Part I covers mostly planning. Part II dives into the details.
**Buffets**: Set up a few separate buffet tables so that there’s not one long line to one table. Also make it possible to have two lines per tables (on each side). If there’s a chef serving station, try to break it up from the other tables as it can take longer to get through this.
**Vendor management**: DJs, photographers, button makers, tattoos — these are the vendors. Most of them require 50% payment to save the date and the rest at or right before the event. This is a lifesaver for two reasons: You ensure you have them for the date, and you spread out the bills instead of paying for everything at once.
If they make you sign a contract, verify there are no catches. Someone I know tried to get a sports venue. The contract stated that if a bigger event comes along, they can cancel at anytime. Just what we need — a cancellation after ordering invitations. That would be a big “No” unless you like playing with fire.
**Programs**: If your event uses a program, ask for program samples. For a wedding or bar mitzvah, ask the temple for samples or request making copies. Search the Internet — I found a few this way.
**Internet**: The Internet isn’t just for buying stuff and finding vendors for your event. It’s a great place for ideas, examples, and pictures. I used the image browser to look at New York and Broadway-themed cakes for ideas.
Our cakes turned out wonderful except for an unfortunate misspelling of one word… which was our fault as we wrote it down wrong — check your spelling and ensure your handwriting (better yet — type it) is clear for anything with print including invitations, programs, and cakes!). It’s wise to have a minister, rabbi, or other official to review the program or anything related to the service.
**Decorations**: Weddings generally use a florist to manage the table decorations. Theme parties use decoration to represent the theme. In my family’s event, the theme was New York and Broadway.
Each table had a four-sided New York skyline cutout placed on a round mirror, a mini-sign with the title of the musical that had a stick holding it inside the skyline, and items related to that musical. The skyline also had a number on it to represent the table number. The Oklahoma! table had mini cowboy hats, horses, and western confetti. The Phantom of the Opera table had two roses, two masks, and two Eiffel towers.
Notice in both photos there are also New York skyline candleholders. No one took them home! They were for the guests. Since I couldn’t be there to give direction, I would’ve suggested putting them ON the plates or by the exit for guests to pick up. Now I’m stuck with over 100 of these things.
I bought most of the decorations online at New York and theater specialty stores and party stores. I also bought ticket-sized envelopes online (very hard to find) and lucked out in finding.
Doing a bris? Throw all these out of the window and just run around like mad. The good news — it’s over in a week.
