Welcome to the 2023 Celebrations Guide

Weall have reasons to celebrate – from birthdays and weddings to anniversaries and graduations, along with Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and everything in between – events in our lives that bring us together to create some of our fondest memories. Many celebrations were muted or disrupted by COVID-19 of course. We saw it in our own Celebrations Guide, which we first published in May 2020 as the world was shutting down. In fact, we suspended publication of this Guide in 2021 because we weren’t doing a lot of our normal celebrating – at least with others.

But with vaccines and boosters and careful planning keeping the disease in check for now, we are all enjoying in person celebrations again. The event industry is rebounding with party supplies selling fast. Planners, photographers, caterers and other vendors are busier than ever.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for meeting, convention and event planners is projected to grow 18% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than average for all occupations.

Of course, there have been local weddings and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for as long as people have lived in Providence. But this is only our third Celebrations Guide. Last year we told you the stories of some of the people who postponed their celebrations because of COVID. This year, we look back on some of the memorable celebrations large and small in our community.

Many thanks to our advertisers who are such a big part of helping our community make great memories. Please remember to support them for helping make this guide possible!

For everyone celebrating a wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, anniversary or any other simcha, we wish you a mazel tov!

And please share your photos with us. Our celebrations are such a vital part of the fabric of our community. We might publish your celebration in Jewish Rhode Island, on our website, or even in next year’s guide.

FRAN OSTENDORF Editor

Two Unique Rooms. Rooftop Waterfront Deck.

Seaside.