Although bat mitzvahs are generally occasions for a large party and plenty of celebrating, they is also solemn events placing a great deal of pressure on the honoree.
Although most people are not retired by age 60, there may be retirees within the honoree's circle of friends.
At a farewell party, give guests a magnet with the honoree's new address printed on the front.
At age 90, a wild beach party or other rowdy, loud gathering might not be at the top of the honoree's list, so think in terms of planning a party that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Before you plan on giving a speech or speeches at the next shower you host, however, be sure and talk to your honoree.
By attending the baptism and presenting the child with a lovingly chosen gift, you are indeed sharing in this special day with all who love the honoree.
Each hostess may be asked to give a small speech about the honoree.
For the ever-so-stylish bat mitzvah honoree, there is Tiny Prints.
Get back to your elementary school roots and take out the construction paper and glue - you can make a marvelous, personalized creation that your honoree will love.
Guests can surround the graduate and take turns sharing funny memories and tidbits about the honoree.
If guests might be uncomfortable speaking before everyone else, ask each guest to write down a favorite memory of the honoree.
If lots of friends and family start calling out of the blue, the honoree will know that something is up.
If the honoree is an animal lover, consider having the party in the picnic area of the local zoo or at a farm with a petting zoo.
If the hostess can pick up the entire tab or the honoree's friends are relatively affluent, you can plan a party at a restaurant or a tea room.
If the person for whom the party is being arranged lives with you, it can be difficult to set up methods for guests to RSVP without tipping off the honoree.
If you are hosting a party from out of town, look for a room in the honoree's city.
If your baby birthday party has the birthday honoree and guests smiling, laughing, and enjoying each other, then your party is a success.
Instead of gifts, ask the guests to bring a clipping of a memorable event from one of the six decades of the honoree's life.
It all depends on the type of party you plan and, of course, the preferences of the honoree.
Make sure you eliminate any generic references and replace them with specific information for the event or personal information for the honoree.
On the day of the bat mitzvah, the honoree usually will have to recite the haftarah, along with the chant that goes with it.
People come to events such as baby showers to relax, eat a light meal and visit with the honoree.
Play music from his teens and twenties, and have someone teach everyone a couple of dances from the honoree's teen years.
Tailor the cake to the honoree's personality by adding specific details or toppers.
The birthday honoree will receive your card instantly via email and will love what he/she finds inside.
The invitations themselves have followed suit, with stock invites thrown out the window in favor of personalized invitations to show off the honoree's personal style and flair.
The wording should reflect the age and sophistication of the honoree.
There are plenty of games out there that are so old-fashioned they won't engage guests, while others are designed just to embarrass the honoree.
This site also sells a variety of candy in bulk, so if your honoree can't get enough of, say, marshmallow peeps, you can find them here.
Tiny Eiffel Towers would be a fun favor for a Paris-themed party, while bags of custom M&M's in your honoree's favorite color with his or her photo imprinted on them is perfect for a birthday party.
Various companies have a birthday party kit that can be personalized for your chosen theme and honoree.
Whether you are the host or the shower honoree, the choices you make can determine how successful the shower will be.
You could also ask the guests to pool their resources to adopt an animal at the honoree's favorite zoo.