SIMCHAS JEWISH CELEBRATIONS IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA A SUPPLEMENT TO THE | MARCH 23, 2017 Name: Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE/Simchas Magazine Ad Number: 00071923 Experience Luxury in the Newly Refined Hilton Philadelphia After a $15 million dollar complete hotel renovation... Experience Philadelphia’s most breathtaking new Ballrooms, Grand Lobby and Guest Rooms. Let our event specialists create an experience that you and your guests will remember forever. 267.969.3001 Catering Sales HiltonPhiladelphiaCityAve.com Glatt Kosher available on premises. Philadelphia City Avenue 4200 City Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 Name: Sheraton Valley Forge Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE Simchas Magazine Ad Number: 00071977 Exquisite Venue Extraordinary Service Timeless Tradition Discover the region’s most spectacular venue for all occasions. Name: DAVE & BUSTER'S Width: 4.917" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Simchas Ad Number: 00071731 26 8 the Big splurge: some ideas for making an event splash BY PETER KEY 14 top 5 money-saving tips for Your Big event BY LIZ SPIKOL 18 tales from the party planner’s crypt BY JON MARKS 22 Promotional vent bookings. Buffet must be included in event pack age. Revenue minimum required. Promotional. . EXPIRES: 06/01/2017 06/01/2017. . Blackout dates ma may y appl apply. .y Offer Valid V alid ONLY ONLL Y with Special E Event package. Minimum of 20 guests. Offer must be referenced at the time of booking and coupon must be surrendered at time of redemption and ma ated. Minor may y not be photocopied or duplic duplicated. Graduations Aren’t Just for Big Kids Anymore BY PETER KEY policies v vary ary b by y loc ation – please check www .da veandbuster s.com/loc ations for details. Not v valid alid with any other offer location www.daveandbusters.com/locations offers. s. Offer ma may y not be used for credit or refunds for past or future events. Not v valid alid with any other offer RES ALE. offer. . NOT FOR RESALE. www.daveandbusters.com www .da veandbuster s.com 26 event expos offer one-stop shopping for those in planning stages BY PETER KEY 29 wedding trends for 2017 BY KEVIN WALKER 31 Promotional ront Desk to redeem. Limit one coupon per customer. customer . Bar code v valid alid for one use onl ary b by y location loc ation – Promotional. . EXPIRES: 6/01/2017. Present this coupon at F Front Barcode only. .y Minor policies v vary please check www .da veandbuster s.com/loc ations for details. Not v valid alid with any other offer Eat&Pla y or Eat ,Pla y ,Win Combos, Half Price Games Wednesda www.daveandbusters.com/locations offers, s, including Eat&Play Eat,Play,Win Wednesdays y s or any Half Price Game promotion. Not v valid wer ated. Non negotiable. Po may y not be photocopied or duplic duplicated. Power alid with Special E Events vents Packages. P ack ages. Coupon must be surrendered at time of redemption and ma Card Car d activation activ ation fee is $2. ($3 Times Square). NOT FOR RESALE. RES ALE. turning 13 Again: the Adult B’nai mitzvah BY MARISSA STERN 33 is Bracing for a change the Best idea? BY RACHEL KURLAND 4 mARch 23, 2017 SIMCHAS Jewishexponent.com Name: Westin Philadelphia Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas Ad Number: 00071769 Cliff Mautner Photography Contemporary Sophistication in the Heart of Philadelphia Let the champagne flow. Luxury meets sophistication in the heart of downtown at The Westin Philadelphia, featuring sparkling chandeliers, traditional crown molding, and Italian marble flooring combined with warm inviting décor. Flexible and accommodating, The Westin Philadelphia’s versatility is prepared to handle every aspect of your event, from cocktail hours to personal get-togethers and large-scale receptions. To reserve your wedding date, contact Jim Weber at (215) 640-8575 or via email at jweber@westinphila.com. ©2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. THE WESTIN PHILADELPHIA 99 S. 17th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 T +1 215.563.1600 F +1 215.567.2822 westin.com/philadelphia Name: Jude Plum Width: 4.917" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas / Jewish Exponent Ad Number: 00072050 2100 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 215-832-0700 PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE/ GENERAL MANAGER STEVEN ROSENBERG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOSHUA RUNYAN MANAGING EDITOR ANDY GOTLIEB NEWS EDITOR LIZ SPIKOL SENIOR STAFF WRITER JON MARKS STAFF WRITERS RACHEL KURLAND MARISSA STERN PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JENI MANN ART/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR LONNA KOBLICK GRAPHIC DESIGNER STEVE BURKE SURVIVING HAIR LOSS IN STYLE “The anxiety surrounding losing my hair was put to rest when I saw what a natural look and feel the wigs at Jude Plum have. The staff helped me feel extremely reassured and comfortable during this difficult period. I would recommend Jude Plum to anyone in need of an understanding, experienced, and compassionate salon!” DIRECTOR OF SALES SHARON SCHMUCKLER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN BARON BROOKE KEYSER TAYLOR ORLIN BRUCE WARTELL CLASSIFIED SALES NICOLE MCNALLY JILL RAFF www.JudePlumSalon.com Natural European hair wigs and hairpieces for Men, Women, and Children 610.527.1770 821 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 6 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS CHERYL LUTTS FINANCE ASSISTANT MARIE MALVOSO SUBSCRIPTIONS JUNE HAMILTON JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Elizabeth Johns Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas / Jewish Exponent Ad Number: 00072045 THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL w w w. e l iz a b e t h j o h n s . c o m (6 1 0) 6 4 9 - 8 1 0 0 46 ST . JAMES PLACE ARDMORE , PA 19003 Photo provided Franklin Institute allows couples to get married in its Fels Planetarium Outdoor weddings can be beautiful. But they also can be at the mercy of the weather. If you’re willing to shell out a few shekels, however, you can get married under the stars and still be inside. In fact, you can choose the stars you get married under. That’s because the Franklin Institute allows couples to get married in its Fels Planetarium, which is the second-oldest planetarium in the country. The Philadelphia-based science museum hosts about 40 weddings a year, and Gina DeGiovanni, its event manager, said many are in the planetarium. “You get to have your own star fields … projected on the dome overhead,” she said. Renting a venue like the Franklin Institute is just one thing you can do if you’re ready, willing and able to splurge on an event. See Splurge, Page 10 8 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Gabrielle Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas/Jewish Exponent pg 9 Ad Number: 00072072 Name: Gladwyne Pharmacy/KZ Enterprise Width: 3.625" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas Jewish Exponent Ask about our New Ad Number: 00072048 Product Continued from Page 8 • Prescriptions • Health and Personal Care Items • Cosmetics • Greeting Cards • Salon Quality Hair Products • Travel Items • Medical Equipment • Home Delivery • State Licensed Immunizations We accept most 90 day prescription plans. Invitation and Card Shoppes • Personalized Stationery • Weddings • Bar & Bat Mitzvah • Birth Announcements Parties • Calligraphy • Printing System on Premises The Gift Shoppe • Baby Boutique • Boutique Candy • All Occasion Gift Baskets • Hostess Gifts • Jewelry • Party Essentials So much to see... more to come... 352 Righters Mill Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035 Phone Fax: 610-649-1100 610-649-4850 www.gladwynepharmacy.com 10 MARCH 23, 2017 Of course, “splurge” is a relative term. When the now- defunct Advanta was flying high last decade, its Fort Washington-based CEO, Of course, “splurge” is a Dennis Alter, hired Elton relative term. When the John to perform at his birth- now-defunct Advanta day party. was flying high last You’re probably not going decade, its Fort to do that. But if you have a Washington-based big budget, there are many CEO, Dennis Alter, hired ways to make an event Elton John to perform unforgettable, regardless of at his birthday party. whether it’s a wedding, birth- You’re probably not day or mitzvah. going to do that. One way is to give your event a theme. For example, Conshohocken-based Exceptional Events did an event with a Philadelphia theme that featured the treats you might expect — soft pretzels, Tastykakes, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews — and Wawa coffee to wash them down. Thanks to a healthy budget, however, the company was able to add some larger features that were also Philly-related. “We had an Eagles tailgating truck as guests arrived, had professional athletes on-site to sign autographs and, of course, the Mummers are always fun, and they came and did a little number,” said Exceptional Events’ owner Stacey Kesselman. Jennifer Lawn, the proprietor of Perkiomenville-based JL Original Designs, said her company provided Middle Earth decor for a Tolkien-inspired wedding. “It was probably my craziest wedding,” she said. The bride, groom and guests all came dressed as characters from The Lord of the Rings books and movies, Lawn said. “It was cute to see the official up there not in [Middle Earth] garb,” she said. For a Valentine’s Day wedding featuring a bride whose favorite movie was Beauty and the Beast, JL Original Designs held the event in a black theater turned into a rose garden lit in red. The company used special lighting plates to project images of roses on the walls, Lawn said. Another interesting JL Original Designs wedding had a bride and groom who were Goths. The bride wore black, in keeping with the subculture, but her and the groom’s favorite color was orange, leading the company to come up with an unusual idea for centerpieces. “In the middle of [each] table was an aquarium full of goldfish,” Lawn said. “The guests had to take them home at night in a bag.” Bar Mitzvahs typically have more mainstream themes, but even those can result in lavish events. For example, Adam Weitz said his Southampton-based Public domain 6 See Splurge, Page 12 SIMCHAS Goldfish: 9george; goth bride: olgaecat/ iStock/Thinkstock.