The right lighting and
one or two "wow pieces"
can transform a room
relatively inexpensively.
B'Nai
Mitzvah
On A
Budget
A guide to creating a party
to remember without
breaking the bank.
Janie Haas I JointMedia News Service
bar or bat mitzvah is a beautiful and
powerful time in a family's life. A child has
_reached adulthood, and it's one of the
few occasions when family and friends come from
across the country (or world) to celebrate together.
This time can also bump up against the stress of
party planning.
If you have always envisioned a beautiful bar or
bat mitzvah for your son or daughter but have been
dealt a blow by the current economy, there are still
ways to achieve your vision.
There are many components that make up a
bar/bat mitzvah party, but only a few that are
really crucial: decor, music, venue and food. I'll go
through each to discuss some great money-saving
techniques. The main thing to remember is that if
you are planning a bar/bat mitzvah on a budget,
be prepared to be significantly involved.
A
You first need to find a specific piece to work
around, something thematic. If your child has a
particular passion (music, sports, etc.), that may
inform your theme. I personally subscribe to the
mantra that "bigger is better." A few larger pieces
that have great height, color and dimension fill
space better than lots of little things. So I usually
tell people who are on a limited budget to do a
couple of "wow items" and not get caught up in
minutiae that will not pack a punch.
Many clients tell me that their child is a typical
13-year-old with many interests but no particular
passion. In that case, color is a great tool. You
can get a lot of play by taking a room and using
color strategically. Lighting works well to change
the ambiance of a room in an inexpensive way. A
white wall instantly become hot pink, a stark room
becomes a winter wonderland in ice blue.
There are also some clever ways to decorate a
room by "doing it yourself," thereby saving money
on a decorator. If I'm looking for a little pop, I'll
cover a table with shiny black linen and throw silver
Hershey kisses down the center of it. Simple, and it
looks great.
A lot of people are interested in giving back,
and you might organize your centerpieces around
the theme of tzedakah. For example, throw a bur-
lap fabric, or otherwise very textural linen, on the
tables. Go apple picking with your family, and fill
your bushels to the brim with different kinds of
shiny apples. This makes a beautiful centerpiece,
and you can attach a note to the effect of, "In
honor of my bat mitzvah, I will be donating these
apples to the local food pantry."
I also once had a mother and daughter bake
cakes together. Each table was then topped by a
cake as the centerpiece. It was adorable,and a
great way for the family to infuse the event with its
personal touch.
The bottom line: People tend to make the mis-
take of spending a lot of money on smaller items
then see their bill and are forced to backpedal.
First identify a theme, and then think of the one or
Budget on page C24
C22
celebrate! I
March 2012