Eco-Friendly Celebrations

(and by "eco" we mean ECONOMY!)

 

Suddenly plans and budgets made months ago are being revisited. New economic conditions are casting a harsher light on my more frivolous decision--do we really need $5,000 worth of flowers?  Does each child have to have a sweatshirt as a party favor?  And those seared tuna passed hors d'eurves--wouldn't the cocktail hour be just as wonderful without them?

So I'm getting creative.  In fact, as I type this I'm watching Martha Stewart demonstrate how to make a beautiful inexpensive centerpieces for Thanksgiving--a big glass bowl piled high with shiny red apples (that she polished with a special potato sack--no dish towels for Martha). hmmmm...Sof's bat mitzvah is on Sukkot.  Why couldn't I use Martha's apple centerpiece idea? Apples are harvesty.  Or maybe I'd use lemons.  Oh, but I did so love the flower topiaries the florist recommended ($500 each!) and, am I really going to want to worry about running to the supermarket the day before her Bat Mitzvah to buy dozens of pieces of fruit (and then polish each one in a Martha-quality sack?)

It didn't take a recession for my husband to realize the ridiculous nature of these parties.  He never wanted the flowers and fanfare. And, I do live in an area where fabulous events are not unusual--I saw pictures of a local bat mitzvah party that had a fashion theme.  The lobby of the hotel was decorated to look like Rodeo Drive (with fake store fronts).  The centerpieces were dress forms covered with flowers shaped like gorgeous designer gowns.  And the dance floor was created with plexiglass squares that were lighted from below (and the lights changed colors throughout the evening).  A giant screen (and I mean giant) made the room look like a fashion show worthy of Fashion Week.

So this is the kind of event that had been happening in my neighborhood and the kind of event my daughter would be going to and, to some extent, expecting for her big day.

Fortunately, Sofie's got a really good head on her shoulders.  She's not one to scream and pout if she doesn't get her way.  She's known since we got her date that her event would be beautiful but not outrageous--no talking robots or special appearances by 50 Cent.  And, I've held firm on the "no theme" thing.  What does fashion have to do with a Bat Mitzvah?  I've told her--"your theme is 'Bat Mitzvah'". (Although since hers happens to fall on Sukkot, we are working the holiday into the party by using fruits and vegetables where possible and our shul has just built a truly spectacular new sukkah that the kids will be in during cocktail hour.)

So, how do we scale back?  In a way, the economy is forcing us to bring the b'nai mitzvah celebrations back to a reasonable scale--to not invite everyone we know, but only those who are really important to us, to not focus on the fluff but on the meaning.

Here are some of the things I'm doing (and I'm looking for more...)  I'm making my centerpieces.  I'm not using a lighting company, but am using candles (those fake battery candles to comply with the building's fire code).  I'm doing as much as I can myself to keep "party planner" fees down.  Tablecloths will be plain cotton (ach, I saw such lovely tablecloths, but at $30 a cloth, they had to go.)  I'm using the chairs that come with the room (they're not a pretty as the gold bamboo ones I can rent for $1000, but who really notices?)  We're serving dairy and pareve (which I had always wanted to do, but it's also less expensive than meat).  Cocktail hour is 1/2 hour (really because that time of year we can't start the party until 8:00 pm and I think everyone is going to be hungry--but it has the added benefit of cutting back on food).  In fact, I'm scaling back the amount of food in general.  I've noticed these things always have wayyyyyy too much food--it's a waste.  I've hired a photographer but not a videographer (that's a personal choice--some of my friends would rather have the video than the photographs).  And, I definitely shopped around for all my vendors--many are now offering recession packages.  Fortunately, I also booked all the key vendors as soon as I got our date (two years ago).  Which means I locked in 2006 prices.  Those of you who will be receiving dates, I highly recommend making decisions quickly to take advantage of better prices.

Sofie and I will not be wearing $1,000 dresses--there are plenty of beautiful choices that are much less.  And, the jury's still out on the "party favor".  Hubby's against it, I might waver--we'll see.

So...I'll update you as I think of more ways to save and please, please, please send me your ideas if you're in the same boat.  We MJMs have to help each other!!!!

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