Local Holiday Lights feature: David and Timothy in South Orange

I worked in e-commerce for nearly a decade and the holiday season was always the most stressful time of year for me. It made for a really lame holiday season for me and turned me into a Grinch for several years. After I left e-commerce I started embracing the holiday season in a way that I never had before. The past two years I’ve even had wreaths up in my kitchen as early as mid-November 😳

It’s been so fun for me to do all the holiday things these past few years, especially with my kids at their current ages, and when I saw this amazing holiday display featured on the @livelovemaplewood Instagram, I knew I wanted to do a feature on this early, extravagant seasonal decorator! Read on to find out more about David in South Orange, one of our locals making the holidays just a little more fun for the rest of us 🤗

If you want to stop by the display, it’s already up and running (since November 14!) and you can see it on Lenox Ave in South Orange.

Tell us a little more about yourself and your family. How many kids do you have? How long have you been in South Orange?

My husband Timothy and I have been in South Orange for over 7 years. We have two kids. Our daughter Lanah is 11 Blake is 7 in first grade.

I saw your Christmas display on Instagram on November 14, a full TWO WEEKS before Thanksgiving! Why so early and what do you say to people who criticize you for decorating so early? When do you take the display down?

My lights go up based upon my life events, work events, and weather.  My husband and I own Timothy John’s Salon in NYC and this time of year is our craziest.  So that particular weekend was the only weekend that we didn’t have some sort of plans.  Plus I saw a window of opportunity to put them up before it got too cold.  I love lights!  I hate winter!  We weren’t going to light them, but one of my neighbors was asking when they would be up, so …we lit them up.  I don’t care about the criticism.  Although this year someone has been coming into my yard and cutting wires which is a really lame thing to do.  I will take them down on the first warmish weekend after Christmas.

How long have you been doing extravagant displays?

I started doing them when I was 16 in Utah.  My neighbor Vince and I would compete with each other.  My disadvantage was that I could only afford to purchase lights at the end of the season, so he was always one step ahead of me with regards to what the latest technology was.  I always think of Vince when I put them up.

What’s your favorite part of your display?

I think the dripping lights on the front tree….but I like all things sparkly!

What decoration is #1 on your wish list for future displays?

I always wanted to do one of those computer animated displays to music, but that's EXTRA!

Anything new this year that you’re super excited to debut?

We put a Santa on the roof…The reindeer are struggling to stay up in the wind, but it's fun.

Where do you find inspiration for your holiday decorations?

Whatever is on sale the day after Christmas. Then I just kind of go for it.

What’s the most challenging thing about doing big displays like this? Any particularly difficult decorations?

The roof feels sketchy sometimes.  Not going to lie!  But also I don’t love wrapping the lights around stuff too much, as they are a pain to take down when it's cold!

What’s your can’t-live-without accessory that makes the whole display possible?

My light socket plug. Everything runs out of there.  If I can’t find the piece to screw into the lightbulb socket I’m done!

Any tips for aspiring holiday decorators? This particular aspiring decorator would love some tips on getting net lights even across my bushes!

First I say….just get out there and have some fun!  Lights are easy, and so much fun to look at.  My family would drive around the neighborhood after Saturday evening Mass and look at all the lights - it was a thing!.  I say light it up!!!! Make sure to stretch the nets out fully before you put them on …then step back…look…adjust!   If you have wonky net lights at least you’ve done more than many of our neighbors.  I say put them up for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, birthdays….I love them!

Where do you store all the decorations in the off season?

I have a little space in my attic.  They all go in marked bins, so I can replicate as much as possible.

Do you decorate inside too or does the party stop at the doorstep?

I do decorate inside too, but it's not as wild as the outside.

What are your favorite local holiday events?

Jeez…we don’t really do too many.  I feel like our weekends are jammed with concerts, plays, and holiday parties for work and friends. But it's all good!