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Philmont Country Club Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas Ad Number: 00072405 Newly Renovated Ballroom! A historic clubhouse with old world charm, Philmont Country Club is the perfect venue for your dream wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, rehearsal dinner or shower. Philmont offers a grand lobby and Brazilian hardwood porch, a charming red brick patio overlooking an Olympic-size swimming pool, and an elegant Grand ballroom for dining and dancing for up to 330 guests. 301 Tomlinson Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 215-947-1271 #124 • www.philmontcc.org Splurge events company, A Sharp Production, recently did a Bar Mitzvah with a Super Bowl theme. That, he said, is a theme that’s easy to spend money on, depending on how authentic the people paying for it want to get. One place to start is with centerpieces. When a client gives the go-ahead, Weitz said, A Sharp Productions will use real National Football League helmets for their bases. To give the event an additional air of authenticity, he said, each guest can be given an actual NFL jersey and someone can be hired to press the guest’s name and the number of his choice on it. One recent Super Bowl-themed Bar Mitzvah, Weitz said, had a 30-by-50-foot image of the inside of a football stadium, “so every time we took pictures, it looked like they were in a stadium.” Other nice touches can include staffers dressed as referees; goalposts with footballs suspended in the air above; a ticket booth will a “will-call” sign where guests can pick up “tickets” resem- bling Super Bowl tickets; an echo effect, so when guests are asked to pick up “tickets,” it sounds like their names are being read by a public-address announcer in an NFL stadium; an entrance lined with women in realistic cheerleaders’ outfits or actual NFL cheer- leaders who cheer each guest’s entrance; and carbon dioxide cannons that blast fog when the Bar Mitzvah boy walks in. “If it’s offseason, or it’s during a day that doesn’t require a ballplayer to be in training, you can have an NFL player signing autographs during the cocktail hour,” Weitz said. If making a venue look like an NFL stadium isn’t enough for you, you can hold your event in an actual NFL stadium. One recent A Sharp Production Super Bowl-themed Bar Mitzvah had a 30-by-50-foot image of the inside of a football stadium, “so every time we took pictures, it looked like they were in a stadium.” Name: ReEvent Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas/Jewish Exponent Ad Number: 00072087 THE GOOD LIFE PUBLISHES MAY 18 • AD DEADLINE APR. 28 TO RESERVE YOUR AD contact Sharon Schmuckler call 215-832-0753 or email sschmuckler@jewishexponent.com 12 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Photos by A Sharp Production Continued from Page 10 The Franklin Institute hosts Mitzvahs as well as weddings. They can put images, including videos, on the four 16-by-9-foot screens in the corners of its Franklin Hall or project imagery on the Fels Planetarium ceiling (below). Phillie Phanatic: Terry Foote/Wikipedia; Franklin Institute photos provided Lincoln Financial Field offers a variety of spaces and features, as does Citizens Bank Park, where you can get tours of the dugout and clubhouse areas, walk the bases during baseball season and have your party crashed (possibly a little too literally) by the Phillie Phanatic. For the more culturally minded, the Philadelphia Museum of Art handles a wide range of events, offers catering by restaurateur Stephen Starr’s STARR Events and provides tours of whatever exhibitions it’s hosting at the time of the event. Jose Garces’ catering company handles events at the Philadelphia Orchestra’s current home, the Kimmel Center, which offers seven venues, including the rooftop atrium Hamilton Garden; the Lounge, with its outdoor balcony overlooking Broad Street; and the Academy of Music Ballroom. And, of course, there’s the Franklin Institute, which hosts Mitzvahs as well as weddings. DeGiovanni said one family that held a Bar Mitzvah there had visited Israel and went with an Israeli marketplace theme for the event’s cocktail hour. “Instead of projecting stars, we projected imagery from Israel [on the planetarium’s ceiling] to really give people the impression that they were in a different place and time,” she said. The institute also can put images, including videos, on the four 16-by-9-foot screens in the corners of its Franklin Hall. For one Bar Mitzvah, DeGiovanni said, the family had a video made to look like a Nike commercial that featured the Bar Mitzvah boy playing tennis with his dog. “It looked like a legitimate Nike commercial that had the dog wearing the glasses and the special effects,” she said. l Name: West Laurel Hill Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE/ Simchas Ad Number: 00072331 We’re Unique! Come Out And See Why! z Unique, Historic Venue West Laurel Hill z Available for Weddings, Parties, Fundraisers, Corporate Events and More z Indoor/Outdoor z Picturesque z On-site 610.668.9900 Ceremony & Reception Areas www.westlaurelhill.com Landscape 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd Event Consultant z Magnificent z Photo Backdrops William A. Sickel, F.D., Supervisor, West Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Inc. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 13 t was 1980 and I was new at school. I wore purple my first day, because everyone liked purple, and I tried to be friendly without looking desperate. The new-kid anxieties ratcheted up several notches, though, once Bar Mitzvah season kicked in. Would a new kid get invited to the parties? If I did, what would I bring as gifts? And what would I wear? I needn’t have worried. Back in those dark ages, Bar Mitzvah parties were decidedly less extravagant than they are today (and less inclusive). With the exception of Sandy P.’s Star Wars-themed party, most of the post-Mitzvah celebrations were not themed; some even took place — without the aid of DJs or emcees! — in synagogue basements or private homes. No one cared about what I brought or what I was wearing. Whew! Nowadays, as you see from the splurges featured on page 8 of this issue, religious rites of passage are heavy on the bling. And that’s just the beginning of the pressure. After the Bar or Bat Mitzvah comes the sweet 16, homecoming dances, junior and senior prom, graduation from high school and college, the engagement soiree, the wedding, the baby shower, the first-birth- day fête … and on and on it goes. The circle of life, etched in deli- ciously sugary icing. And while each one of these seminal events would ideally be marked in exquisite style and in dream-like settings — an all-expenses-for-everyone- paid destination wedding on a pris- tine beach in Mustique, let’s say — spending so liberally is not always an option. Even so, there are many ways to have a wonderful event while Top: Vstock LLC/Thinkstock.com; above: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Thinkstock.com 14 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM being financially prudent. If you want a Swarovski-encrusted custom- made tux for your ring-bearer beagle, you might want to look somewhere else. But if you’re looking to have a lovely event without breaking the bank, see below. hi nk sto ck .co m 2 DO IT YOURSELF Not the whole event, of course — you’d lose your mind that way. But there are plenty of event elements that are well suited to a DIY approach, like party favors, centerpieces, lighting (how about candles?), A/V and even DJing. When the event includes kids, DIY projects can get them involved in a hands-on, creative way, like picking the iTunes playlist or making a photo slideshow to project on one of the walls. Of course, there are plenty of aspects that do benefit from professional expertise. Which brings us to No. 2 … 1 HIRE WISELY An event professional who does their job well will, most likely, save you money simply by knowing what should be streamlined and what to blow up. Inexperience may cost more in the long run, /T ck especially if something goes wrong, so go with t iS o / es ag established firms who have a proven track record. eIm Tre n o Lem Also, keep your vendor list small, said Stephanie Fitzpatrick, director of talent and event logistics at Philly’s EBE Events & Entertainment. “If one of your vendors offers multiple services that you need for your big day, they will often have the ability combine their labor and delivery costs for you. Less trucks and less people means less money.” EBE, for example, which offers entertainment of all styles (live musicians and bands, DJs, dancers and specialty performers) also offers production, lighting, video and photo booth services. See Tips, Page 16 Name: Declaration of Invitations Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas Ad Number: 00071980 Name: Foodarama Caterers Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Simchas Ad Number: 00072047 www.declarationofinvitations.com declarit@gmail.