Get Ready To Party — And Spend Some Money

The Modern Party Is Becoming More Extravagant And More Expensive

(CBS) 
"It's worth every penny to make sure that I'm able to give my wife the wedding of her dreams and our dreams and that to me is everything," Vargas said.

"You spend all of this money and it really truly is for one day," Souza said, "and the flowers die and people throw away the invitations and the ice bar is going to melt. But in that moment it is perfect for what they want and what their guests to experience."

These days, it's not just weddings that are expensive. Tutera recently planned a bar mitzvah for twins. Like other leading event planners, Tutera is something of a celebrity himself. He has his own TV show and a list of celebrity events, like the wedding of Starr Jones. But his bread and butter is an event like this, and the crowd these days is tougher than ever.

"Their guests are jaded, they've seen it, they're expecting things to be different and often they're not," Tutera said.

The bar mitzvah ran into the six figures, but it's nowhere near a record for Tutera. He produced what may be the most expensive bat mitzvah in history – a $10 million party, with a jaw-dropping list of performers.

"You had Shakira, Kenny G, that's cocktails," he said. "Then you went, walked in, you had 50 Cent, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Joe Walsh, Tom Petty and Aerosmith."

It may seem decadent, but Tutera says that it's about enjoying life.

"You know what? You ain't taking it with ya," Tutera said, "So if you can use it and enjoy life, and enjoy it through doing parties, I applaud you."

Enjoying life was what Tutera's client Beth Fowler had in mind when she threw a 54th birthday party in Raleigh, North Carolina for her husband Steve.

"He's a cancer survivor and I really felt so fortunate and blessed that I was allowed to have more time with him," she said. "And what a great reason to celebrate."

The Fowlers erected an enormous tent, decorated it lavishly, entertained 400 guests and watched fireworks. The birthday boy got a vintage car. Fowler said the cost hit seven figures.

"And worth every penny of it," she said. "We just wanted people to stop and think about how precious life is and to celebrate it. And you can celebrate it every day. You can celebrate it in the simplest things."

[cjsimmons1]

I watched your December 31st broadcast, and as always enjoyed all the reports including Serena Altschul%u2019s well-reported story on the phenomena of the ultra-lavish parties %u2026 not just for weddings, but also for Sweet Sixteens or for the holidays. What left me disgusted and angry was the utter waste by the woman from North Carolina who spent %u201Cover seven figures%u201D on a 54th birthday party for her husband who was a recent cancer survivor. Celebrate! Yes, I agree. He survived a horrible deadly disease, but throw a party that cost over $1 million? Can we imagine, just for moment, what %u201Cover seven figures%u201D could have done to promote the fight against cancer? Why not donate that money to cancer research in her husband%u2019s honor, or donate a wing to a children%u2019s hospital for young cancer victims? Why not make a lasting contribution that could potentially benefit millions of cancer sufferers, instead of for food and gifts that will all, in time, pass away and be forgotten.

Let%u2019s now see a story where selfless individuals take their fortunes and do something worthwhile like helping cure disease, feed the starving, and shelter the homeless.

Sincerely, C. Jerry Simmons, Hyattsville, Maryland

[candiperez]

How do you know that Steve & Beth did NOT spend money also on cancer research? Being judgemental doesn't look good in the eyes of God either. Judge and be judged. Whatever. What I think is that if people want to spend their money instead of squirreling it away and not using it as part of the economy is a bigger shame.

[kesac4650]

It amazes me to see people complain when someone rich spends their money. Why don't the give it to the poor, they whine?
Consider this; When Mr. Rich spends his $Million, he has bought goods and services that become the paychecks and incomes for a great many of us lesser types.
The wealthiest 10% pay 50% of the taxes in America. They create demand for my labor and services, just like they do for millions of other persons. Instead of making donations to poverty, they are lifting people out of poverty.
Success and wealth beget success and wealth for many others. Whiners, whine alone.

[DKithcell]

I grow so tired of the rich justifying their decadent behavior with bibilical and philopanthric references. Read all of Proverbs about how little attention most people pay to the poor and PLEASE, we all know what kind of tax write offs you get through giving. I found it interesting the references to Louis the XIV and Nero--leaders whose lavish lifestyles ushered in a decline of their civilizations. These kind of obscene celebrations are symptoms of decadence (along with the emergence of theocracy, overextended military, too much money in the hands of an entitled few, and debt spurred by a government and people living beyond its means) and a country in decline. I am not jealous of you or your friends lifesytle. I pity you for your stupidity and hollow values.

[blessedby4]

I personally feel the amount an individual spends on a party is first, relative to their net worth and second, personal choice. Through hard work and opportunity the Fowlers have been successful in their endeavors. Thank God we live in America where this opportunity is available to each of us. I find the negative attacks against Beth and Steve presumptuous and judgmental. As a friend of this wonderful couple, it was an honor to have been a guest at this fabulous celebration. During the party, I had a conversation with another guest who shared how Steve and Beth had afforded her a fresh start with her life. Do those of you who find the need to share your negative and jealous undertones, have personal knowledge of the charitable contributions made by Steve and Beth Fowler or are you making ignorant assumptions? Further reading available in Matthew 7:1-5 and James 4:11-12. God bless each of you and may you reach your desired goals and dreams. "Party On" Beth and Steve!!

[rubarb373]

It was embarrassing to watch. It only adds to our growing reputation as a nation of rich people who think only of their own pleasure. How many poor children could be educated with that money, making productive citizens out of them instead of seeing them live in slums, etc. The whole piece was nauseating!!

[opus1ny]

I get the fact that she was grateful her husband made it to his 54th birthday and has beaten cancer, but please. Does one really need to spend $1 million to show your husband and the world this? What happened to gathering your family together over a dinner, holding hands and saying thank you to your maker and to each other?

And what are we telling our kids in spending 6 and 7 figure sums for bar mitzvahs and sweet 16 parties? They may be wonderful memories for now, but in the bright light of day, advances nothing toward the healing of this world.

Why do we feel this need to constantly try to be a part of Lifestyles of the rich and shameless?

[jekoreng]

I wonder what God will say to Steve Fowler when asked how he helped his fellow man during his time on earth. Steve can say that he and his wife had a 1 million dollar plus party instead of helping fund research for cancer which may have helped other cancer victims stay on earth a little longer as did Steve. "Party On" Beth and Steve!

[zenmind44]

Your extravagant party piece was deeply disturbing to me. With more and more of our youth (and their parents) being caught up in the celebrity culture, we are forgetting our fellow human beings. I would welcome you to visit our synagogue in St. Louis Missouri, Central Reform Congregation where our rabbis, Susan Talve and Randy Fleischer, who are committed to social justice, are performing bar/bat mitvahs, weddings, etc. with deep meaning without the "flash" that has permeated this American consumer driven culture. The people you profiled could have made such a huge difference in the lives of some of our soldier's families and organizations that are dedicated to Tikun Olam, healing of the world. I've heard the arguments "we already give, we deserve to spend on ourselves as well". Poor excuse for narcissistic behavior such as this. A party of 7 figures? Please, it was embarrassing to watch. If you can't throw a beautiful party for a few thousand bucks, something is terribly wrong.

[auctnr1]

Beth Fowler threw a $1,000,000 plus 54th birthday party in Raleigh, North Carolina for her husband Steve.

"He's a cancer survivor and I really felt so fortunate and blessed that I was allowed to have more time with him," she said. "And what a great reason to celebrate."

Too bad she didn't see fit to donate over a million dollars to St. Jude Hospital in honor of her husband and mail an acknowledgement to her 400 friends that came to the party.