilion was created to answer the community’s need and to provide patients and their families with an alternative to standard cancer care. Unlike most health challenges that show up when symptoms appear, in most cases cancer has already developed by the time symptoms appear, requiring more aggressive treatment protocols and plans.
Cent says that getting regular screenings, including “mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate screenings, cervical cancer screenings, skin checks, and if you’re a smoker, a lung screening,” is vital to catching and treating cancer early. The earlier it’s found, the faster it can be taken care of.
Improved screenings will be offered in the Breast Center, with women’s imaging and genetic testing services, along with new technology for mammography, ultrasound, and bone density scanning. The Infusion Center gives patients a calming, beautiful space to receive treatment with as little stress as possible.
Medical oncologist Dr. Windy Dean-Colomb, MD, PhD incorporates the “latest in cancer care” in the Hematology and Oncology Center, in collaboration with “a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiation oncologists and other [nearby] providers our patients may need,” says Cent.
AdventHealth Redmond will also provide Cancer Pavilion patients with an extensive support system for physical, emotional, dietary, and spiritual health. “Cancer navigators, cancer dietitians, cancer rehab therapists, chaplains, and more” will be available to each patient. AdventHealth plans to build a space solely for these services within the Cancer Pavilion in the near future.
Cent says that AdventHealth Redmond also plans to expand the Cancer Pavilion’s educational services. These will include classes on “diet and nutrition, financial education, emotional health and wellbeing, exercise, survivorship, oncology rehab, support groups, and other services dedicated to caring for the whole person.”
Although the battle against cancer is grueling, AdventHealth patients can safely rely on a team of dedicated, compassionate oncologists who support them in every way possible and can often relate to their experiences on a personal level.
Cent was drawn to her position as Director of Oncology Services after watching several loved ones struggle to navigate cancer treatments and community programs close to home. Intent on creating “community cancer programs,” she studied healthcare planning with the goal of organizing quality, local cancer services for screening, treatment, education, and general care.
“Cancer care is a journey that impacts more than just the body,” Cent says. “The best patient care surrounds patients with whatever they personally need to remain whole throughout their care journey, with the best treatment and support for the mind, body, and spirit.”
Cent notes that regular screenings are the most important aspect of cancer monitoring and prevention. But small lifestyle changes can also help lessen the likelihood of developing cancer.
Curating a nutritionally balanced diet of unprocessed, low-sugar, whole foods; exercising regularly and spending time outdoors; and creating a schedule that allows for plenty of rest and decreased stress levels are all great ways to better regulate your mind and body for improved health.
At AdventHealth Redmond’s Cancer Pavilion, patients can rest assured that their health will be in good hands and that they will be given the tools to navigate care confidently.
Learn more about the Cancer Pavilion at: https://www.adventhealth.com/locations/hospitals/ redmond/services/cancer-care
THE Ring A TRADITION IN THE MAKING
Before you reach the altar, you and your spouse-to-be get dozens of glimpses into your new life together.
It’s in the patterns that naturally surface as you learn to live side by side: Which restaurant has become ‘your place’? Who plays DJ on long drives? Which holidays do you spend with family or friends, and which do you go out of town?
In your life as a family, you’ll start new traditions shared just between you. Something formed from the joy of being with the person you love. Some of them will be the ones you pass down through generations, refined through years of laughter, hardship, and joy. Others will be everyday expressions of love that become second nature.
It all begins with the rings.
Your rings will be with you during your best and worst days, your most exciting and most boring moments: a symbol of your choice to be together through it all.
Greene’s Jewelers has had “a tradition of making tradition since 1948.” As Rome’s oldest jeweler, they’ve been helping couples find the symbol of their forever for generations.
Greene’s opened with a goal to be the jeweler you can trust with your future. Your ring will be with you through your whole life, and they want to ensure you’re just as happy with it as the day you chose it. Whether you want the classic diamond or something unique to you, they can make it into a ring worthy of your commitment.
Families have come to Greene’s across generations, and some have been with them since the beginning. Many couples visit after their parents, looking for rings to inspire their own future or to bring their families’ traditions together.