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 15 Tips Continued from Page 15 ALWAYS ASK Event professionals don’t want to be lowballed, but they absolutely understand that different clients have different budgets. There’s no shame in telling a vendor you need to save money in one area or another, or even in asking for advice if you plan to DIY. Cindy Singer, founder of Dylan Michael Cosmetics, has happily consulted with brides-to-be who can’t bring her along to their desti- nation wedding but will still be using her products. Singer provides them with a written chart and a diagram showing exactly how to get the right look — advice that can be used after the event is over. “For me, as an artist, there’s no such thing as special-occasion makeup per se,” she said. “I try to make sure it’s wearable again and practical in their lives.” She’s also happy to tell clients the truth if they’re spending money unnecessarily, such as brides who hire her to be on-site at a venue for after-wedding/pre-reception touchups. That’s $75 an hour, and “usually I’m waiting to do five minutes worth of touchups. … If I have done my job correctly [earlier in the day], they won’t need as much of a touchup as they think.” Not only that, but brides often find they have less time for primping than they expect. “[The most important time for makeup] is before the photos and before the ceremony,” she said. “After the ceremony, I always say, ‘If you’re worried about the way you look, you need a psychol- ogist, not a makeup artist.’” 3 Name: RDM Width: 3.625" Designer Outlet & Design Studio Depth: 3" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas Ad Number: 00072105 “Event planners do a lot more than keep you organized. They have relationships with vendors who have already proved themselves to be amazing, and your planner can often negotiate better pricing for you because they call upon those vendors regularly.” STEPHANIE FITZPATRICK DIRECTOR OF TALENT AND EVENT LOGISTICS PHILLY’S EBE EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Name: Fashions by Penina Width: 3.625" Depth: 3" A Woman’s Boutique for ALL SIZES Color: Black plus (Including 1x-6x) one Our 36th year! Comment: Spring Simchas 3/23 Ad For Number: All of 00072204 RDM Your Simchas! Come Celebrate with Us! www.rdmdesignspa.com 11 East Main Street Marlton, NJ 856-596-1610 Designer clothing without designer prices fashionsbypenina.com Service! Service! Service! 413 W. Ridge Pike, Suite 2 • Conshohocken, PA • 610-834-0367 • Mon-Sat 10-5 16 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS Open 6 days; call or visit our website for store hours JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Comstock/Stockbyte/Thinkstock.com “Our clients are offered ‘multiple services discounts’ when they book more than one of those with us.” Fitzpatrick said. You might want to also consider using an event planner, even if you are more of the DIY type. “Event planners do a lot more than keep you organized,” Fitzpatrick said. “They have relationships with vendors who have already proved themselves to be amazing, and your planner can often negotiate better pricing for you because they call upon those vendors regularly.”  Even if you go it alone, Fitzpatrick recommends using the same vendors for subsequent events (assuming you’re satisfied with their services) because many companies offer repeat-client discounts. Bottom line, said Singer — who donates a portion of all proceeds to the Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases and the Dylan Singer Education Fund, in honor of her late son — “I don’t want a bride to feel she’s wasting her money.” For Jewish gatherings, “off” dates could include Easter weekend, for example, or the weekends around secular holidays like Memorial Day. Just make sure you let your guests know well in advance so that they don’t make vacation plans of their own. You want to be the No. 1 priority! BOOK “OFF” DATES As with individual vendors, event venues offer discounted rates under certain circumstances. “Venues and vendors are always looking to fill dates that aren’t prime  Saturday  nights,” Fitzpatrick said, “so booking on a  Friday, Sunday  or holiday weekend when your guests won’t have to go to work the next day will likely mean lower prices.” For Jewish gatherings, that could include Easter weekend, for example, or the weekends around secular holidays like Memorial Day. Just make sure you let your guests know well in advance so that they don’t make vacation plans of their own. You want to be the No. 1 priority! 4 CASH MONEY Although it’s often necessary to pay with credit cards for big events, cash is still king when it comes to vendors, who get hit with big credit-card processing fees. Some vendors actually have different pricing schemes depending on method of payment; if so, cash — and personal check —always beats credit financially. Even vendors that don’t differentiate in price that way may be willing to negotiate when you offer to pay with cash. And paying with cash means it’s over when it’s over. Now won’t that feel good? l toeytoey2530/iStock/Thinkstock.com 5 Contact: lspikol@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0747 Name: Development Corporation for Isr Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas 3/23 Ad Number: 00071997 GIVE GIFTS OF ISRAEL BONDS FOR ALL CELEBRATORY OCCASIONS Mazel Tov bonds eMitzvah bonds* STARTING AT STARTING AT $100 $36 INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS ∙ ISRAELBONDS.COM Development Corporation for Israel Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director Sharon Richman & Susan Schiffrin, Registered Representatives 1500 Walnut St., Suite 1302 • Philadelphia, PA 19102 philadelphia@israelbonds.com • 215.545.8380 • 800.752.5671 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM *Available only online. This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Issues subject to availability. Member FINRA. Photos: Aleksandr Kutsayev, Corbis, Comstock, istockphoto.com SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 17 “Oh, what a wonderful party,” you hear the guests say as they head out the door. “Everything went beautifully. The food, the music, the room. It was all so perfect.” If only they knew. “I’d say something goes wrong about 75 percent of the time,” confessed Lynne Brownstein of Arrangements Unlimited in King of Prussia, who’s been putting together weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and other kinds of events for 41 years. “That’s because there’s a million minor details, and it’s impossible to keep all the balls in the air. “It’s sort of like motherhood. You just have to come up with solutions and make everybody feel good because there’s no second chance and no manual. “If you don’t fix it now, you’re done.” That means there’s a lot more to being a party planner than ordering the food, entertainment, flowers and decorations, then sitting back while the show goes on. “You can always rest assured something’s going to happen. You have to think fast on your feet and be prepared.” — VALORI ZASLOW ReEVENT Bride: Ingram Publishing; frame: peekeedee/iStock/Thinkstock.com; Zaslow: Photo provided 18 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Photo provided You’ve not only got to react when we needed as many screens as something goes wrong, but often possible, so people couldn’t see anticipate disaster and come up what was going on. with plans B, C and D. “When the truck arrived and I “You can always rest assured realized what had happened, I something’s going to happen,” said checked and re-checked to make Valori Zaslow of ReEvent, who’s sure everything had been ordered been in the business for 20 years. properly. They had loaded the “You have to think fast on your feet wrong things. and be prepared. Maintain a sense “They had just come from New of stability, because how you react Low tables had to be converted to high-tops on-site York so there was no way they us is how everyone will react at a ReEvent Bat Mitzvah party. could go back and get everything, around you.” so I told them they had to fix it. Make no mistake, it’s an acquired skill. They were handymen who knew how to make tables. They built it “The first time something happened, I thought, ‘What am I on-site.” going to do?’” Zaslow said. “But time after time I’ve learned, ‘OK, And other than having to extend the cocktail hour a little try to fix it.’ And sometimes you can’t. longer, no one ever noticed. “You just try to do the best job you can, because people under- stand there’s always human error.” THE THREE-DAY PARTY Just try not to let the hosts know about it. The folks at Mae & Company Events in Cinnaminson, N.J., do Here are a few tales of events gone wrong. everything from murder mystery dinner theater productions to character impersonations ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Lady TURNING THE TABLES Gaga to Donald Trump. That’s in addition to planning weddings, With 200 guests due to attend a Bat Mitzvah party in Bar and Mat Mitzvahs, casino nights and a lot of other things. Doylestown, Zaslow was busy preparing for the event when she A few years ago, they were on their way to a big corporate event got a surprise delivery. at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott when Mother Nature got in “I’d ordered tables that were supposed to be high-top, and the way. But that didn’t stop them. they came in the wrong size,” she recalled. “We had a crew on- “This was about 10 years ago,” recalled Sharon Lee Daniels, who site and so they went out, bought lumber and literally built the partners there with Tony Farma. “Tony picked me up in Cherry Hill legs for the tables. See Tales, Page 20 “It was 5 p.m., just before the cocktail hour. I told the facility Name: over Jan's Boutique* tax-free Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas April 20th April 3/23 23rd rsvp Ad Preview Number: all of 00071869 Rene’s new Spring, Summer and Fall 2017 collections Rene Ruiz Trunk Show! exclusively at Jan’s Boutique for 4 days ONLY. Reservations required for this trunk show . by law your local PA dress retailer must charge you up to 8% sales tax on your dress purchase! Pay nothing extra for your dress at Jan’s! save up to $300 on your Dress at Jan’s! Morning Appointments Receive $50! Appointments available in the morning only, walk-ins welcome ALL hours, appointments receive a $50 accessory gift card established 1974 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Alterations on Premises 20,000+ Dresses online SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 19 Tales Continued from Page 19 where our office was then, and they had to carry me over the snow, which was taller than I am. “It was a white-out heading over the bridge. You couldn’t see the rails, and Tony just kept going. There was no other traffic.” Once they finally made it to the Marriott, things got even crazier. “We had to spend three days in the hotel,” Farma laughed. “The governor put a ban on the highways, so the six guys in the crew were stuck there. “The guests were already there. The food was there, but some of the imper- sonators never made it. They were supposed to have a Rocky theme. I had boxed in Philadelphia and had my equipment with me. I put ’em on and went out there as if I was Rocky.” He and the rest of the team were knockouts. “For three days we entertained the troops,” said Daniels, who does a mean Marilyn Monroe impersonation. “We were changing costumes, and it was crazy. “But we gave them a three-day party.” Not to mention a story for the ages. THE ‘POWER’ OF LOVE On more than one occasion the lights have gone out at “Some of the events planned by impersonators Arrangements never made it. They Unlimited. But the were supposed to have a show must always Rocky theme. I had boxed go on. in Philadelphia and had “We had a wedding at the Ritz- my equipment with me. Carlton one time I put ’em on and went out and the electricity there as if I was Rocky.” went off,” Brownstein — TONY FARMA said. “The photographer MAE & COMPANY EVENTS was locked in the elevator with her crew for over an hour, so we had to improvise. “We were able to use our phones to pass pictures to her while she was telling us to what to do. It was terrible, but we able to get the power back before the formal pictures. “Another time, we were having a dinner at Davio’s, just down the block from the Westin, when the power went off. The Westin was wonderful. They allowed us to use their foyer for dinner and their concierge and other people were the waiters. It went off seamlessly, Inset bottom photo: Mae & Company held a but it was a mess.” three-day party during a blizzard that It wasn’t as big of a mess, though, as knocked out the rest of the city. Snow: likar; Boxer: Peshkova/iStock/Thinkstock.com; flowers: Photo provided when 300 elegant place cards for a Name: World Cafe Live Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Spring Simchas 3/23 Ad Number: 00072128 20 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM TICK … TICK … TICK … Anyone who’s ever attended a party knows timing is critical. You only have so many hours for the cocktail hour, the music, the meal itself, then all the presentations in whatever order they occur. For the caterer, it can throw everything out of whack when the clock changes. “Luckily, in the business we’re in, there are so many checks and balances, it’s seldom that something goes wrong with the food,” said Steve Hellinger, who’s been running Barclay’s Kosher Caterers in the Northeast since 1989. “The thing that always goes wrong is the timing. Tablesetting in candlelight at a Barclay’s catered event. “Say the service is supposed to end at noon, but the rabbi goes to 12:30, or a wedding’s supposed to start at 7, but some- one’s late or there’s been an accident. That really puts a kink the timeline.” Every once in a while, though, he’ll encounter a bigger problem. “Recently we were at [Congregation] Beth El in Yardley for a fundraiser, and the power went out,” Hellinger said. “Luckily, all the stoves were gas, so we were able to heat the food, and the full event went on with candlelight.” The important thing — whether you’re the party planner, the caterer or just one of the little people in the background — is to never let them see you sweat. “You spend 24 to 48 months preparing for five hours,” Zaslow said. “So I tell “We were at my clients, ‘It’s going to be beautiful, [Congregation] but things are bound to happen.’ We try to make sure everything Beth El in Yardley for happens behind the scene, and a fundraiser, and the power they never see a thing.” went out. Luckily, all the And then, hopefully, when stoves were gas, so we were the guests tell them what a able to heat the food, and wonderful party it was, the full event went on they’ll nod and simply say, with candlelight.” “Yes, it was.” l — STEVE HELLINGER BARCLAY’S KOSHER CATERERS Candle: Tarzhanova/ iStock/Thinkstock.com; Flowers: Photo provided Remark Weddings Name: Woodcrest Country Club Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Simchas 3/23 ; 1/2pg Ad Number: 00072424 Contact: jmarks@jewishexponent.com: 215-832-0729 Remark Weddings wedding in Nantucket somehow got thrown out just before the guests arrived. With little time to react, Brownstein came up with the idea to have each of the bridesmaids and groomsmen call out the names of individuals at each table, then personally walk them over. “Two weeks later, we had another wedding in Philadelphia and did the stan- dard seating with place cards,” Brownstein said. “One of the guests who had been in Nantucket came over and said she was disap- pointed we hadn’t done it the same way. “So we adopted that and have done it maybe a dozen times since.” Woodcrest Country Club Weddings • Bar & Bat Mitzvahs • Events 300 East Evesham Rd. | Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
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WoodcrestWeddings.com 856- /Woodcrestcountryclub /Woodcrestcc /Woodcrestcc Plate 3 Photography Bonnie Wireback Photography JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 21 If you’re middle-aged or older, the idea of making a big deal out of graduating from something other than high school, college or graduate school may seem to be a relatively recent one. It’s not. Rhyme University Inc. began selling diplomas for kinder- garteners in 1954. The St. Paul, Minn., company has since expanded its product line to include caps and gowns, among other things. It also has increased the occasions for which it makes products; those now include graduations from preschool and Head Start programs. With many elementary and middle schools also having jumped on the graduation-ceremony bandwagon, parents who like throwing parties to celebrate their children’s academic rites of passage now have more rites of passage than ever to choose from. How many they choose to celebrate is an economic indicator of sorts, according to Adam Weitz, who started Southampton, Pa.- based A Sharp Production 20 years ago as a disc jockey and live entertainment company. “The milestone events will always be there, but the fun little parties that people like to have, like fifth-grade graduations, depend on the economy,” Weitz said. Even when people feel economically secure enough to throw non-milestone graduation parties for their children, they don’t spend too much money on them. “I haven’t really had a crazy under-high school graduation,” said Jennifer Lawn, who has been in the event business since 1996 and had her own company, JL Original Designs, since 2011. For preschool or kindergarten graduations, Lawn said, parents might hire her company, which does decorations, and a caterer, get a bounce house for their backyard and have a picnic. 