By Marisa Thalberg
While it was not practical to do too many venue visits, based on a combination of 1) budget, and 2) time, in conversations with our planners (and a lot of research on my part, as well as theirs), we booked a late afternoon to see what seemed like two very strong contenders: a very chic, trendy, English club-like hotel downtown frequented by fashionistas… and a lovely, waterfront venue at the lower tip of Manhattan much more accustomed to brides than Bat Mitzvah girls.
We first went to the waterfront venue. Entered through Battery Park, adjacent to the terminal for the Staten Island Ferry. Giant windows overlook New York Harbor, with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in the distance. I immediately began to conjure a narrative that connected the idea that once Hannah’s great great grandparents passed through those gateways dreaming of a better life… and here she could be a few generations later facing them as a Bat Mitzvah. THAT could be something to be thankful for… on Thanksgiving. Hannah and I both sparked to the decor, the silver Chiavari chairs, the simple but dramatic chandeliers and white linens.
We were all enthusiastic; however, we had the Hotel to see next, and I had a feeling the whole downtown super-chic mystique would be very enticing to Hannah, especially through the eyes of her friends. We explored the space and I could imagine how the clubby interior could work with our late November date.
After both, we all caucused, and Hannah’s summary words were these: “I just feel like the Hotel is more of a ‘dark’ place, and the waterfront venue is more of a ‘light’ place – and that’s just more me. I’m a ‘light’ person.” What I love is that I know she didn’t mean how well lit either was. It was such a moment of self-awareness, and a willingness to make the right decision, for her, and frankly for all of us.
Battery Gardens
We had a winner. And in the weeks since, Hannah has said, “when I walked into Battery Gardens I felt the same way I did when we toured Delta (her honors middle school). I just knew it was my place.”
Read Part 2 here
ABOUT MARISA THALBERG
Marisa Thalberg is the founder of Executive Moms which for 11 years has provided content and community for fabulous women who are both professionals and mothers. An executive herself, she is also the head of corporate digital marketing worldwide for The Estée Lauder Companies. She has been widely acknowledged for her work on both fronts, including being named a Working Mother of the Year, an Advertising Age Woman to Watch, and a featured mother in UNICEF’s State of World’s Children report. She lives in Manhattan with her husband David and their two daughters Hannah, age 12 and Avery, age 7. She will be celebrating Hannah’s Bat Mitzvah in November 2013 and is blogging about her planning experience for both MitzvahMarket.com and on her blog.
Read about Hannah’s celebration here.
