Newton Event Planner’s Lesson: Expect the Unexpected

The last thing an event planner wants to hear is, “There’s been a change of plans.”

Over the last 40 years, Steven Siagel, founder and President of Siagel Productions, Inc., (http://www.siagelproductions.com/) of Newton (Mass.) has carefully orchestrated over 15,000

– bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and corporate events across New England.

So several weeks ago, when Siagel’s family gathered at Mount Washington Valley, NH, for his son Michael’s marriage to Sydney Kirsten, he was certain all would go according to plan. After all, each week Steve, son Michael (VP of their entertainment and event planning company), and wife Cindy (party designer) together with their production team, spend many hours planning other people’s events so that they will go off without a hitch. Siagel says, “Our reputation is built on helping clients celebrate momentous lifecycle events. A key to making them successful and memorable is ensuring there are no surprises.” But, the best laid plans…

During the rehearsal dinner, the night before Michael and Sydney’s wedding at about 10 pm, Siagel told expectant daughter Emily Jabbawy (director of the Little Beats early childhood music and movement program at The Dance Academy, a spinoff of Siagel Productions) to “sit down, don’t move around much, and relax.” But after feeling the energy on the dance floor, she couldn’t resist. After dancing to the first song, then returning from the bathroom, Emily announced, “I think my water just broke!” Siagel recalls musing, “I guess there’s been a change of plans!” Guests cheered Emily and husband Ben as they quickly drove off heading for North Conway Memorial Hospital.

On August 21 at 4:30 am, Jordan Jabbawy was born -- 6 pounds 12 ounces. At 7 am, new grandparents Steve and Cindy and Uncle Michael visited the new baby and parents at the hospital, then hurried back to prepare for the photo session at 2 pm, and the wedding ceremony at 5:30.

As the reception began, mother of the bride Gail Mann announced, “We have a new baby in the family -- Let’s welcome Jordan Rae Jabbaway.” The crowd cheered. Emily watched the festivities via Facetime from her hospital bed. The crowd chanted “Em-i-ly… Em-i-ly.” Siagel recalls thinking how, although she couldn’t be there, Emily felt the love and excitement, knowing she and the baby were in everyone’s hearts and part of the celebration. She watched as husband Ben prepared his toast to the newlyweds via iPhone.

Siagel says, “August 21 was a day filled with double joy, two wonderful lifecycle events: Our son’s wedding and the birth of our first grandchild.” He laughs at how an event that had been so carefully planned by professional event planners for a year in advance ultimately involved big last-minute changes. Siagel says, “These events took the celebration to another level of joy and added a whole new dimension. Sometimes when things go off plan, it is also a gift.”

Newlyweds Sydney and Michael told new parents Emily and Ben, “This is the best wedding gift we could have gotten.”

New grandfather Siagel says with a smile, “We experienced a day we could not have planned. It was all in the hands of the Master Planner of the universe! A truly Super Siagel Production.’”

By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

- PHOTO CAPTION -- Left to right – New grandfather Steve Siagel, son Michael Siagel, new mom Emily Siagel Jabbawy, and proud grandmother Cindy Siagel. Michael is holding his new niece Jordan.

ATTENTION, EDITOR: For an interview, more info, contact Steve Siagel: steven@siagel.com / 617-719-7970