Dolgin twins double their fun with B’nai Mitzvah

(L-R) Mallory and Corey Dolgin VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPHERS What to do for two? When it came to their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, there was no question in the minds of Corey and Mallory Dolgin that they would become B’nai Mitzvah together.

Corey and Mallory, son and daughter of Gary and Wendi Dolgin of Tampa, absolutely wanted to share in their mitzvah, and wouldn’t consider not having it together.

The twins became B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa.

So what was it like planning a joint ceremony for boy and girl?

“There was a lot of give and take, and accommodating,” mom Wendi said.

A dual ceremony? Corey and Mallory did their speech together, on each side of the podium, and split their Torah portion. Their portion, about birthright and the greater importance between the first and second born child, bred some playful banter on the bimah between Corey and his older-by-15-seconds twin sister Mallory.

Cory and Mallory Dolgin make their grand entrance to their party — side by side, of course. VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPHERS For Wendi, making the guest list was easy. “They have a lot of the same friends from Camp Coleman, from school, and they know each other’s friends. We also really just kept it to their closest friends.” There were 140 guests in attendance at the Havdalah B’nai Mitzvah. The festivities continued in the congregation’s social hall. The theme was “The Sweet Life of Corey and Mallory,” a candy theme that wasn’t too feminine or too masculine. Decorations used were all bright colors, including orange, blue, pink, and green to represent all colors of candy. Each table was a different color and designated as a different type of candy, such as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Skittles, and Twix.

“The timing worked out perfectly because Corey and Mallory’s friends from Camp Coleman in Georgia could come down for the weekend and stay a little longer in Florida for vacation because it was winter break. We had a special candle lighting for friends that came down from camp,” Wendi said.

Was it double the stress and double the trouble? “We stayed right on budget and kept things simple. We made our own invitations, made our own centerpieces, and place cards.”

Family pitched in, too, creating the montage – a compilation of photos of Corey and Mallory to play at the reception.

“We did not have a party planner; I did it the old fashioned way. But the florist, DJ, caterer, and photographer that I hired were wonderful. I always knew I was in good hands,” Wendi said.

We wanted the kids to be a part of everything, including making the invitations – picking the colors, fonts, etc., because we wanted them to know everything that went into this special weekend.

The family started the weekend with Friday night services at the synagogue, and a dessert reception at their home (complete with a candy table) for family and out-of-town friends.

On Sunday morning, the actual 13th birthday of the twins, the Dolgins held a brunch for family and out-of-town guests, with a turnout of about 50 people.

“Having them do it together was different and so extra special,” Wendi said.