22 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS The idea of making a big deal out of graduating from something other than high school, college or graduate school may seem to be a relatively recent one. Rhyme University Inc. began selling diplomas for kindergarteners in 1954. Top: Wavebreakmedia; diploma: hmell_c4; facing page: SanneBerg/iStock/Thinkstock.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “Parents just really want to do something that fits their child’s personality,” she said. They also want to do something that’s family-oriented. Celebrations of graduations prior to high school typically feature the gradu- ate’s immediate family, perhaps a few members of their extended family and then their closest friends, said Karen Pecora of Philadelphia Events. Elementary and middle school graduations, she said, are typically thrown at the graduate’s home and are casual, fun events. Since the graduations occur in late spring, they’re usually outdoors and often around a pool, if the graduate’s parents have one. Preschool and kindergarten graduation celebrations, she said, are often lunches with parents, grandparents and other relatives, and can be more formal. “You see preschool graduations and kindergarten gradua- tions where everybody’s dressed to the nines,” she said. That can make for memorable occasions, but the adults likely will be the ones who remember them best. “Are [the children] going to remember them 20 years from now? Probably not,” Pecora said. “It’s more for the family than it is for the child.” Graduations aren’t the only events featuring kinder- garteners in their best. Graduations aren’t the only events featuring kindergarteners in their best. Some kindergartens are holding proms. Randi Martin, the chief event planner for Hatboro-based Trilogy Event Design, said some kindergartens are holding proms. “It’s just like a little high school prom, but it’s for the little kids,” she said. “They get dressed up and everything.” That may seem like overkill, as may a party to cele- brate children graduating from preschool or kinder- garten, which is why not everyone does it. EBE will help with any party that anyone is willing to throw, but Tara Buchanan, its lighting and produc- tion director/event planner, said no one has hired it for preschool or kindergarten graduations as far as she knows. The Philadelphia company has worked on elementary and middle school graduation parties. For those, Buchanan suggests getting such games as foosball or arcade basketball and/or hiring a disc jockey. Brian Smith, whose Platinum Disc Jockeys & Photo Booths is based in Collegeville, hasn’t worked a party See Graduations, Page 24 Name: Philadelphia Party Planners Width: 3.625" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black Comment: Steinfeld 1/2 page Ad Number: 00072118 Let us create the completely worry-free and fabulous wedding you’ve dreamed of — from complete wedding planning or just day of coordination services. Sandra Steinfield, Owner 215.285.7892 )  philadelphiapartyplanners.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 23 Graduations Continued from Page 23 celebrating any graduations beneath high school in his more than 25 years as a DJ. He said the first milestone events he does are mitzvahs, followed by sweet 16 parties. “Anything younger than that, the traditional outlet has been a BounceU, a Chuck E. Cheese or some- thing small in their backyard for family members,” he said. A growing problem Smith has noticed at the parties, dances and mitzvahs he does is that the young attendees need something more than just music to hold their attention. When he’s just playing records and nothing else is going on, they’re glued to their smartphones. “They’re not disconnected [from their phones] very long unless you’ve got something to keep their attention,” he said. For elementary and middle school graduation parties, get games such as foosball, arcade basketball and/or hire a disc jockey so that the graduates aren’t glued to their smartphones. Girl: Poike; Boy: wernerimages/iStock/Thinkstock.com IN GOOD TASTE A compilation of the best recipes featured in the Jewish Exponent in 2016. NEW! TastE the BeSt reCIPeS FrOm 2016 A SUPPLEMENT TO THE MAY 4, 2017 PUBLISHES MAY 4, 2017 (AD DEADLINE APR. 14) TO RESERVE YOUR AD contact Sharon Schmuckler call 215-832-0753 or email sschmuckler@jewishexponent.com 24 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Andrew Scharff, a clown, comic and juggler from Philadelphia’s Belmont Village section (although he now lives in South Philadelphia), also hasn’t done any parties to celebrate graduations lower than high school. He did perform at one such graduation though — in El Salvador on his Clown the World trip. Scharff said he studied at clown college and then spent nine years performing in circuses in the United States, in Europe and in Japan. He followed that up with six years as a juggler and come- dian on cruise ships. He has performed in China six times and before one pope — John Paul II. His Clown the World trip combined charity with tourism, as he performed at schools, orphanages and homes for the elderly in places he always wanted to see, with his girlfriend along to docu- ment the experience on video. Name: Hot Foot No 3.625" Matter What The Occasion Width: Depth: 4.75" From Formal To Fun... Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Simchas Ad Number: 00072375 From of Israel AT OUR NEW LOCATION Justa Farm Shopping Center 1966 County Line Rd, Huntingdon Valley, Valle , PA 19006 215-969-9626 HOT-FOOT-BOUTIQUE.SHOPTIQUES.COM hironosov/iStock/Thinkstock.com In-Store Boutique Merida Alexander said that although her Morrisville-based firm, Events by Merida, hasn’t been asked to plan parties specifically to celebrate middle school graduations, it has done some birthday parties that happened around the time the guest of honor graduated from middle school and were made a little more elaborate as a result. Name: Joan Abrams' Ladies Boutique Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Jewish Exponent Ad Number: 00072113 “I’ve enjoyed working in the circuses and on the cruise ships, and those have been great jobs, but I just wanted to go to even more places and I realized I wasn’t going to find a paying gig in Guatemala,” he said. Merida Alexander said that although her Morrisville-based firm, Events by Merida, hasn’t been asked to plan parties specifi- cally to celebrate middle school graduations, it has done some birthday parties that happened around the time the guest of honor graduated from middle school and were made a little more elabo- rate as a result. And, while some people consider celebrating graduations of elementary and middle school to be the equivalent of giving out participation trophies for academic achievement, Alexander isn’t among them. “It’s fun for the kids, they feel like they’ve accomplished something and as much as it may seem silly, if it encourages kids to enjoy education … I don’t think it can be looked down upon,” she said. l JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Best kept shopping secret is out of the closet! Now fill it with beautiful clothes at fabulous prices! CASUAL TO FORMAL SIZES 0 TO 24W PANTS • GOWNS COATS • SWEATERS SUITS • DRESSES 315 Huntingdon Pike 1 block off Church & Huntingdon Pike Rockledge, PA 215-663-2311 TUES.-FRI. 10-5, SAT. 10-4, CLOSED SUNDAY SIMCHAS DRESSMAKER ON PREMISES MARCH 23, 2017 25 Without being Martha Stewart, or having the capabilities she’s displayed on television over the years, it’s hard to take care of everything at your event, unless the event is a small one. Choosing the people to take care of things, however, can be a chore itself, even if you’re just choosing one and letting that person handle the whole event. That’s why there are event expos, which gather event planners, caterers, florists, disc jockeys, photographers and others under one roof (and usually in one room), so you can get their names, phone numbers, email addresses and start the process of selecting the ones you feel most comfortable with. “Event expos are great,” said Stacey Kesselman, whose Conshohocken-based Exceptional Events is a full-service plan- ning company. “[They offer] a great way to meet a lot of different vendors at one time.” Kesselman said her company likes doing event expos because they give her and her team a chance to meet potential clients face to face and pitch Exceptional Events’ wares in person. “Event expos are great. [They offer] a great way to meet a lot of different vendors at one time.” — STACEY KESSELMAN, EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS At the same time, she said, she doesn’t expect herself or her employees to close many deals at them. “More often than not,” she said, “the people who do the mitzvah expos … just got their date, so they’re really gath- Photo: Weedezign/iStock/Thinkstock.com 26 MARCH 23, 2017 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Jennifer Lawn of JL Original Designs wants to do more than talk to you. she wants to show you her work. Photos above: Biggunsband/iStock/Thinkstock.com RE REC N EN OV T AT LY ED ering information and trying to find the best vendors there for them.” The fact that vendors at the expos don’t expect to land many contracts at them is a good thing for you if you plan on going to one because it means you can request information without getting