An Evening at Camp Berger – August 11, 2012

According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys become 13, they become accountable for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah. Reaching the age of bar mitzvah signifies becoming a full-fledged member of the Jewish community with the responsibilities that come with it. These include moral responsibility for own actions, eligibility to be called to read from the Torah and lead or participate in a Minyan, as well as many other personal accomplishments. With all that said, I have never met a young man so ready at this young age to take on this lifelong responsibility. I first met Andrew when he was five and entering Kindergarten. Over the years, I have seen him grow and transition into a wonderful, caring, polite, fun and courteous young man. I was so excited when asked to help plan this special occasion.

The celebration of a Bar Mitzvah, according to the Orthodox view, is that this boy is so happy that they are now commanded to do mitzvah and now they will earn reward in the next world for their efforts, that they throw a party and have a festive meal. When we first sat down to discuss a theme around this celebration Andrew was setting his sights on attending the University of Missouri in the distant future and that was the direction we were headed. But like many things in life, detours sometimes come around the corner and the family was transferring to Texas and thoughts of Mizzou soon faded. So like any good event planner, we came up with Plan “B”! Andrew LOVES going away each year to summer camp at Camp Sabra in Missouri. Andrew typically will spend the entire summer there, partaking in all that camp has to offer. So naturally camp theme seemed like the perfect way to celebrate this milestone and bid goodbye to summer.

When designing an event for a client, I like to listen to what’s important to them. Entertainment was the #1 priority for this family and of course there was nowhere else to turn for other than Reggie VanDerson at Pure Entertainment Company.

After that, the sky was the limit on designing the look and feel that would transport guests to a little camp in Ballwin Missouri we liked to call “Camp Berger”! We wanted to create an atmosphere that said casual, fun, outdoors, and camp! Invites were elegantly casual and called for guests to arrive in jeans or khakis. This set the tone for what would become a fun and festive celebratory evening.

When guests arrived, they located their assigned “activity center” where they would report for the evenings mess hall cuisine (I can’t call it chow because it was far better than any chow at any summer camp I had been too)! Tables were draped in green table clothes, cover with lengths of burlap, and beautiful centerpieces that gave the effect of a forest at twilight. All of this was accented with an assortment of natural outdoor elements such as rocks, pinecones, bark, and moss.

For dinner, adults dined on a delicious assortment of chicken, green beans, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad and some of the best baked beans EVER, courtesy of Meadowbrook Country Club. Over 100 kids enjoyed hot dogs, burgers and self-serve s’mores and soda stations that provided just the right touch of a “mess hall” feel without the mess!

Throughout the evening, Reggie engaged everyone in party like no other, guests enjoyed getting their picture taken in the photo booth and left the event with their prints and a s’more to take home as a reminder that the fun lives on far after Andrew and his family embark on their new adventures in Texas.

Greene with Envy Events & Designs was honored to be a part of designing, planning, and delivering on the wish Rachel & Mike had for making their son’s bar mitzvah one of a kind and a celebration everyone would remember for years to come.

Take a look at a sample of the centerpieces that I’m doing for an upcoming summer camp themed Bar Mitvah. The design was inspired by my love for nature and natural light. Our family loves to camp and while my two boys are currently away at summer camp, I was inspired by their adventures in the outdoors as well as the fun areas of the camp they get to experience. This will give height to the large ballroom tables while also creating an elegant yet fun theme setting.

I was thinking about the upcoming Olympics and thought I would post a picture of a past Olympic themed centerpiece we did. Also created were customized t-shirts and badges to give guests at this table the feel of being a participant at the Olympic games! A fabulous time was had by all!

This is the final design for the banner that will greet guests as they enter the camping themed Bar Mitzvah. Stay tuned for table settings and place card designs.

Summer Camp

Ah… summer camp! The thought brings back so many good memories of camping, boating, horseback riding and getting back to nature. When a friend told me her son wanted to do his Bar Mitzvah with a camping theme my mind just starting flooding with ideas. This Bar Mitzvah will take place next month but you get a sneak peak at some of the things I’m working on for the big day!

This is my first Bar Mitzvah and since my son will be completing his in 2015, I thought I better get on the ball on what it takes to have a show stopper of an event! The ballroom being used for this event is quite large so there is a great deal of space to fill.

Starting with entrance guests will be greeted with an atmosphere that will take them back to their childhood camping days, or make them wish they could go to camp right now! A custom banner and table cards will instruct guests on where their adventure will begin.

Table décor of hunter green table clothes overlapped with burlap and 12’ tall cylinder vases filled with moss and pinecones will showcase branches accented with tea light votives to create that twilight outdoor feel throughout the room.
A smores station and just right selection of eateries will make guests summer camp experience one to write home about!

Stay tuned for final pics!

Tell me about your favorite summer camp experiences or memories and I may incorporate them into our event!

Greene with Envy Events & Designs blog is live!

After months of working with a professional to get an offical website and blog up, I've decided to sit down and do it myself. I consider myself a pretty resourceful and creative person. How hard can it be? As a result, Greene with Envy Events & Designs blog is live!

Let me start by introducing myself...

My LOVES in life include my two wonderful boys and beautiful daughter, my truly supportive husband, New York City especially in the fall, holidays of any kind, tennis, my yellow lab Sugar, a challenge, and anything chocolate. BUT, most of all...I love what I do.

Greene with Envy Events & Designs was founded out of the love for event design. I specialize in one-of-a-kind, luxury party and event experiences. Specialties include beyond-the-box design and the ability to execute to perfection. Clients love me because I go beyond their wildest expectations, and vendors love me because I make their jobs easy. There has never been a challenge I won't take on or a request I can't find a way to fill.

I specialize in social & corporate events such as children & adult birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat Mitzvahs, holiday parties, fundraisers, showers, corporate events and much more. From sweet to sophisticated, we will leave your guests envious!