October 11th, 2011
Party Excellence turns your child’s dream into an exciting reality for any occasion or event. They come up with unique and creative ideas that match your child’s interest.
In this example, the guest of honor was Jason, a talented artist who likes to draw in charcoals. He brought his original artwork to Party Excellence and they created his party decor!
The party took place at Or Elohim in Jericho, New York. Check out the centerpieces featuring Jason’s original artwork as if you were in a gallery
Jason’s Art Gallery signage hung in the lounge area
Place cards featured a smaller version of Jason’s artwork
The adult tables featured Jason’s framed artwork
The club tables for the young guests featured balloons tied to paint cans which coordinated with the art theme
Matching framed smaller artwork sat on each table
To learn more about Party Excellence, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
October 11th, 2011
Hannah Sloane from Mamaroneck, New York will be celebrating her Bat Mitzvah on December 3, 2011 and is busy working on two separate Mitzvah Projects.
One is called, Duct Designs and will benefit her school system, Mamaroneck Public Schools and the other project she is calling, The Joy Of Baking and is doing this through Give A Mitzvah/Do A Mitzvah project with UJA-Federation of New York.
Pictured L-R: Molly and Hannah Sloane. Molly, her sister is helping with the projects.
We spoke with her to get more information on both projects:
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project Duct Designs?
HS: My sister and I started designing and making flower duct tape pencils over the summer and started using them in school. Everybody wanted them so I decided to take on a few friends to help us and make it a real business.
Hannah showing off her duct tape designed pencils!
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project?
HS: My money will benefit the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation, which buys things for the school such as Smart Boards, which will encourage kids to learn. Also I am donating money to my school’s Service Club which raises money to send to areas in need such as Japan after the earthquake.
MM: What are you doing to spread the word?
HS: I’ve starting selling at the local stationary store, our pencils range in price from $2 -$4 and I am now working on a Website. Also just using them in school is great advertising.
MM: Please tell us about your other project.
HS: In addition to my duct tape project, Donna Divon (divond@ujafedny.org) of the Westchester office for Give a Mitzvah/Do a Mitzvah with UJA-Federation of New York created a special project for me that combines my love of baking and giving back to help those less fortunate.
MM: Tell us what you are doing?
HS: I love to bake, so for my Mitzvah Project, I have decided to bring my love of baking to kids who are less fortunate. I will be visiting the Pleasantville Cottage School in Northern Westchester each month and baking cupcakes to bring to the kids. I want to get to know the kids at the cottage and share my love of baking with them. I also want to purchase basic baking supplies (including mixers, bowls, spoons, etc.) for each of the cottages, so the kids living there can learn to bake for themselves and each other. I hope it creates a bond between them and gives them the sense of accomplishment I feel when I bake.
PCS is a residential treatment center, which cares for 118 emotionally troubled youngsters. Most children come to the Cottage because their families are unable to manage them or because they have been neglected, abused, and traumatized.
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
HS: I am so excited for my Bat Mitzvah and I feel so fortunate to have the support of my family and friends, which not everybody has.
We thank Hannah for sharing her creative project with our readers. It’s another great example of how you can take your own talents and put them to use for a good cause!
October 9th, 2011
By Stephanie Kepke Kaplan, Boys, Dogs And Chaos
“Have you gotten a dress?” This question started several months ago and filled me with anxiety. I wanted to get something amazing, but not spend hundreds of dollars so I put off shopping. When I finally went, I actually loved the first dress I tried on (a simple navy column dress with rhinestone spaghetti straps and a rhinestone accent on the bodice), but it was at a small boutique and cost over $300. Now, I know that is actually pretty reasonable from what I’ve heard, but I set a limit for myself of $150 and preferably $100 – maybe a tad unrealistic, but I believed that I could meet it. I know many Mitzvah Moms whose limits are hovering around the $500 (or higher) range, so I knew finding something for a fraction of that would certainly be a daunting task.
My first stop in my quest for a bargain dress was the mall. I tried on some beautiful gowns at Saks 5th Avenue, but none under $150. I tried on a whole pile of dresses at Lord & Taylor, none of which even looked remotely good, though the price was right for all of them. I was about to leave the store, when my mother pulled out a slinky black, one-shouldered dress with a simple sequin applique at the waist and a sequined shoulder strap – it was my size and the price tag read $102. Jackpot. Only it wasn’t very comfortable and honestly I didn’t love it. I bought it anyway, because it was the only one left and I like knowing that I had something to wear, even though I didn’t adore it. To my great surprise the dress rang up at $40. When I tried it on for my husband, he loved it. When I told him the price, he simply said, “Stop shopping.”