the hard sell. For example, Adam Weitz said when his company, Southampton-based A Sharp Production, sends a representative to event expos, he expects the person to hand out information and tell attendees that if they find it intriguing, they can make an appointment to get more details at a later time. Weitz also said that people interested in A Sharp Production can get more infor- mation about it from its website — and many do. “As the millennials have come of age, they prefer [getting information online] to going to an event,” he said. Still, if you’re the type of person who likes putting a face to a name (or a company), event expos are for you. “When you go to a party fair, you become educated in a short period of time about everything because they’re all there to help you — and boy, do they want to talk to you,” Weitz said. JL Original Designs wants to do more than talk to you. It wants to show you its work. Jennifer Lawn, the company’s owner, said she used to go to event expos and give elevator pitches, which are short summaries of a company’s capabilities that get their name because they’re brief enough to be made and digested during a chance encounter in an elevator. Over time, however, she concluded that most of the people at the events are so W E C R E AT E . Y O U C E L E B R AT E . B A R / B AT M I T Z V A H C E L E B R AT I O N P A C K A G E Five Hour Reception • Four Hour Open Bar • Sit Down Dinner Custom Cake • Use of Peddler’s Village Gardens for Family Photos In the heart of the beautiful Bucks County countryside. Five miles south of New Hope, PA. 215-794-4078 • peddlersvillage.com See Expos, Page 28 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 27 Expos Continued from Page 27 overwhelmed by the wealth of choices before them that her words weren’t sinking in. To remedy that, she decided to show them what JL Original Designs could do instead. She began making bouquets and bringing them, a backdrop and a photographer to the expos so brides-to-be could get pictures of themselves with some of her company’s creations. It worked. “We started to see a lot more people come back to us because we started that rapport with them,” she said. Having a good rapport with your event planner is necessary to having your big event come off with as few headaches as possible. That’s why Merida Alexander, whose Events by Merida is based in Morrisville, said you should make sure the event planner you choose is personable, which event expos can give you a chance to do. Alexander also recommends making sure your event planner has a history of working on events like the one you want to throw. “It’s pretty easy to tell from photos sometimes whether or not they’re familiar with your traditions,” Alexander said. “You don’t want to hire a planner who has no idea how a Jewish wedding works.” If you want to find someone who knows how a mitzvah works, you can attend one or both of the two mitzvah expos scheduled for April 2. Mitzvah Expo is being put on by JL Original Designs to show- case the Sheraton Bucks County in Langhorne, where it is being 28 MARCH 23, 2017 Having a good rapport with your event planner is necessary to having your big event come off with as few headaches as possible. omgimages/iStock/Thinkstock.com held. It also will feature JL Original Designs (obviously) and vendors that Lawn and/or the hotel management have extensive experience working with. “It’s a smaller show,” Lawn said, and not meant to compete with Mitzvah Palooza. “In fact,” she said, “I know several families attending both.” Mitzvah Palooza is at the Chubb Hotel & Conference Center in Lafayette Hill. Its other two sponsors are Garces Group, the Philadelphia-based restaurant operator and caterer; and EBE, a Philadelphia event-planning company that now employs 14 bands, 10 mitzvah and party masters of ceremony, 12 wedding and special events DJs, and 16 club-style party DJs. Other vendors who provide such services as event decor, cakes and photography will be there, too, but the event won’t be just three hours of attendees browsing around. Instead, it will be struc- tured like a mitzvah. “We try to give you the party experience in a condensed amount of time,” said Tara Buchanan, EBE’s lighting and produc- tion director/event planner. After a cocktail hour that gives people time to look at the vendors, EBE will choose a young volunteer and have him do a grand entrance, then show attendees how one of its mitzvahs would flow. “It’s informative and fun and also you get an idea of the differ- ent MCs that we have,” Buchanan said. If you plan on going to one of the mitzvah expos, you might want to get there early. Buchanan said people start planning mitz- vahs two or three years in advance. One reason is just to get ideas. Even if you and your child know what you want the theme to be, mitzvah expos are a good place to see different types of decor, invitation styles and the like. Additionally, while the area has plenty of venues that can host mitzvahs, if you want to do something unusual, you’ll need one that can accommodate it. To make sure you get it, you should book it a year or two ahead of time, as others might have interest in it too, said Randi Martin, the chief event planner of Trilogy Event Design in Hatboro. The same is true of DJs or bands. “Entertainment is also something that’s going to be a high priority for everybody else,” Martin said. l SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Wedding Trends FOR 2017 KEVIN WALKER | JE FEATURE Top: SEASTOCK/iStock/Thinkstock.com Like all big events, weddings move from one trend to another. What was hot in 2014 is stone cold in 2017. For this year, you can expect new trends to emerge and a few from last year to keep going. The good news is that whatever theme you pick for your big day, the Philadelphia area has a diverse number of options from which to choose. Everyone has their own idea about the best way to tie the knot. However, some trends emerged in interviews with Philadelphia wedding planners and designers. They include: • Art deco is in. • Glam — art deco-style and otherwise — also is in. • Country barn weddings remain popular with many. • Many couples now focus on guest experience and appealing to all five senses. • Nontraditional has become the new traditional for many, with couples looking to become trendsetters. • That said, traditional is always in with some. That’s one reason for the continued popularity of landmark buildings in Philadelphia for weddings, including the National Museum of American Jewish History. • Also, donut walls. Your guests will thank you. WHY WAIT? If you’re thinking about getting married, that’s just an old tradition that is fading fast in the modern world, right? Actually, no. Marriage rates have stabilized in the last decade, according to statistics kept by (of all departments) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency reports that since 2009, about 6.8 percent of the population got married. That’s more than 2 million people a year. In 2014, the last year for which numbers are currently avail- able, it jumped to 6.9 percent, or 2.1 million people. So if you are planning a wedding, you have a lot of company. Wedding planners in the Philadelphia area said they receive a steady stream of requests for planning, catering and designing weddings. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “People have money to spend,” said Marlee Wilson with DFW Event Design in Philadelphia. She noted that some of the recent weddings have been larger than usual. An upcoming wedding in Jersey City features 300 guests and is taking up most of the space at the Hyatt Regency. Couples are also moving fast. Jennifer Supper, director of sales and special events for Kaleidoscope Weddings in Wayne, said, “Short engagements are in. I am hearing from people who want to get married in less than six months.” Another trend is appealing to all five senses, said Caitlin Boshnack, wedding sales manager for the Garces Group in Philadelphia. For example, she said, herbs might be included in floral arrangements so “people can smell how beautiful it is as well as see it.” HOMEMADE WEDDING TRENDS One of the big trends emerging in Jewish weddings is the idea of going homemade. For example, Supper said for a recent wedding, the bride made a homemade version of the chuppah covering into which she had woven her grandmother’s scarves. “In another one, the bride made a hand-sewn tallit out of yarn, large enough to be a quilt on her and her husband’s bed after the wedding,” Supper said. There also have been changes in the ketubah, which tradition- ally is done before the ceremony by two appointed witnesses. More and more couples are choosing to have the ketubah signing during the ceremony “so everyone can witness as opposed to before the ceremony with a select few family members,” Supper said. THE ROARING ’20S Katie Robinson with DFW Event Design said while trends come and go, one big one has emerged so far in 2017, a kind of “Great Gatsby” feel for weddings. SIMCHAS See Trends, Page 30 MARCH 23, 2017 29 Continued from Page 29 “The biggest trend we are seeing right now is art deco, the 1920s,” Robinson said. “It’s really, really big this year. A lot of gold, metallic and sequins. Everyone wants sequins.” That has spilled over into big events beyond just