Birthday Bonanza
There are some parties that are prepared out of habit, sometimes even out of duty. Jobs are divvied, menus created, the party comes and the party goes. Then there are the parties we create to commemorate a milestone, perhaps the birthday of a family matriarch, who has shaped us in so many ways, from how we’ve raised our children to how we stuff our cabbage and host our guests.
This party is about so much more than about grosgrain versus satin, live music versus stereo, or meat versus dairy. It’s about the celebration of a mother’s full life, and the attention we pay to planning it is just a representation of that appreciation.
Seating Plan
In order to keep the focus on the birthday girl, we used pictures throughout her life and called each table after the year the photo was taken, e.g., “Table 1959.”
Quote Favor Boxes
There’s nothing quite like a quote that resonates with the circumstances to lift spirits, encourage laughter, and add meaning to a party. The quotes were also a great way to tie together the elements of celebrating a milestone and creative party planning. Each seat had a box with a quote about motherhood on it.
A Gift to Mom
It’s often difficult to gift the woman who constantly refuses to be gifted! This caricature was given by a friend and her family to their mother a few years ago. This personal yet humorous gift was the perfect balance for them. The caricature includes fun details specific to the subject — details accumulated over the subject’s lifetime.
This drawing by Vivi Keilson can be ordered from anywhere and e-mailed as a printable image, or picked up in the original. I’ve also seen Vivi do adorable drawings for a bar or bas mitzvah.
Credits:
Graphics by The Stamp Studio, thestampstudio@yahoo.com
Popcorn by Popinsanity, info@popinsanity.com
Favor Box Wall by estherodesign.com
Cutlery and Glasses by Set Your Table info@setyourtablenj.com
Caricature by Vivi Kielson, vvkeilson@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in The Family First Magazine.
Photography by Hudi Greenberger