And I did stop shopping – for a while. But, every time I thought about wearing the dress, I just felt more disappointed than anything else. I wasn’t excited to slip it on. It looked so pretty on the hanger, but just didn’t make me say, “Wow!” when I looked at myself in it. It didn’t transform me. So, I kept shopping and I actually found another dress for only $59 that I liked. I called my mother to meet me, because it was final sale and that made me nervous. She took one look and told me to keep the first dress. She didn’t like the fabric or the cut and said it was too big. I put it back on the rack.
Eventually, I just gave up on finding something better and brought the first dress to the seamstress for alterations. But, standing in front of the mirror at my second fitting, I just felt deflated – the dress did nothing for me, even if everyone else liked it. It was ok – to be sure no one would whisper about it being ugly or inappropriate. In fact, I was pretty sure no one would whisper about it at all – good or bad – it was just there. And while I certainly don’t need to be the center of attention – that honor falls on D – I do want a dress that makes me feel special. That slinky black dress, pretty as it was, didn’t fit the bill.
So, right after that second fitting – a mere two and a half weeks before the Bar Mitzvah – I ran back to the mall in desperation. By the time I got there I had forty five minutes before I had to head back to get my kids off of the bus and I needed to move quickly. My mom and my sister met me there and I sifted through the racks at more than a few stores in record time, before I ended up back at Lord & Taylor. I was about to give up, when I saw it on the clearance rack – the dress I had been waiting for. To be honest, it didn’t look like much on the hanger, but something about it called to me. I didn’t even bother trying it on – I just grabbed it, paid and bolted out the door to rush home and meet the bus. I couldn’t try it on until that night, but when I did, I knew right away that it was “the dress” – the one that would make me feel special.
I brought it to the seamstress the next morning for some alterations and as I stood in front of that mirror, I finally didn’t feel disappointed. A woman waiting for a fitting exclaimed, “Beautiful dress! I love the color!” While the first dress was black and pretty much guaranteed I would blend into the crowd, this dress is a blue ombre – flowing from azure to pale blue at the bottom. The sequins and rhinestones adorning the v neck and strap add glitz, but not too much. My mom and sister met me again and questioned why I liked this dress better than the first. “I just do,” I answered, finally sure of my decision.
When I stepped into the dressing room to change back into my sweats, I heard the seamstress explain to them, “She just stands up a little straighter in this dress.” That was the exact essence of why I love it – I do stand up a little straighter. I feel more confident and that’s something that I just didn’t experience with the first dress. Would I recommend ditching your dress two weeks before your Mitzvah and buying a new one? Probably not, if it’s at all avoidable. Am I glad I did? Absolutely. And, the best part – the dress was an amazing bargain, over 85% off the ticketed price and well below my self-imposed limit.
It might strike many of you as odd and perhaps a bit tacky that I would admit that I bought my dress for a pittance, but this blog is about planning by the seat of your pants while sticking to a budget. I can’t think of a more fitting example than my last minute dress.
So, if you’d like to buy a bargain dress of your own, here’s my advice: Broaden your horizons – boutiques are wonderful for the princess shopping experience (and I mean that in only the best way), but you might not find rock bottom prices. Department stores almost always have a clearance rack and you just might find an amazing gem hidden among the aging stock.
Know the number of a top notch tailor who works quickly (I used Nedeida Turcios of Neddy Alterations in Hicksville 516-359-9600) this will allow you to pounce on a bargain, even it’s not quite the perfect fit.
And, most importantly, listen to your gut. Even if everyone tells you that you look great in a dress, if you don’t feel great in it, keep searching – there’s an amazing dress out there with your name on it. You just need a little perseverance (and perhaps a dose of desperation) to find it.
About Stephanie Kepke Kaplan
Stephanie Kepke Kaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. Before kids she was an arts reporter, covering the Boston music and cultural scene (even though she is a born and bred Long Islander, she lived in Boston for nine years and her first son was born there). Now, she blogs at Boys, Dogs and Chaos (about life with – you guessed it – three boys and two dogs) and Mitzvah Mom. She is also working on a novel about a PTA mom. She has also written for Long Island Parent magazine.
Catch up on Stephanie’s previous posts:
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Post 4
October 9th, 2011
When planning a Bar/Bat Mitzvah one of the first questions to ask yourself is, What will the theme of the party be?” This answer will pretty much dictate everything that follows, from the Bar/Bar Mitzvah invitations and party favors, to the decorations and centerpieces.