Crisann Studdard is a certified gemologist who’s been working at Greene’s for nearly twenty years. She said that one of the most enjoyable aspects of her work is getting to help people she watched grow up at the shop.
“In the last few years, like I’ve sold engagement rings to… guys who came in here with their grandparents when they were, you know… seven, eight years old. And now they’re coming in here as adults, and we get to, you know, kind of walk them through that process. I think that’s really neat. I mean, seeing them grow up and then them calling you or coming in saying, ‘Hey, can you help me pick out an engagement ring?’. I just think that… it’s a special thing they trust you enough to come.”
One customer, whose parents had gotten their rings at Greene’s, had moved to Florida before getting engaged. He still wanted to get his fiancée’s ring from Greene’s, though, so he called them and started planning over the phone and through texts. Crisann was happy to help
and designed everything to his liking before he took the trip home to pick it up.
“That just means a lot to me, cause I think it shows the trust… that they have in us.”
Crisann says that “there’s no limit” to what Greene’s can create. They have everything classic, contemporary, and in between. Their store carries a variety of rings that cater to all tastes. And if you don’t see the perfect one, they have several ways to help you find it.
Instead of going through the stress of ordering rings online by yourself, Greene’s can order rings in-store on your behalf, and whichever you don’t like they can send back at no charge.
They can also design a personalized ring with you to ensure you get exactly the stone, cut, and style you’re looking for. You can bring inspiration pictures or design a ring from scratch with the help of a certified gemologist.
If you have a family memento you’d like to bring with you down the aisle, Greene’s offers remaking services, as well. They can clean and resize it, maintaining its original form as closely as possible to preserve its history. Or they can alter it into something that blends your family’s history with your and your spouse’s future.
At Greene’s Jewelers, the perfect ring is as close as you can picture it. Life with your spouse will be rich with experiences long-awaited and completely unexpected, and your rings will always be a reminder of your love story and the traditions that bring you together.
For more information, visit Greene’s Jewelers at 328 Broad St, call their store directly, or email Crisann Studdard: Phone: 706-291-7236
Email: crisann@greenesjewelers.com
THE VOGUE
Standing in the heart of downtown Rome, The Vogue offers views of busy Broad Street as a backdrop for your event. This two-story venue provides a warm tone with its brick and wood interior to welcome all guests who enter. Keep everything in one location by hosting your wedding showers, rehearsal dinners, and the big day all at The Vogue! Need plenty of time for the rehearsal and decorating? Ask about our extra day rentals!
Step through the front doors straight off Broad Street to find space with seating up to 125 guests. This is where our main food service takes place, and even has space for a bar! After dinner, head upstairs for plenty of room for a dance floor, a wraparound bar, and beautiful views of the street below!
At The Vogue, enjoy the services of Harvest Moon Catering. Included with your order are the table & chair setup, table linens, and our High Quality Disposable Dinnerware! Reach out to get a full quote for your event!
Memory Care at The Spires at Berry College has been intentionally designed to provide a specialized, secure and supportive environment for those with memory loss. Every day is full of opportunities for a more connected, more purposeful way of life — not to mention expert caregivers and a progressive care curriculum. Discover the many ways your loved one can benefit from Memory Care at The Spires:
• Dedicated horticulture therapist–led gardening programs with hands-on activities in the courtyard
• Emphasis on individualized attention and family involvement
• Secure outdoor courtyard featuring winding paths, raised garden beds and inviting seating areas
• Purposeful programming that incorporates art, music and personal interaction
• Intuitive neighborhood design promoting safety, comfort and easy navigation
THE Dress A DRESS WORTH REMEMBERING
How do you feel at your most beautiful?
Beauty comes in a million different forms. The soothing blur of pastels at sunrise. The hollow ring of an echo running across a cave wall. The coarse silk of stone smoothed by ocean waves.
It exists in all the different versions of you, an expression of how you see yourself at your best.
But how do you feel when you’re at your most beautiful? What tells you that this version of yourself is the one you want to remember in all of your cherished moments?
Blooming T’s Bridal is a place “where every bride can bloom.”
Tatum Sartin, owner and founder, considers the search for the dress one of the most empowering experiences of the wedding. Her concept for the store stems from a desire to give each of her brides a search worth remembering.