weddings. DFW just handled a corporate party in Philadelphia where the theme had a strong art deco bent and the same theme was wanted for a charity event. Where do the trends come from? No one is sure. “I don’t know exactly where it starts, but suddenly that’s what everyone wants,” Robinson said. “Everyone wants glam.” She said country barn weddings remain popular in some areas, but even they want to “glam” the wedding. That can include everything from the gold and metallic to jewel tones for decorations. The high-end, glamorous feel also extends to wedding invita- tions. More elaborate invitations have become an emerging trend, particularly laser cuttings that offer an upscale look and feel. SMALL PLATES, DONUT WALLS AND DESSERT BARS When it comes to food, Boshnack said the overall trend is couples are focused more on the “guest experience” and providing “a high- end dining experience.” Rather than an “all-you-can-eat” buffet style, couples are choosing small plates with more haute — or at least homemade — cuisine. “We’re seeing more people opting for small plates,” she said. “Especially during cocktails.” Wilson said when it comes to food, “everybody has their own thing, especially when it comes to dessert.” DFW works with local caterers, producing a number of inter- esting desserts for recent weddings, including specialty sand- wiches, strawberry lavender cake and edible glitter. Yes, edible glitter. “When it comes to food, everyone seems to come up with something different,” said Wilson. Another trend that started in 2016 and continues this year are donut walls. Typically situated behind a dessert bar, the donut wall is exactly what it sounds like: a wall with creatively designed donuts hanging on it. And yes, you are invited to eat one. Wilson said the walls have become a popular choice no matter what the overall design of the party. They also offer the opportu- Name: Pink has Daisy The Pink Daisy been setting The fine tables for over 40 Width: 3.625" years. We are known for our great Pink Daisy Depth: customer 3" service, bridal registry and tasteful Color: Black plus one complimentary gift wrap. Comment: JE - Simchas one of the 00071915 premier Ad We are Number: bridal registries in the Philadelphia area featuring Michael Aram, Rosenthal, Nambe, Waterford, Versace, Juliska, Vietri, Annieglass, Simon Pearce and Mariposa. You can find us on the Knot, come into the store, or visit us at thepinkdaisy.com to register. We look forward to accessorizing your new life! 30 MARCH 23, 2017 nity to make cutesy signs such as “I donut know what I’d do without you” or “Donut worry, be happy.” That’s optional, of course. For those who wish to keep kosher, wedding plan- ners work with a wide range of local caterers who serve kosher meals for weddings. Most venues also allow you bring in food from the caterer of your choice. LOCATION, LOCATION Most wedding planners work with facilities all over the Philadelphia area, and in this regard the bride-to-be has an enor- mous amount of choices. One traditional but still popular spot is the National Museum of American Jewish History. Aside from its location near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, another attractive aspect of the museum is it offers the choice of multiple rooms within the museum, giving some flexibility in planning the wedding, Supper said. They include a ballroom and a terrace with views of the city. Other sites that remain popular include the Fairmont Park Horticultural Center, the Franklin Institute, many of the city’s other museums and the major hotels. The Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania also is a popular choice, as are the city’s many country clubs. Another traditional choice is one of the Philadelphia area’s many mansions, including Pen Ryn Mansion on the Delaware River, the Knowlton Mansion and The Lake House Inn. However, others want nontraditional choices. For example, Boshnack said some couples have opted for Olde Bar. The restaurant is located in the historic Old Original Bookbinders building in Old City that was home to the famous oyster house and seafood restaurant dating to 1898. Olde Bar represents a new spin on an old tradition. Couples from previous generations were married there. “A lot of couples said their parents get married there and they have special memories,” Boshnack said. “They go there for a reception or other event and say, ‘My parents got married here and I want to get married here, too.’” These represent just some of the choices couples have, and the trends they are tapping into, in 2017. But as wedding planners will tell you, everyone has their own ideas on decor and preference on location of their wedding. Luckily, in Philadelphia, you have enough choices to suit almost any taste. l Boutique Created Especially for Girls Name: Party Girls/L&W The Enterprises Sizes 7-14, Preteen & Junior Width: 3.625" Depth: 3" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Simchas Ad Number: 00072414 Trunk Shows Coming in June C. W. Designs Gowns, Dresses & Suits for your Special Occasion. Appropriate Bimah Attire Sondra Celli Couture Custom Designed Gowns, Dresses & Suits Great Selection of Prom Gowns 215-579-9899 90 West Afton Ave. Yardley, PA 19067 215-321-2248 thepinkdaisy.com thepinkdaisy@gmail.com ll 8; Sat. 10 – 5; Sun. 12 – 5 4 Cambridge Lane, Newtown, Pa. 18940 www.partygirlsnewtown.com Search Party Girls Newtown SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Donuts: Gizelka/iStock/Thinkstock.com Trends The Adult B’nai Mitzvah MARISSA STERN | JE STAFF When Andrea Shuster was growing up, few women in her family had a Bat Mitzvah. Two cousins did, she recalled, but her aunts? No. Grandmother? No. Mother? No. Shuster was given the choice between a Bat Mitzvah or a sweet 16 — she chose the latter. “It just really wasn’t something that was encouraged growing up in my family because it was usually all the men at that time,” recalled the 43-year-old. “We were raised Conservative and it wasn’t a huge, big thing back then, so if the girls didn’t really want do it they didn’t push it.” On March 11, she joined seven other women on the bimah as they became B’not Mitzvahs at Congregation Rodeph Shalom. Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are not uncommon. In Shuster’s group, which ranged from women in their 20s to their 70s, there were those who converted and wanted to have a Bat Mitzvah now and those who may have been like Shuster and didn’t feel a strong desire to have one when they were 13. Doing the ceremony now has made it more meaningful for Shuster, who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and attended Ner Zedek off and on. See Turning, Page 32 bbtomas/iStock/Thinkstock.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 31 Continued from Page 1 “It’s been refreshing [and] enlight- ening,” she said. “Since I’m older, I’m retaining it more, and I’m appreciating it at this age. Learning the Hebrew was really tough, I’ll be honest, but it’s been a great experience. Now I can read the prayer book and the Torah, which is awesome.” While Rodeph Shalom has been offering adult Bar or Bat Mitzvah classes for at least 15 or 20 years, executive clergy assistant Candice Nemoff said this is the first B’not Mitzvah she’s aware of. If there were a man in the group, it would follow the masculine laws of Hebrew and be called a B’nai Mitzvah. “Last year, we had one guy and then there were a few other girls, but as long as there’s one guy it’s masculine because [of patri- archy],” laughed Nemoff. The women met monthly for an hour and a half with Rabbi Jill Maderer to learn about the Torah and the blessings they performed together during Saturday’s service. While none of them planned any big parties afterward with a DJ and seemingly endless rounds of Coke or Pepsi, there was a luncheon for the new Bat Mitzvahs and their friends and family. They received mezuzahs and Kiddush cups engraved with their initials and the date as gifts, as well. The opportunity to become a Bat Mitzvah even when one is already bogged down with the bills and trappings of being an adult is still just as meaningful. From Generation to Generation A Family Tradition For All Occasions Formerly of Fleets T AILORED C LOTHING S PORTSWEAR A CCESSORIES F OOTWEAR F ORMAL A TTIRE ... S ALES & R ENTALS F OR M EN & B OYS ! Sizes 4-50+ Regulars • Slim Huskies Singer Family HOURS: M. T. TH. F. SAT. 10-5 • WED. 10-8 • SUN. 12- 4 RED LION RD. & HUNTINGDON PIKE HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA 215-914-2060 WWW.THEMENSANDBOYSSTORE.COM 32 MARCH 23, 2017 Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary “It brings those people specifically more into the Jewish community because officially it makes you an adult in the Jewish community,” Nemoff said. They read three sentences each from the Torah and led chants and blessings during the service, which Shuster was looking forward to doing. “The feeling of learning how to read Hebrew and the Torah and have the opportunity just to read the Torah is just amazing,” she said. “The first time I practiced, it was really awesome. That feeling that you know from … a long, long time ago, they wrote this and now you can read it — it’s just the coolest thing.” Her family helped her prepare for her big day. Her 14-year-old daughter, Lindsay, who also became a Bat Mitzvah at Rodeph Shalom, has helped her get ready for her time on the bimah, and her parents bought her her first tallit. “I’m looking forward to just getting up and reading the Torah in front of everyone, putting on a tallit for the first time,” she said. “I never thought to get one and because I’m reading from the Torah, I thought that I should have one.” Having a Bat Mitzvah was something Jenni Russell wanted to do for herself. Growing up in South Jersey, Russell grew up around a large Jewish population — but until 2007, was not Jewish herself. