Slide Shows and Montages at a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah or Sweet Sixteen

By stacy | Published: April 24, 2010

Only a few years ago, photo montages for New Jersey parties were usually inserted at the beginning of an edited wedding video to present a photo biography of the couple or child growing from beginning to present. Now in addition to that custom, a slide show times to music is often played for guests during the actual reception.

I am the first person to tell you that everything about your ceremony and reception should be done by professionals but after seeing what a 16 year old boy did for a friend’s montage and then what my son did for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, if you have an Apple Computer and a teen that knows how to use IPhoto and IMovie who is creative, you can create at least attempt to create your own and if you are not happy then ask the videographer to do it for you. Gathering and putting in order the photos, digital video clips and choosing music is a big part of the whole process. The reason I bring this up is I see prices of over $1000 for this to be done professionally. Let me clarify do not let Uncle Ernie videotape the party. I am just talking about the slide show.

However, if you looking for a semi-professional job at a reasonable price, my son who is very talented and loves video editing can do it and we can show you what he did for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah.

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Friend or Customer: Sometimes I do not know the difference

By stacy | Published: April 13, 2010

I am have been working with weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, and  Sweet Sixteens since 1987. It has been an amazing opportunity to really get to know people I never would have met. When we are looking at custom invitations or concentrating on party planning,  I just take a natural interest in my customers. So talk about mixing business with pleasure, sometimes I can end up spending 3-4 hours together in my Bergen County Party Planning store. The funny thing is that often half the time is spent talking about something having nothing to do with, the party. The end result is that I have made some great friends and some I even socialize with some (right Doreen, Nina, Nitza?…) And along with the many testimonials on my site for the service provided, I hope that my friends will also vouch for the type of friend I am.

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The Truth Behind Bar Mitzvah Tears by Wendy Jaffe

By stacy | Published: January 9, 2009

I don’t remember much about my own bat mitzvah many years ago, but I do remember this: My father cried as he turned to speak to me after the conclusion of the Torah reading.

I can’t remember a single word that he said, not a one, but I do remember his wet eyes and that sound that your voice makes when the words come from your heart rather than your head.

He cried when he spoke to my brother at his bar mitzvah a year later, when he told my sister how proud he was at her bat mitzvah four years after that, and he cried again at my baby sister’s bat mitzvah 13 years and two months after mine. (If you were doing the math, you have correctly guessed that my mother was very pregnant at my bat mitzvah. This was very disconcerting because it meant that all of my friends knew that my elderly, 30-something parents were still having sex. Talk about gross.) Read More »

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Do it yourself invitations can cost more

By stacy | Published: January 9, 2009

My daughter is in 6th grade and have noticed some Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations she received were flat printed, did not have a finished look or a professional layout. The effort taken to do something home made can certainly be a special journey for the family. Over the years we received home made invitations with photos, original art work and clever sentiments. Sending out a formal invitation, commercially created is still done the most frequently. At least invitations from New Jersey and New York.

Based on recent economic challenges, saving money was the resounding reason that families are choosing this route but the truth is there are even more affordable options to get a finished, professionally type set, embossed borders, die cut motifs, and have raised lettering for an equivalent or more moderate investment at an invitation store. Those that want to contribute unique design elements to make it unique have every opportunity to do so but the finished product will be more uniform, have a quality printing and will have the guidance of a professional who can avoid making the slightest mistake that can undo all the savings. Plus if a family is having a fully catered party at a temple or banquet hall, a finished, professionally done invitation is a reflection of that and the first impression a guest receives of the upcoming party.

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