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
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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.

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