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” said Russell, 35. After she converted and started going to Rodeph Shalom around 2011 after moving to the Philadelphia area, she heard about its Bar/Bat Mitzvah class and decided to join. As a religion minor in college, she’d learned about Judaism and the Torah. But getting to hear other takes from the women in her class and studying with the rabbi allowed her to hear new perspectives. “Our group is a very intergenerational group, and people came with all different experiences in terms of academic study, religious study,” she said. “For me, the most interesting part about it was studying with them and learning from all these other people of different backgrounds. On Wednesday morning, the day after their final meeting before the ceremony, Russell — as any pre-Bar or Bat Mitzvah would surely relate to — was feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The idea of reading the Torah in front of a large group of people and singing was a little scary, she said. “While I’ve been studying and preparing a lot, I’m still very nervous about it. So I’m looking forward to having had the expe- rience and it being over and not being slightly terrified by trying to read Hebrew in front of a room full of people,” she laughed. “I am looking forward to being able to actually read text from the Torah scroll itself.” Public speaking doesn’t scare her, but she admitted “it’s a little different when you have do it in a language you’re not necessarily accustomed to.” For her, being a part of the B’not Mitzvah had special meaning. “Being someone who doesn’t grow up with the shared experi- ences that everyone else has, you can sometimes feel a little bit left out of the conversation,” she said. “You’re not able to relate or talk about certain things, and so in one respect this was a way to have that experience — granted, not the same as doing it as a teenager, but still having gone through that process of studying and learn- ing and doing this in front of a big group of people. All around it’s just been such a fantastic and wonderful experience.” l Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Thinkstock.com Turning Contact: mstern@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Is Bracing for a Change THE BEST IDEA? There’s nothing quite like the combination of puberty and peaking in Jewish adulthood: You walk up to the pulpit, prep to pronounce prayers from the Torah, then suddenly pause to pull leftover bagel from your braces. Avoiding casualties like this one are what prompts many preteens to get their braces removed for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, then get them put back on after the big day. In this reporter’s day, getting braces was in itself a rite of passage: You could choose which rubber band colors to get on the metal brackets to match holidays, or choose clear bands in an attempt to make the metal invisible (though it really just made your teeth look bulgier). Looking back at my own Bat Mitzvah photos, I made the wise decision of picking turquoise rubber bands to match my teal BCBG dress, which also matched the fake blue flowers I held in a photo shoot that my brother took in our backyard. There may or may not have been blue eye shadow involved. (I just really, really liked blue, OK?) Nostalgia aside, braces have served a purpose in one form or another dating all the way back to ancient Egypt. According to Colgate, archaeologists have uncovered mummies with metal bands around their teeth, and catgut — a type of cord made from fibers found in animal intestines — tied to the bands to provide pressure and move the teeth. See Bracing, Page 34 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM SIMCHAS MARCH 23, 2017 33 Top: djiledesign; Rubberbands: flyparade/iStock/Thinkstock.com RACHEL KURLAND | JE STAFF Bracing As braces nowadays require more reading in front of people during a than 40 days and 40 nights to prop- Bar or Bat Mitzvah.” erly see results, why is braces Teeth can shift in the limbo removal all the rage? between braces and bare teeth, and Getting your mouth full of metal the excessive removals can hurt the removed (did anyone else pick up enamel. Otherwise, Wang said the static, or was that just me?) to appear procedures are relatively straightfor- more photogenic during one’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah is not unlike ward, and transitional retainers are used as a middleman. putting “flippers” — expensive faux teeth — on toddlers in chil- “The longer you go on vacations from your braces, basically it dren’s pageants to make them seem more mature. But that process delays the process of finishing in a timely manner,” she noted. is less involved. The question for B’nai Mitzvah: Is it worth it? Another big issue Wang has discovered: persuading kids to get “Usually when we go over the pros and the cons with the the braces back on. patient and the parent, usually the cons outweigh the pros,” said “It’s that sweet freedom,” she laughed. Vanessa Wang, an orthodontist with Narberth Dental Group. But a happy medium between that sweet freedom and full-on While some choose to stay the course of treatment, others go metal mouth include advancements like Invisalign, according to for the removal. (This is true of brides and grooms, too, Sherri Middleberg, office manager of Orthodontics she said.) Limited, PC in Northeast Philadelphia. “It’s a big deal,” she said. “For some kids it’s Both braces and Invisalign are worn 24/7, “I’ve had requests totally worth it, and for some parents it’s but Invisalign is taken out to brush teeth or totally worth it.” eat, so the overall treatment is slightly less [to remove the braces] If Wang knows early on in the consul- time than braces. either due to aesthetics or tation that there is a big event coming “It’s not happening as much maybe due to being able to perform up, she tries to steer them toward some- because braces are a rite of passage at the functions of singing or thing more inconspicuous like that age and it’s more acceptable. It’s not reading in front of people Invisalign. such a bad thing to have braces,” she “That is much easier to take a break noted. during a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.” from,” she said. “But taking the braces off Middleberg said all three of her now- — VANESSA WANG in the middle of treatment might be some- grown children went through braces, NARBERTH DENTAL GROUP thing that might end up creating more disad- though she had to look up at their Bar and Bat vantage than there is benefit. We will do it if it is Mitzvah photos in her office to recall if they had truly what is requested, but we just have to be thorough braces during those times (they didn’t). with what some of the consequences could be.” “It’s a personal preference,” she added, “because these pictures But temporarily removing braces isn’t always for aesthetics. are like a wedding picture. It’s something that you’re going to hang “These pictures are going to be memorabilia for a lifetime, and up or look at for many years until the next milestone.” for other people it’s, ‘Oh, little Johnny can’t read or sing with those Orthodontics Limited will remove braces and replace them for in his mouth,’” she said. “So I’ve had requests either due to aesthet- the occasion free of charge — they are usually off for about a ics or due to being able to perform the functions of singing or week, she said — and since orthodontics has come a long way since the ancient Egyptians, the pain now is nonexistent. “It’s just a matter of a little bit of glue and then there’s a curing light — once it shines on the glue, it hardens, so it’s not like the old days where you had to cap each tooth with a band,” she explained. For Bar or Bat Mitzvah kids who keep the braces on, many choose Henning’s Custom Catering to get those colored rubber bands to match their party theme. “If their cake and their decorations are red and pink, maybe a Perfect For All Functions girl would want red and pink elastics,” she said. She’s seen preteens • From Private to Corporate do the same to match their school colors, sports teams or holidays. • All Inclusive Meals “We see kids from 6, 7 years old to 70 years old — the whole • All Food Cooked on Premises by our In-house range,” Middleberg added. “We’ve done mothers and daughters and Chefs fathers and sons — any combination of family at the same time.” • Set Up & Service Available Regardless of older generations who endured the old-school sets • Meeting & Party Room Up of braces or even — shudder — headgear, it’s your prerogative to to 60 Guests embrace the present with or without braces for the big day on the Your Caterer For... bimah. 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