Community Magazine June 2014

62 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Insights from two of the community’s premier party planners KELLY JEMAL MASSRY "The summer is like a cornucopia! All the flowers are blossoming. You can do anything – it’s delicious!” This is how party planner Debbie Matalon responded when asked what she loves most about summer events. “Peonies, hydrangeas…you have so much more to choose from,” she says. “In the winter you’re just dependent on what’s in season.” In Debbie’s estimation, flowers are like putting jewelry with your outfit – accentuating in a very subtle but eye-catching way. It’s a party planner’s dream to be able to pick any of Hashem’s marvelous creations, to see the world blooming and, simultaneously, begin envisioning. The Zesty Energy of Summer “You have a vision when you get hired for a party,” asserts event planner Carolyn Dweck. “Most people don’t even understand that vision – but you do, because you’re the professional; you have the eye. It’s so rewarding when you see the vision completed and it’s even nicer than you thought it would be.” Both Carolyn and Debbie are minimalists. They like clean, crisp parties with décor that flows from room to room, without crowding the eye or the people. And both agree that summer events are a departure from the typical fanfare. For Carolyn, summer parties are infused with a zesty energy – with all the liveliness that comes from being holed up during the dark, cold winter. “I like to give a party life,” she says. “In the summer everyone’s very festive. They want to be at the parties even though there are so many of them.” And Carolyn aims to keep them that way – in a happy, sunny mood, using all the bright inspiring colors of summer. “I’m not afraid of color,” she declares. The pictures from her events affirm as much – deep purple overtones, hot pink orchids, summery lemon trees, golden ambiances, all of it epitomizing the bold and vibrant freedom of the summer season. “I did a bar mitzvah last August,” reflects Debbie. “The colors were burlap, turquoise, orange… I wouldn’t do that in the dead of winter.” In other words, she wouldn’t deign to be so daring. Having a Plan B There are definitely risks involved when planning a summer party. The weather, of course, is the most obvious and fearsome danger. Sun, rain, wind – you never know what you’ll get from moment to moment. “You might pack up tables and wipe down chairs multiple times before the weather settles,” says Debbie. “Or the weather many never settle and you’ll have to move it inside.” That’s where your trusty plan B would come into play – bringing the guests out of the elements and into your interior living space. Here it’s essential that guests be comfortable, with enough space to freely move about and with the air conditioning set at a temperature that compensates for the added body heat. “Make sure the house is freezing,” advises Debbie, “especially if you have ovens on.” It’s strange to think that something as adjustable as room temperature can make or break a party, but in fact it can. When people start feeling stifled – so cramped that they don’t see a way out – they’ll leave. And an exodus is a party planner’s biggest nightmare. “Our community is big,” Carolyn observes. “We invite a lot of people. You want them to be comfortable. Don’t crowd the room with tables, so that there’s space to walk around. Be mindful of women’s high heels. Make sure they’re not walking on grass. If the party is outdoors, put some sort of flooring down, or tarp.” Another option, for those who can afford it, is erecting a tent which would serve as a built-in protector against the weather and a means of gathering the people. If you decide on an outdoor affair, arrange for outdoor fans, umbrella tables and light summery tablecloths. Summer Party Planning at its Brightest