…my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, that is.
Tonight, we had our first meeting as prospective Bat Mitzvah parents. We got all the paper work, we got all the price sheets. We now get to answer those famous questions:
- What date do we want it? We can’t do it on her birthday, as they are setting up for the Chanukah bazaar. We’ll likely push it back to “shutdown” (between Christmas and New Years) so some relatives can drive in from Arizona. Thanksgiving weekend is also a possibility.
- Morning or Afternoon? We’re thinking morning, with lunch afterwards in the social hall.
- How Many Guests? Gulp. No idea.
Then there are the basic fees. The temple has a small set: education fee (with a deposit when you reserve the date), the security deposit, the pulpit flowers, the security guard, 20% of the catering bill, the dishwasher fees. Then, of course, are the reception fees you pay to the various vendors. Luckily, we’re all agreed on keeping it simple, so we’ll likely just have a caterer and some simple entertainment, in the social hall. Oh, right, invitations. I guess we’ll need those too. Additional flowers? Professional photographers? I just don’t know. Those of you who have coordinated such events: I do welcome advice.
Luckily, the Rabbi and Cantor emphasized (and I agree) that the focus is the ceremony, not the party afterwards.
But, you know, this is the wrong paperwork to hand me just after I’ve bought a house.
