The New Crown Heights Wedding Package, Here Are Some of the Details

by CrownHeights.info

It’s not a not a new idea, but it may be a first for Crown Heights.

After many months of planning and negotiations between vendors, askanim, and interested parties, an agreement was hashed out this week to create a strong, and very beneficial, wedding package for those looking to host their simcha in Crown Heights. How did they do it? Here are some of the details.

The problem of sky-high wedding prices is hardly an “off the table” topic in the Chabad community. A low-end Crown Heights wedding can tear a whole over $40,000 wide in anyone’s pocket, with those looking for a more “inclusive” one shelling out over $60,000. With the not-so-modest number of children in your average Chabad family, these numbers are very much unsustainable.

So what have people done about it? Well, KSCVK has helped out many, but the reality is that not much has really been done to curb the skyrocketing costs. Or at least, until now.

Keren Hachomesh, a charitable organization launched by the Rebbe in 1988 with a mandate to support women in need and various charitable causes related to Jewish women and girls, made the effort to find a solution, and it appears they succeeded.

The organization took a leaf from the books of many other communities across the Jewish world, leveraging the high volume – and similar expectations – of Chabad weddings to reduce costs.

First, they approached Oholei Torah, a well-regarded wedding venue in Crown Heights, and signed off on a deal to rent their wedding hall for a full year, reducing costs by “purchasing in bulk”. They then took the same process down the chain, hiring a caterer, florists, musicians, and others at “wholesale” prices. This brought the price of a $40,000 wedding to just $29,500 in total, or $14,750 for each side.

According to a press release published by Oholei Torah, the package includes catering by Table One Catering, floral design by either Chanie Greenbaum Events or Debby Event Design, photography by CJ Studios, and a choice of leading musicians including Choni Milecki, Mendy Kraus, Yossi Cohen, and Fitche Benshimon.

The organizers of this package made it their goal to make “beautiful, dignified, and tasteful weddings more attainable, to serve the Crown Heights community, Shluchim and Chabad families, as well as families from the broader Anash community,” without accumulating overwhelming debt.

For those who wish to choose other options, the Oholei Torah Ballroom will allegedly remain available for families who wish to book the hall independently, according to the press release, and will allow those who wish to select their own vendors, subject to venue standards and terms. The initiative will take effect beginning Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

Now, the question asked by many is, will this actually work? Will the organizers actually be able to keep the prices that low?

The answer is, it depends.

Mostly, success for this package will depend on volume. If people want it, and the market remains strong for it, then it will remain available. Should most choose to use other options, it will likely fizzle and disappear.

While there are many more moving parts before this initiative comes together, there is no doubt that this package will help many families as they face the high cost of marrying off their children. Regardless of where you stand, this is definitely a step in the right direction.