It’s easy for stress to build during wedding planning, especially with the dress. A bride might find herself overwhelmed with options and opinions, and all too quickly, the search for the dress just becomes something she’s relieved to be over with.
At Blooming T’s, Tatum and her bridal team take all of those stressors upon themselves so the bride can focus on finding a dress she loves.
“Blooming T’s Bridal was created with a simple vision: To provide every bride with a personalized, memorable, and stressfree dress shopping experience.”
Tatum ensures that every search is unique to the bride. Instead of skimming through hundreds of options, brides begin every appointment with a detailed consultation. The bridal team uses her responses to curate a personalized selection of dresses that suit her interests and style, noting which do or don’t match her vision.
Brides also have their choice of the store’s wide variety of bridal gowns, including “timeless elegance, modern sophistication, lace detail, classic ball gowns, sleek silhouettes, or contemporary trends.”
There’s something for every bride at Blooming T’s. And as the bride searches for “the one,” the bridal team provides support and maintains a stress-free environment.
Having a group of dedicated, compassionate people present for support is so important for these appointments. The bridal team wants their brides to feel “confident, beautiful, and empowered” when they walk down the aisle, and that begins with the perfect dress.
“Brides can look forward to one-on-one attention, honest advice, and a relaxed atmosphere where the focus is entirely on helping them find the dress that feels perfect for their special day.”
To Tatum, what makes Blooming T’s special is the fact that her bridal team gets to help so many women blossom into their favorite version of themselves, one that they can look back on for the rest of their lives.
“I feel every appointment is so special and… unique in its own way. Every bride that lets my business be a part
of their day is so fulfilling and rewarding,” Tatum says. “Myself and my team love to keep up with all of our brides. We love to see photos and hear stories about the events leading up to their special day and the big day itself. We love to connect with all our brides on a personal level and make them feel… important.”
At Blooming T’s Bridal, every bride can blossom into the most beautiful version of herself. Whatever kind of beauty makes them happiest, Tatum and her bridal team can bring it into bloom.
To schedule an appointment, visit Blooming T’s at: 212 N 5th Ave or go to their website: https://bloomingtsbridal.com/
For more information, call Blooming T’s at: 706-237-7200 or email at: info@bloomingtsbridal.com
Tatum Sartin
CATERING
THE Planner ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR PLANNING
Experienced. Professional. Detailed. Personal.
The Season Events takes wedding planning to a new level by combining decades of experience with Southern hospitality, humor, and charm.
It all started in 2007, after Owner and Wedding Planner, Holly Lynch, saw a need for professional event planning in the Rome, Georgia area. “There was a need for professional level of event planning, and since I come from a background in marketing, with experience in corporate event planning, I knew I could help fill that gap,” explains Lynch.
Now, as a certified wedding planner, The Season Events plans around 40 weddings a year, caters an additional 30-ish weddings, and still has the time to cater and help plan another 100-plus events each year. In just 19 years, Lynch and her team have helped orchestrate over 600 weddings.
Thankfully, Lynch doesn’t have to do all this alone. She has amassed a strong and willing team over the past years, with 15 permanent employees and another 50 contracted employees, all proud to help make each event both professional and personal, as only The Season Events can do.
“Every family that comes to us for their wedding is special to us. We become very protective of them, their plans, and strive to make all their expectations become reality,” Lynch says.
Lynch often speaks with the “we” pronoun, because she credits her amazing team with growing and challenging the business to always improving. One such key member is wedding planner and Vice President, Nicole Williams.
After working as a teacher for 17 years, while working part-time at The Season Events on the side, she joined the team full-time 9 years ago. “She’s changed everything about the way we’ve grown in these past few years,” says Lynch. “She is truly made for this job, and her clients love her!”
“Clients become family” she continues. “As wedding planners, we’ve learned that families are letting us into their lives on one of the most important occasions. Many times, this means a client will share personal details...we become their confidant.”
Williams adds “One of my favorite moments was having a bride’s mother reach out to me one year after her daughter’s wedding and tell me how she still felt like the whole weekend was a dream. She was so happy and so relaxed during the wedding that her memories of the day
continue to give her such joy! That’s why I love what I do!”
