| First, don't be afraid to spend less. Readers of my | | | | great takeout food you could buy each person |
| book, MitzvahChic, already know that "chic" and | | | | for that! Order trays from all the local restaurants: |
| "style" do not equal "expensive". Good | | | | sushi, Chinese dumplings, gourmet pizza. Hire some |
| taste...style...these are timeless and transcend | | | | college kids and local moms to take care of |
| matters of price. The simplest table decoration - if | | | | heating and serving the food. |
| it's rendered with sincerity and a bit of aesthetic | | | | 4. Keep It Simple and, Perhaps, Exotic |
| charm - is as authentic an expression of "chic" as | | | | Keep the menu simple. Have meatless dishes - |
| the most expensive Paris couture. | | | | you may save a little and you'll please all the |
| So, this section should really be called How to Cut | | | | vegetarians and people who observe religious |
| Corners and Still Give Everyone a Wonderful | | | | restrictions. Have a different (less expensive but |
| Experience. You don't have to compromise quality | | | | still quality) menu for the kids. Serve inexpensive |
| to save money, and, to prove it, I'm not going to | | | | and unusual ethnic foods. It will be a culinary |
| give any silly suggestions like "have your party on | | | | adventure and no one will be able to determine if |
| a Monday and you'll get a slightly better price | | | | the food is cheap or not. |
| from the caterer". That's true. In fact you'll save | | | | 5. Let Them Eat Cake |
| a fortune because no one will be able to come! | | | | Shop for a cake at your neighborhood bakery, |
| How expensive could it be to feed six people? | | | | not the local "bakers to the stars". They may |
| Here are ten of my favorite ideas for saving | | | | have very nice designs but no budget to |
| money - there are many more in MitzvahChic. | | | | advertise them. If you're buying a cake, tell the |
| Remember, you can always offer to barter in lieu | | | | caterer you don't want dessert - it's often served |
| of some cash. Have no professional skills to | | | | before the cake and the cake then goes uneaten. |
| swap? Offer to do some work for the vendor; | | | | Best idea of all: buy pretty individual cakes and |
| ask for a discount off your bill for whatever | | | | use them as the centerpieces - the culinary |
| friends you send his way who actually hire him; | | | | equivalent of "multi-tasking". |
| give him time in your vacation home. On second | | | | 6. Buy Co-Op China |
| thought, if you have a vacation home, why are | | | | This idea is particularly relevant for parents |
| you reading this? | | | | planning a bar/bat mitzvah, as you usually know |
| This material excerpted from MitzvahChic, a bar | | | | other parents doing it too. If you're planning to |
| bat mitzvah planning book featuring a wealth of | | | | cater your own party, you'll need china, utensils |
| party-planning ideas. See the book. | | | | and glassware. These are usually supplied by the |
| Your Biggest Costs | | | | caterer and can be costly to rent - if there's even |
| Food, liquor and music. They're the | | | | a rental place in your area. Far better: get a group |
| budget-busters. It's hard to find bargains on music | | | | of parents together to buy one big set of china |
| and many hosts don't look for them because the | | | | from a restaurant supplier and take turns using it. |
| musical leader - be it a DJ or maestro - really runs | | | | If you have no suppliers in your area, try Buy |
| your party. That's a very important role you may | | | | extra --- there will be breakage along the way. |
| not be comfortable economizing on. But let's look | | | | 7. Buy Your Own Liquor |
| at some great ideas that will save you money. | | | | There are many options in how you handle drinks |
| 1. Host a Joint Party | | | | at your party. You can have a simple wine, juice |
| If you're planning a bar/bat mitzvah and faced | | | | and soda bar or an expanded version where you |
| with having two parties because you want an | | | | have the set-ups and alcohol for the six-ten most |
| "adult" party and your child wants a big kid party, | | | | popular mixed drinks. You do not need to offer a |
| consider this. If your child has close friends who | | | | full-service bar to be considered a good host! Hire |
| share pretty much the same social circle, organize | | | | your own server. See if the wine vendor delivers, |
| the parents to throw one big party for all the bar | | | | if he includes the use of wineglasses, and if he will |
| bat mitzvah kids at a fire hall. Then you can | | | | allow you to return unopened bottles for a refund. |
| afford the best DJ, the best everything. On your | | | | 8. Make Decorations and Party Favors Yourself |
| child's actual bar/bat mitzvah day, have a modest | | | | Get your friends to help you - you'll have so |
| adult party that includes your child's closest | | | | much fun! Don't worry that they won't then be |
| friends. | | | | surprised by the décor when they come |
| 2. Pick a Hall That Doesn't Have an "Approved | | | | to the party. The thrill of an opening night is never |
| Caterer" | | | | diminished for the actors just because they've |
| Many synagogues and even some churches | | | | rehearsed it a zillion times. See the craft ideas on |
| require you to choose from a list of approved | | | | this website. |
| caterers if you want to use their auditorium for | | | | 9. Having Flowers? Arrange Them Yourself |
| your wedding or other event. If your budget is | | | | If you have a good eye, buy flowers in bulk and |
| modest and the list doesn't include a vendor who | | | | make the arrangements yourself. If you don't |
| will work within it, you'll be forced to spend more | | | | have a good eye, get potted flowering plants or |
| if you want to use that room. Some communities | | | | get large bunches of one beautiful flower and |
| don't have a lot of options, but think creatively | | | | place them in simple pots. Make simple topiaries |
| and look around - you just need a big room | | | | by bunching one kind of long-stemmed flower |
| somewhere. If you really want to have your | | | | together and tying raffia around the "trunk" of |
| party in your own synagogue or church and | | | | stalks to keep them upright. |
| there's no budget-friendly option in caterers, | | | | 10. Make Entertainers Do Double-Duty |
| organize like-minded congregants to talk to the | | | | If you're hiring entertainment in addition to the |
| administrators about adding a caterer who will | | | | music, get someone who will create a giveaway, |
| enthusiastically work with modest budgets. Or | | | | thereby eliminating the need for a separate party |
| perhaps even change the policy to let you bring in | | | | favor. At this writing, some of the hot |
| your own food. Then you can.... | | | | entertainment/giveaway-producing ideas are the |
| 3. Organize Your Own Food | | | | cast-wax hand sculptures; photo-booth buttons, |
| The least expensive caterer I know in my area | | | | magnets and magazine covers; or a tape of the |
| (Philadelphia) charges a minimum of about $35 a | | | | guest singing karaoke. |
| person for a sit-down meal. Imagine how much | | | | |