IIIII hen Marlene Han-
dler and her fellow
hostesses decided to
throw a Western-
themed prenuptial
party for a young
couple, renting
space at a hotel, syn-
agogue, restaurant or bar was not even a
consideration. The hostesses wanted to do
the party in-house — literally.
It helped, of course, that the local resi-
dence at their disposal had a downstairs
dance floor large enough to handle 60 two-
stepping young adults.
Even so, Ms. Handler says it wasn't the
space so much as the atmosphere that con-
vinced the hostesses to keep the festivi-
ties at home. "I think it's more personal,"
she says. "People are more comfortable."
In truth, house parties generally radiate
a certain warmth often missing from other
venues; they also pose many potential haz-
ards and inconveniences. But there are good
and bad points to any location for a party
Knowing those realities and planning ac-
cordingly is a host's best chance for choos-
ing the spot that best fits the affair.
Synagogues and temples are a natural
choice for those affiliated and even for non-
members looking for a convenient, self-con-
tained party. Not only do they offer excellent
rental prices but also preferential treatment.
A member will pay little, if anything, to rent
the space. The Birmingham Temple charges
$600 for non-members to use the entire
building for one day; members pay less than
half that.
At Temple Israel, non-members must
wait until six months before their event to
book a space, while members can save dates
years in advance (and they do, especially
for bar/bat mitzvahs).

PH OTO BY DANI EL LIPPITT

P arty On!

Choosing a site

home, hote4

synagogue,

restaurant

may be your most

important decision.

LIZ STEVENS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

There's more. In the case of traditional
Jewish events, synagogue staffs know the
ropes: when the candlelighting and/or chal-
lah ceremonies will begin, what the cler-
gy's needs are, when to cue the band for
the hora, etc.
Most synagogues provide their own cater-
ing services (many, like Shir Shalom and
Temple Israel, have contracts with Matt
Prentice's Unique Corporation), linens, ta-
bles and chairs. In some cases, the caterer's
services include a limited form of party plan-
ning (at Adat Shalom, for instance, the
Rosenbergs will happily discuss colors and
decor with a client). The cost of throwing

a wedding at Tem-
ple Israel includes a
bridal attendant
and chuppah.
Large parking lots negate the need for a
valet service at most of these venues. And
in the case of weddings and bar/bat mitz-
vahs, hosts have the option of keeping
guests under one roof for the ceremony and
the celebration following.
On the other hand, synagogues may of-
fer fewer options when it comes to deco-
rations, linens and tables/chairs.
Hotels have much in common with syn-
agogues, says Troy event planner Carol

Leslie Sternberg
surprised her husband
Mervyn at the Gem.