Whether working with Williams or Lynch, clients can expect nothing short of the best wedding planning services available. Whether they are hired for full wedding planning or an all-inclusive package, The Season Events is prepared to help fulfill their clients’ dreams. The team is equipped to manage everything from catering the event, to getting the bride down the aisle, to planning the honeymoon.
Find The Season Events at: theseasonevents.com
THE SEASONED TO PERFECTION Caterer
After 19 years and over 600 weddings, The Season Events knows a few things about what to serve to wedding guests to keep them happy and well-fed. Starting with hearty classics like double-battered chicken tenders and branching out into specialty items, like jalapeno-duck poppers, guests are sure to come back for seconds!
The Season Events is known for delicious food that is as pleasing to see as it is to eat. Their menu continues to expand and they cater to both large and small crowds. From a small backyard wedding to a grand event with hundreds of guests, The Season Events is honored to serve your guests.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Elizabeth Hernandez Lanham, wedding catering has never been better. Brides and grooms have an almost unlimited selection of menus to meet just about every budget. Clients work with their wedding planner, or directly with the chefs, to create the perfect menu. The Season Events has added fun touches like late-night snacks, pre-ceremony treats, and dessert bars featuring cakes, cobblers, cookies and pies. Wedding catering has taken on more fun, interactive elements with many hand-passed appetizers and chef-attended stations such as oyster shucking and build-your-own taco bars. Elizabeth leads a team of cooks who have been cooking with The Season Events for many years. Their background includes experiences from California, the Caribbean and Mexico, but they continue to focus on elevating our Southern classics with modern touches. Working with the catering team at The Season Events means clients can have their favorite foods at their wedding or try something new and exciting. Brides can always expect delicious food at their events that will keep the guests happy and ready to celebrate all night long!
THE Flowers YOUR STORY, ARRANGED BY BUSSEY’S
What does your love story look like?
Abrilliant burst of fireworks, vibrant oranges, ocean blues, and royal purples sparking as they reach the sky. A serene meadow dappled with earthy greens, baby blues, and pearlescent pinks fluttering in the wind. A timeless tapestry woven with burnt siennas, blackberry purples, and blushing reds dancing across the canvas.
Whatever image comes to mind, Bussey’s Florist can bring it into bloom. Just as no love story is the same, your arrangements are unique to you.
To Kim and Todd Bussey, creating the perfect arrangement is about “getting to know the couple and creating the bouquet around them.” Behind every wedding is a talented team of floral designers and event professionals working together to bring each couple’s vision to life.
With thousands of weddings behind them over nearly five decades, Bussey’s understands that every celebration deserves to feel completely personal. Each couple comes to Busseys with a different story, different needs, and a different dream wedding, so no matter if you want something trendy or timeless, they’ll help you make it your own.
This October 16th is Bussey’s 50th anniversary. Since 1976, they’ve “worked hard to stay fresh [and] up-to-date on trends, styles, and products,” says Todd—an endeavor that’s earned them the title of Best Florist in Northwest Georgia.
Bussey’s motivation is “bringing beauty into all life’s moments.” Many of their customers have been with them over generations—through prom nights, graduation parties, birthdays, and more. To be there for all of their once-in-a-lifetime moments, especially something as special as their wedding, is one of their greatest joys.
Sharing in each couple’s story, as they reflect on all the moments that brought them down the aisle, is the beauty of Bussey’s.
One of the most memorable experiences Kim has had was at Barnsley Gardens, during the bride and groom’s first look. She was at the venue to organize arrangements, and while they were setting up, some pieces had to be moved last minute. Kim was moving some items off to the side of the dance floor, near the reception hall, and saw the bride and groom as they entered.
She watched them light up as they saw each other for the first time as husband and wife. “They came over to me on the dance floor and gave me a big hug, both of them, and the photographer took a picture of us… It was just the most wonderful feeling and experience,” Kim says. “You know, they both were just, like, so in awe of the reception… it just was like a complete culmination of the whole process”
“We hit every milestone in life,” Todd says. “We think flowers help you bring beauty into all those moments.”
