March Madness Bar Mitzvah Theme

The Comito family from Peabody, Massachusetts, celebrated son Josh’s Bar Mitzvah with the service and party on March 18, 2017, at Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Everything centered on the March Madness basketball theme and was cleverly incorporated throughout the party. Mom Stacey created many of the party’s special details.

Pictured L-R: Dad Bob, Bar Mitzvah boy Josh and Mom Stacey. 

The photographers were Take Aim Photography and Richard Messinger Photography.

Save the Date/Invitation/Out-of-Towner Gifts

The Save the Date card incorporated the theme using “Join us for Josh’s Championship Celebration” and basketball logo

The textured invitation was navy and orange and the reply card included fun language such as “Join Josh’s Team” and “Reserve your seats.” Guests could check the box “Yes, sign us up” or “Sorry, benched, can’t make it"

We love the language of the pick-up time at the venue

Out-of-town hotel guests received a basketball bag upon check-in filled with lots of goodies

The weekend “Lineup” and "Do Not Disturb" door hanger were both appreciated by hotel guests

 Bar Mitzvah Service

Josh with his proud parents Stacey and Bob Comito

Josh recited his prayers beautifully

Josh and his friends wore basketball kippot for morning services

 March Madness Mitzvah Decor

A “concession stand” made from balloons welcomed guests into the ballroom

The room decor included alternating orange and blue floor length tablecloths, back lit basketball silhouettes and coordinating 8 foot tall blue, orange and white balloon firework centerpieces

Tables were named for Josh's favorite college basketball teams such as the University of Kentucky

Special Party Details

Guests could leave cards and gifts in a mini basketball hoop pail that Dad Bob created. There was also a sign-in locker for special messages

The March Madness Seating Bracket worked perfectly

Custom menus displayed the food served - cleverly separated into game quarters

Even the bathroom basket was in theme

Hydration Station for guests to enjoy on their way out...what a cute idea!

Mitzvah Candle Lighting

Wooden letters spelling “J-O-S-H” were placed in front of vases filled with blue marbles and water

The candle lighting was a favorite part for the family as Josh read funny poems about the special people he invited to light candles

Josh joined by his sports crew

Music and Special Entertainment

Guests felt like they were at a championship basketball game as dancers distributed orange foam fingers and rally rags as Josh and his parents made their entrances

Guests high-fived each other while doing the Horah

Josh had his own hashtag which was used during the party

The Party Excitement dancers were dressed as referees

Guests on the dance floor had lots of fun with the DJ who played games and great music

There was a custom step-n-repeat as the photo backdrop

Mitzvah Favors and Exit Treat

Sweatshirt favors displayed and ready to be picked up by Josh's friends

Guests also received tote bags which they found tied to their chairs

All the guests enjoyed the chocolate fountain and dessert table

And the slush cart at the end of the evening

Josh’s Mitzvah Project

In Josh’s congregation, the Bar Mitzvah boy is expected to complete a series of “13 Mitzvot” that reflect Jewish tradition, learning, service, and Tzedakah or charitable giving. For example, Josh had to learn his great grandfather’s recipe for making homemade horseradish, directly from the root grown in his backyard and he initiated a project to raise money for the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center. Along with several friends, he sold rainbow loom bracelets and chocolate lollipops in the shape of cancer ribbons. Over three years, they donated $2,000 to fund cancer research.

Josh also donated the basketballs used as centerpieces at the kiddush luncheon to local organizations

Mom Advice from Stacey

“Enjoy the moment! Step back at some point during the evening to look around and try to take it all in. Enjoy yourself – you deserve it after all of the planning. We actually extended the evening party from 4 hours to 5 hours as we knew we wanted to enjoy every single second. We had many guests who traveled from out of town, so my husband and I made sure to tell them how happy we were that they were a part of Josh’s special day. We gave them a “shout-out” in the program book, included them in the candle lighting and visited tables to show our appreciation. Also I started doing my research about 2 years before the Bar Mitzvah and took notes on everything I read from MitzvahMarket.com and their Facebook posts. I would search for concepts and collect ideas from past Mitzvah Family Spotlight stories. Mitzvah Market was incredibly helpful and I found so many event ideas including seating chart layout, sign-in locker, photographer shot list, referee jerseys for the DJ, décor ideas, giveaways, candle lighting display, how to wrap hoodie sweatshirts, and so much more. It’s a terrific resource and I have already shared the Website with many of my friends who are starting the planning stage. MitzvahMarket.com was definitely my go-to resource!”

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Josh’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.

Food: Bruce Silverlieb, The Party Specialist, 781-592-0988
Party Planner: Donna Kagan, Donna Kagan’s Elegant Touch, 781-631-6603
Invitation: Ivy Dorflinger, Ivy’s Invitations, 781-334-2862
Balloon Centerpieces: Jo Werling, Big Ballon Bash, 978-346-9336
DJ Entertainment/Custom Step-N-Repeat: Adam Averback, Party Excitement, 978-535-3100
Logo Artwork/Menu/Party Signage/Save-the-Date/Door hangers/Custom labels/Welcome cards design: Mom Stacey using VistaPrint
Photographers: Amy Trahant, Take Aim Photography, 203-671-0156 and Richard Messinger Photography
Videography: Josh Norton, Tanner Productions, 617-797-7007
Decor: Prop Factory, 978-532-2323
Sweatshirt Favors: Raffi Bouladian, NorthPoint Printing, 781-895-1900
Kippot: J. Levine Books & Judaica, 212-695-6888
Fashion: Pauline Spirito, Infinity Boutique, 781-599-8829