While many popular party themes for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs come and go with the seasons and trends, there are a number of classic themes that have stood the test of time.
BarMitzvahCard.net is showing us some of those Bar & Bat Mitzvah themes along with some unique invitations and party ideas to accompany each.
Entertainment (Broadway & Hollywood)
Popular for both Bar/Bat Mitzvah themes, the entertainment industry related theme ideas are quickly becoming the “go to” option for many Bar/Bat Mitzvah planning families. The most popular in this category are definitely the Hollywood and Broadway themes. Being such a vague category, there are a number of appropriate invitations you can go with.
Hollywood Movie theme Bar Mitzvah invitations
Broadway ticket theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
VIP Pass Bar MItzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitation
Sports (Baseball, Soccer, & Basketball)
Sports are undoubtedly one of the most classic theme ideas for a young man’s Bar Mitzvah. The three most popular are baseball theme, basketball theme, and soccer theme (or football depending on where you live). While not as popular for Bat Mitzvah parties, it is not unheard of as a Bat Mitzvah theme. Here are a few sports themed invitation cards.
Soccer theme Bar Mitzvah invitation
Basketball theme Bar Mitzvah invitation
Beach & Luau
Beach themes are a great way to bring a tropical flair to your party. Beach and luau parties are usually very casual and laid back. This can be conveyed through the invitations that you choose. While it works well for boys and girls, beach themeing seems to be more popular with Bat Mitzvahs. Here are some warm examples and invitation ideas for your beach themed party!
Surf’s up beach theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
Aloha luau theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
Candy
Candy land, candy bar, & candy in general are great themes for any Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah. It has gained popularity in recent years and who can be suprised by that? Candy themes are very gender neutral and are usually equally appealing to both young men and women. Bright colors (and candy of course!) are great ways to allow your themeing carry over into your party invitations. *Note – this is a great theme for creating your own personalized candy wrappers!
Candy “candy land” theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
Candy tree theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
Oldies/Retro (50’s, 60’s, Disco, Rock Star & more)
This is definitely a very broad category when it comes to picking a theme for Bar or Bat Mitzvah parties. Encompassed in this category is everything from 60’s to disco to rock star theme ideas – and everything in between. Very nostalgic for adults and always fun for kids, you simply cannot go wrong when choosing any of these “throw-back” themes.
Rock star theme Bar Mitzvah invitation
Retro purple submarine theme Bat Mitzvah invitation
Grunge rock themed Bar Mitzvah invitation
Green or Eco-Friendly
While this party idea is still in its infancy, green and eco friendly Bar and Bat Mitzvah themes are becoming quite common. There are a couple different ways to convey this theme in your invitations. You can focus on nature (the tree of life for example) or actually try to cut down on the paper used (as shown in the bookmark save the date cards below).
Eco-Friendly “green” themed Bar & Bat Mitzvah bookmark invitations
Tree of life Bar Mitzvah theme invitation
Travel – Israel or other Destination
Another great theme for Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah – destination and travel party themes can be conveyed through the invitations in a number of ways. From passports to travel tickets, these invitations are all very fun and original.
Destination themed Passport Bar Mitzvah invitation
Travel themed boarding pass invitation – Travel themed flight pass invitation
These are just a small number of examples of how your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah party theme can be incorporated into your invitations.
All of the invitation ideas and samples you have seen in this theme idea post are available at BarmitzvahCards.net, where your order always ships for free.
Samples of any of these themed invitations are also available at no cost. BarmitzvahCards.net is also happy to include hebrew names on your invitations and even custom make your very own designs. All of the invitations you have seen here also have matching ensembles of: response cards, save the date cards, thank you notes, & party favors available (bookmark favors and personalized candy wrapper favors).
October 8th, 2011
The Silvert family had a very casual outdoor celebration which took place the week before day camp began at the JCC Camps. Their entire service and celebration took place in one location with full use of the camp’s fantastic facilities including swimming, boating, volleyball, water trampoline & other fun floating activities. The JCC also has great rain options with lots of closed buildings and covered pavilions which thankfully they didn’t need.
All photography by Silver Image Photography.
Pictured above L-R: Sister Eden, Dad Dan, Brother Jakob, Mom Cindy & Bar Mitzvah boy Ben.