Kim helps brides through the entire process of planning their arrangements. Her famed “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” method uses brides’ general interests, gathered from moodboards and inspo photographs, to shape the perfect bouquet.
Once the bridal bouquet is settled, everything else falls into place: bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, table arrangements, ceremonial decor, and more.
Depending on what best suits the couple, Bussey’s offers personalized appointments, pickup-only, and delivery-only. But each appointment receives the same attentive care, right up to the wedding day.
Bussey’s takes as much of the stress out of planning as they can. Kim serves as each bride’s guide throughout the floral planning process, collaborating with Bussey’s award-winning design team to create flowers that reflect each couple’s style, vision, and budget. For Kim, the journey comes full circle when she personally delivers the bridal bouquet—the culmination of months of planning together.
“One of my favorite things is taking my bride their bouquet. I have that relationship with them… and talked with them through the whole process. And when I take them their bridal bouquet and see that look on their face… it makes it really special,” says Kim. “We try to give them that personal experience… It creates lifelong relationships.”
Moments like these are what Bussey’s stands for. To help make your wedding day exactly as you imagined and more, and to commemorate it through the beauty of blooms. When it comes to your wedding, every flower is a piece of your story.
For more information, stop by Bussey’s at 500 East 2nd Avenue or visit their website: busseysflorist.com
To schedule in advance, contact Kim Bussey: Call: 706-234-1040 ext. 7 | Email: kim@busseys.florist
THE Travel agent
Y5HONEYMOON PLANNING MISTAKES THAT COULD RUIN YOUR DREAM TRIP
our honeymoon should be the most magical trip of your life. But after years of helping couples plan their getaway, I’ve watched well-meaning newlyweds make the same avoidable mistakes again and again — mistakes that turn a dream trip into a stressful one.
Here are the five most common, and exactly how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Booking a Flight That Leaves Too Early
You just got married. The reception ran late, emotions were high, and you barely slept. The last thing you want is a 6 AM departure. Booking an early flight right after your wedding is one of the most regrettable mistakes I see. Give yourself at least one full day to breathe, pack properly, and ease into your honeymoon — instead of sprinting through an airport on no sleep.
Mistake #2: Over-Planning Your Itinerary
Your honeymoon isn’t a sightseeing tour. It’s a celebration of your marriage, which means rest, connection, and spontaneity matter just as much as activities.
Couples often arrive with every hour scheduled — excursion after excursion — then come home more exhausted than refreshed. My advice? Book one or two meaningful experiences and leave the rest beautifully unplanned. The best honeymoon memories usually come from the moments you didn’t schedule.
Mistake
#3: Not Accounting for Travel Time
If you only have a few days, destination matters enormously. A three-night trip to a resort that requires a long flight plus a two-hour transfer means losing a full day on each end just getting there and back. For shorter honeymoons, I recommend destinations closer to home that maximize your time at the resort rather than in airports and shuttles. A longer trip gives you more flexibility — but always factor in total travel time before you fall in love with a faraway spot.
Mistake #4:
This one surprises couples every time — and it can be expensive. Not all all-inclusive resorts are created equal. At some properties, premium liquors, specialty restaurants, certain pools, or specific amenities carry an extra charge. Couples who don’t read the fine print can find unexpected bills at checkout.
Sandals is the brand I book most for honeymooners, and this is a big reason why. At their resorts, everything genuinely is included — premium spirits, gourmet dining at every restaurant, water sports, transfers, and tips. There’s no fine print to decode and no surprise tab at the end, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to relax.
Mistake #5: Skipping Travel Insurance
Your honeymoon is a significant investment, and life is unpredictable. Illness, family emergencies, flight cancellations, natural disasters — any of these can derail even the most carefully planned trip. And here’s what most couples don’t realize until it’s too late: your health insurance generally won’t cover you outside the United States.
Travel insurance protects your investment, covers medical emergencies abroad, and gives you real peace of mind, so you can focus entirely on enjoying your trip.
Your honeymoon deserves to be everything you dreamed. Avoiding these five mistakes is the first step — working with an experienced travel advisor is the second.
I’d be honored to help you plan a honeymoon that’s seamless, romantic, and absolutely unforgettable.
