H

ow did this Flatbush-born former color war general songwriter and budding poet morph into Lakewood’s most sought after party planner? Chavi Chase possesses a huge arsenal of ideas with a heart full of giving to match. You’re invited! Meet Chavi; the party’s just starting.

Chavi in 60 seconds

Family: Husband Ephraim general manager of Seasons Lakewood. Three daughters and a son.

My favorite color scheme: Gold black and white.

Best budget trick: Spray-paint anything to match decor. Candles vases frames you name it.

After 12 hours on my feet feed me: Fruity pebbles.

Secret Superpower: The ability to be refreshed on only four hours of sleep

Alter-Ego: I manage a wig salon during my (free???) time.

Did you go to Party Planners University?

Not exactly. I did go to school. After High School I studied fashion buying and merchandising at FIT simultaneously worked for handbag manufacturer while taking humanities courses atBrooklynCollege. Ironically instead of graduating I got engaged and moved toLakewood. I had to give up school but all that experience sure helped.

So did marriage slow you down?

Nah. InLakewoodI worked as saleslady in Fashion Stop while teaching grades five through eight inBezalelHebrewDay Schooland teaching Torah to public school kids twice a week. Eventually Bezalel turned into a Bais Yaakov where as a parent in the school I became the president of the PTA. Seeing the need I did all their fundraising and mother-daughter events:  fashion shows crafting workshops brunches. Those were my humble beginnings I guess.

Party planning is a killer job! What are the perks?

The best perk is that this job lets me give back. My first “big league” event was being a volunteer chairwoman and setting up the decor for the SCHI Chinese auction events. Then I was lucky to be asked to do neighborhood parlor meetings for Hatzolah. My husband was a founding member of LCSW Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch (Shomrim). We recently did an appreciation event for the members. Every year I also donate my time to plan five events for Chai Lifeline. My favorite moment is seeing the looks on the faces of mothers who come for the spa pampering event we do for them. For four hours they get manicures massages wig settings and makeup applications.  We had 150 moms last year. That puts me on a high. 

Who makes up your workforce?

I am not the best delegator and baruch Hashem I have lots of energy. I don’t have an official assistant but I hire waiters and teens to help me. Sometimes on Fridays I’ll bring my cleaning woman to help me set up a job. It always works out in the end. I like to say Hashem is my partner.

Basically you are a one woman show?

Well I have my limits. I rarely do venues that are far away. I don’t like to travel with all my stuff for hours. I have some exceptions like I once did a birthday party on a yacht so I had to set up on the boat at the marina. As I was setting up I felt woozy from the swaying of the boat. They invited me to join the party to enjoy but I was seasick from all that movement. I have no idea why the guests didn’t get dizzy too.

How do you have the time to do all the parties?

My kids are older which helps a lot. This is not the business for someone who has little kids at home. Also I sometimes don’t go to the actual party. When a repeat customer insists on my orchestrating her simchah when I have a personal vacation scheduled I set up before. Though it sometimes interferes with the vacation — I’ll be sending pictures back and forth while relaxing on a beach chair.

What makes you unique?

I am like the chameleon of party planners. Depending on your budget style venue or just basic philosophy of what’s a simchah I can adjust the end result. My party canvas was once on the front lawn in between two houses in a development but when we  rented a tent lighting and chairs the transformation was showstopping.

Do you even have time to set up your own family simchos?

Of course! And I kind of go even more all-out for them. For one daughter’s bas mitzvah I did a winter wonderland. The entire room was a glittery silver and white. That weekend the tristate experienced the Nor’easter blizzard of 2011. All my friends came out in two feet of snow. I opened up all the shades in my house and we had stunning snow in the background. Hashem is the best decorator.