Ben’s service took place on the camp grounds. The event took place on a Monday, so there was no issue with music, driving, photos, etc., as there would have been for this family on a Saturday
Guests enjoyed many of the fun activities available at the camp. The beautiful woodsy camp grounds gave it a relaxed and fun feel
Guests enjoyed boating…
…and trampolines
Frisbees with Ben’s logo were from Gimmees
The food was provided by Howie Goldstein from Prestige Caterers above a delicious summer salad
They had lighter breakfast fare for kids (waffles, French toast, croissants & eggs), and a classier menu for adults (fish, Portobello burgers etc., with both menus open to all)
The Klez Dispensers provided the music. They played a combination of Jewish, Klezmer, Israeli and Jazz music. Everyone loved them and some guests even ordered CD’s
Some Mom Adive From Cindy
Mitzvah Mom Cindy has some advice for our readers: “Start early, prioritize, delegate as much as you can. Get advice from other moms. Try to stay focused on what’s important. Don’t let too many chefs in the kitchen regarding unimportant decisions such as door prize or menu.” For their sign-in: “We made a book of Ben and his friends and cousins at Shutterfly.com for people to look at and sign-in with a message for Ben. We did this instead of a slide show/montage. The quality of the book was excellent.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Ben’s celebration special. If you give any a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Caterer: Prestige Caterers 718-464-8400
Music: The Klez Dispensers 917-647-4374
Venue: JCC Camps at Medford, NJ 856-424-4444
Favor/Logo’ed Aviator Sunglasses: Branders 877-630-7913
Favor/Logo’ed Frisbees: Gimmees.com, 888-926-6385
Transportation: Alberts Limos, 856-429-9600
Photographer: Silver Image Photography, 856-616-0094
October 8th, 2011
Not all Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations use place cards, but when you do, it’s usually the first thing your guests see.
There are some very creative ideas to be found on the Internet from talented Mitzvah vendors and families. We know you loved our previous story, Where Are We Sitting, so we thought we would bring you a new batch!
We hope they bring you inspiration:
From It’s A Wrap here is a music themed Bat Mitzvah place card. They are actually note pads decorated with musical notes, and the clip that held the pad together was also a musical note
Janice Blackmon Events used flash lights with tags indicating the guests’ “bunk numbers” for a camp themed Mitzvah
We love these teacups from Life Of The Party Productions for an Alice In Wonderland Bat Mitzvah
From Do It With More Options, these “chair” place card favor boxes can hold an added treat/sweet!
Party Perfect used mini taxi cabs for this urban themed Bar Mitzvah as the seating card
We found a Mitzvah family whose son loves lego and they created place cards from his collection!
iPod seating card and display from Balloon Artistry
These CD cases from Just Jayne Events are printed with the covers of the Bar Mitzvah boy’s favorite albums, his logo and the guest’s names. They are filled with his favorite candy. It was a music/club themed event and the boy is a big music lover
From East 7th Street Promotions, each guests received popcorn for this movie theme!
It Events By Julie created these clever place cards on moss for a “horse” themed Mitzvah
If you had creative place cards, let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
October 5th, 2011
A Promos: The Imagemaker knows when you give kids “cool” clothes, they will want to wear them again and again!
Many schools do not allow the Bar/Bat Mitzvah wearable favors to be worn on a Monday after a celebration, so kids who weren’t invited don’t feel left out that they aren’t wearing the fabulous sweatshirt/T-shirt.
Some favors are theme based and some are just reflections of clothing that the kids love to wear. Traditional items screaming “Matt’s Bar Mitzvah” and the date are gone!
The Imagemaker puts more emphasis on the design and places the date and initials in unobtrusive places as to not interfere with the overall design. Creativity, originality as well as the feel of the garment sets the mood for unique Bar/Bat Mitzvah Favors.
The Imagemaker knows that kids take great pride in picking their special favor and they suggest, “Let your kids have their say. You will be surprised just how creative they can be!”
Here are 3 ideas for your kid’s wearable favor from the Imagemaker:
Kids love Rock & Roll themes like the above in foil and ink (mixed medias). This example is on special washed out hand sewn shirts with contrasting edge shirts
Military fun is in! Burnout Vintage hoodies in fashion colors (darks for boys are available) with print and stones. For the boys, print or foil the design instead of the stone appliqué and place it on darker garments. The same artwork is used, we just switch out the media we are using. This way the girls have their glitz, while making their boy friends happy too!
Big words are in! Incorporate dates, initials, or phrases for that unique look. Big for Fall are animal prints. Traditional animal print colors can be used, but more subtle colors and metallics and grays can still give you that look of the wild!
