Our Winning Couple
Written By Liz Garone
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For Tessa Arrighi, getting the call that she and her fiancé, Layton McDonald, had won the California Weds and The Orchards at Samaritan Village wedding reception contest was "wonder¬ful" news. "I was shocked and grateful, both at the same time," says the 24-year-old dental assistant and student. "I just couldn't believe it."
Like numerous other couples, Tessa and Layton had submitted their engagement/pro¬posal story by the September 14 deadline and crossed their fingers hoping for the call that they had won. Along with two other couples, they were chosen as finalists and were then inter¬viewed in-person. "After the interview, we chose Tessa and Layton due to their enthusiasm and obvious love for each other," says Amber Capu¬lin, features and photos editor for California Weds, and one of the judges for the contest.
As the winning couple, Tessa and Layton have won a $10,000 wedding reception for up to 200 people at The Orchards at Samaritan Village in Hughson. Their wedding will take place on June 21, 2008. Tessa has already picked out her colors for the special day: cranberry and charcoal with accents of silver. "I have been dreaming of this day ever since I was a little girl and I cannot wait," she says.
As most people who know them will tell you, if anyone deserves to win a contest, it's Tessa and Layton. Even before they got engaged this summer, the couple experienced a num¬ber of challenges in their life together. Midway through their five-year courtship, Layton, now 25, developed excruciating back pain. What was initially diagnosed as a simple backache turned out to be a broken Lumbar 5 disc, which needed to be repaired.
At the time, Layton was working at the Turlock Irrigation District as a lineman with plans to eventually become a firefighter. He was forced to make the decision to quit, but his friends at work quickly stepped in and gave enough sick hours to cover three months of work for him.
Through TID's health insur¬ance, Layton had surgery at Stanford Hospital in which two rods and a bone graft were put in place. Slowly, he began the healing process. "I didn't want to leave his side. It was then that we grew up," Tessa wrote in her story for the contest. "Layton would put his hands on my shoulders and we would walk down the hospital hallways. He had to teach himself to walk again. Being in that situation was truly a humbling experience that defined our lives and our love."
In addition to the physical healing, Layton also had to accept the fact that his body could no longer do everything it did before and that his dreams of becoming a firefighter were no longer realistic. Instead, he chose a career in teaching. Currently, he is working on getting his credential and is student teaching third graders. "It's new to me, but I really enjoy it," he says.
Tessa is enrolled in classes at Modesto Junior College, taking the prerequisites she needs to enter a dental hygiene program. "It had always been a dream, but I never really pursued it," she says. She also works two days a week as a dental assistant.
Tessa knew for a long time that Layton would eventually ask her to marry him - it was just a matter of when and where. He always told her that he wanted to wait until he was feeling more like himself again and stronger before popping the question.
That happened this sum¬mer. First, the couple took a trip to Yosemite and climbed Half Dome. Tessa was sure it would happen there. Even though Layton had the ring in his pocket, it didn't feel right, he says, so he waited.
As summer started drawing to a close, the couple knew that they would start getting busy again - Layton student teaching and Tessa going back to school - so they decided to take one last day trip. This time, it was to Pinecrest Lake, one of their favorite destinations as a couple and the location where they had their first kiss five years earlier.
Again, Layton had the ring in his pocket. "I thought to myself, I'll bring the ring. If the moment feels right, I'll ask her," he remem¬bers. "Otherwise, I knew there would be another opportunity somewhere else." The moment did feel right. It was there at the edge of the lake that Layton proposed, and through tears and smiles, Tessa gave him an enthusiastic yes.
The venue
When it comes time for their wedding and reception, Tessa and Layton won't be disappointed. They will be able to experience a beautiful wedding venue with first-class service right in the heart of the Central Valley. Sur¬rounded by the Valley's famous almond trees, the Samaritan Village campus is located on a peaceful, rural 20-acre campus in nearby Hugh¬son, Layton's hometown.
"The inviting banquet hall and lush, green surroundings are far enough from the hustle and bustle of every day, but close enough to home to ensure that your special day is memorable for you, your friends and your family," Samaritan Marketing Specialist Courtney Considine says. "With both indoor and outdoor accommoda¬tions and a large, experienced event staff, The Orchards at Samaritan Village is the ideal setting for weddings and events, both grand and intimate."
The spacious, non-denominational chapel is located just around the corner from the banquet halls inside of the Village Mall. "Its large, colorful stained glass windows and peaceful décor make a tasteful background for that special moment," Considine says. Tessa and Layton are planning to have their ceremony in the chapel. "I like how intimate it is," says Tessa. "I also like that you get married and have your reception right there rather than having to drive somewhere else."
After the ceremony, Layton and Tessa's guests will head to The Orchards' banquet area, which is located just inside the Village Mall. The Walnut and Almond Rooms can each accommodate inti¬mate parties of 20 to 100 guests. When combined, these two rooms become a grand ballroom and can accommodate up to 200 guests. Layton and Tessa are inviting 200 people and expect about 180 to attend.
The rooms have a full line of audio-visual equipment for family slideshows, presentations, and music. "Our events staff is ready to help couples choose the perfect wedding amenities, including dance floors, first-class catering, the head or wedding party table, banquet set up and layout and table floor plans," says Considine.
Tessa and Layton are planning on taking full advantage of the audio-visual equipment; they will be show¬ing videos of when they were young and photos of their last five years together on two huge projector screens that drop from the ceiling.
As everyone knows, planning a wedding can be stressful, no matter how many people you plan to invite. The experienced staff at The Orchards are making that job a little easier for Tessa and Layton. "We are ready to help handle every detail of your wedding, from providing tables and chairs to helping choose the perfect selection of delectable appetizers," says Considine. "Our staff takes pride in their painstaking attention to detail and strives to make each event perfect." Tessa has already met with the wedding planner and is get¬ting her plans in order.
Rather than making couples deal with separate party rental companies, caterers and food service staff, The Orchards makes it easy by providing full-service catering lead by a first-class chef, a complete line of seating options and arrangements, and a large staff ready to take care of everything. As part of the wedding packages, couples receive a tasting for up to six people, incredible culinary displays, a delectable menu, and separate dressing rooms for the bride and groom.
Tessa and Layton have chosen chicken and tri-tip for their main entrees, and Tessa is planning to be surrounded by roses, her favorite, on her special day.
With eight months still to go, Tessa says it's hard to focus on the actual day rather than the preparation for it. But, she can't wait. "I am excited to get married and be a wife," she says. "It's been a long time for us."
If you would like to know more about The Orchards, visit the website at www.svevents.com.