To learn more, visit the Imagemaker’s extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
October 5th, 2011
Some families like to match their child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah cake to their child’s theme, but with Sweets By Alissa your cake is personalized to your child!
The creative possibilities are endless. You might want to list your guests, members of your favorite team, or your favorite memories. Just send Alissa information about your child and those words and thoughts are written on your cake!
See some samples below for a better idea:
Alissa is a graduate of Peter Kumps’ renowned Institute of Culinary Education and has worked in the legendary pastry kitchens of Le Bernardin, Gotham Bar And Grill and Alison on Dominick.
For more information and to see her other work, visit her Website.
October 5th, 2011
By Susan Adler, Susan Adler Photography
In the world of Bar and Bat Mitzvah photography, the final album represents the culmination of all of your hard work and planning. Why spend time and devote resources to a celebration if your family and friends are not remembered and showcased in a beautiful album?
Understandably, however, making such an album can be the most daunting of tasks, which is why I want to share a few helpful tips in regard to the album compilation process, and ultimately getting the most out of your photographs.
All too frequently I hear of experiences where albums were never made, and children and parents alike were left with no album because it had been put off to “do later.” Procrastination hurts the album-making process, for it is one that requires the timely participation of both the client and the photographer. Again, don’t wait for your photographer to remind you, assume your participation is required, and help to catalyze the process by contacting your photographer – we don’t mind it one bit!
How, then, should the album-making process proceed? The ideal plan would be for the client to view proofs online within 30 days, select favorites by 60 days and have a first draft design within 90 days.
Keep in mind that your album is a fine art custom book, and can take anywhere from 3 – 6 months to make after the design has been completed. The goal should be to have your final album by the one year anniversary date of your event.
HERE ARE 7 TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR ALBUM:
1. Take care to ensure that your photographer offers you an online gallery and/or an option for a proof book. Do not delay in viewing the pictures, when they are fresh in your mind you will be able to choose your favorites more easily. In other words, don’t wait!
2. Begin by choosing the images that you like to look at the most, i.e. those images that appeal most to you, for whatever reason. Your gallery should have a way to “tag” these favorites and thus share them with your photographer. Don’t worry if the initial number of images you choose exceeds the final amount to be included in your album, eventually, you will be able to narrow down your selections, ensuring that all “must have” photos are included in your album.
3. Once favorites are chosen, ask your photographer if he or she offers you an online option to view a digital prototype of your album. This can expedite the process greatly, and allows more easily for any changes to be made.
4. In regard to changes, make sure that your photographer offers you the opportunity to make changes and revisions.
5. When choosing cover materials and album types, consider longevity and timelessness. What would you want to look at in your living room (and what will work best with your style and taste) for years to come? If your daughter’s favorite color is hot pink at age thirteen, it may not be at 21!
6. Find out if your photographer offers an affordable alternative to high cost fine art albums. I offer only fine art albums, but, if they so desire, will give my clients the contact information of preferred vendors for making their own albums.
7. Ultimately, try to enjoy the process of album design, think of it as the best means of showcasing your celebration. Look for a photographer whose sense of style and taste matches your own, and allow him or her to be creative, for this will produce the best work.
To learn more about Susan Adler Photography, visit their Website.
October 4th, 2011
Here is another example of how you can use your child’s initials as part of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah theme!
A Bat Mitzvah girl with the initials “P” and “S” used her passion for purple with a P.S. theme for her service and reception at Warehouse 5 in Island Park, New York.
We found this colorful celebration on the Ellie Photography blog who was the secondary shooter to NYC photographer Kat Cheng.
The day was beautiful and a glorious setting for a “purplicious” Bat Mitzvah.
This beautiful purple invitation with a pucci design was created by Ellen Futterman, Proper Notice
The service and reception was held in the same venue with drapery creating the service area
Purple zebra print yarmulkes match the theme
Purple spandex covered the chairs
Perri’s beautiful dress was from It’s Simply For You. We love the touch of purple!
Purple and zebra decor was beautifully created by Barbara Becker of Dazzling Parties
The Bat Mitzvah girl’s sign in book matched the decor and was also created by Dazzling Parties
The sleek lounge decor just needs an accent of purple with pillows and balloons
Matching linens and unique floral arrangements
An easy logo with these initials
Music entertainment was provided by Entertainment Tonite
We want to thank Ellie Photography for sharing this colorful Bat Mitzvah with our readers.
