December 23rd, 2015
BuzzFeed is a social news and entertainment company with an audience of millions. We decided to join the fun – Mitzvah Market now has a BuzzFeed account!
As we create our posts, we will list them here. Our hope is that you read them, enjoy them and share them with your friends via Facebook.
Just copy the link and be the first to show your friends. Enjoy…..
Take our quiz: WHAT COLOR PALETTE SHOULD YOU HAVE AT YOUR BAR BAT MITZVAH?
We all know that picking your color palette can be extremely difficult, especially when Mom’s idea of a “cool color palette” is not by any means “cool.” Take this quiz to find out what colors you should actually go with for your big day! Click here
Take our quiz: WHAT IS YOUR BAR BAT MITZVAH THEME?
We all know ours was the best, by far. I mean, who could have pulled off “Rachel’s Candy Bar” better than you? Unless someone else’s name was Dylan, of course. Take this quiz to see which Bar/Bat Mitzvah theme suits you best! Click here
13 TYPES OF PEOPLE YOU MEET AT EVERY BAR BAT MITZVAH CELEBRATION
We all know who they are. See if you can spot them at the next one you attend. The list is here
7 BAR BAT MITZVAH VIDEOS YOU NEED TO WATCH
These montages, entrance videos, and performances are definitely ones to watch. Click here
10 THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG AT ANY BAR BAT MITZVAH CELEBRATION
For the worried Jewish moms, here are the things to be careful of when it comes to all things Bar/Bar Mitzvah. Click here
Thanks for reading, clicking and sharing!
December 23rd, 2015
By Lori S. Robinson
Twins and multiples live with their own special connection at all times, so why should their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs be any different? If you have multiples or even close-in-age siblings, having them join together to do a B’nai Mitzvah instead of two separate services and affairs can be a great idea. Not only will it save you money by having a single event, but it certainly cuts down on the time and effort involved in the planning. Perhaps it will also encourage far away friends and relatives who may not have been able to make two big trips to come join in on this one special celebration. Having a party for more than one can also work well when two best friends can coordinate their Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates.
But doing it this way does take some special considerations. How, for example, do parents celebrate each child, allowing them to shine individually, showcasing each ones’ talents and passions so they feel honored for their own accomplishments, and also avoid any one child from overshadowing the other(s)? In some cases, multiples see themselves as a terrific partnership; while others put extra effort into establishing their own identities. Parents need to take all this into account when planning such a B’nai Mitzvah.
Ask the kids themselves how they envision their party. Their feedback and ideas are key to making everyone happy. Do they want to be announced separately when they enter the party? Do they want two themes; two cakes? Or would they rather share the event in every way (keeping in mind that not every adolescent wants to steal the limelight).
There are many reasons close-in-age siblings might share a party too, i.e., as a courtesy to far-away relatives; to accommodate a shy child, or one who came to Judaic studies late in the game. Some kids may have had their Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies during a trip to Israel or at a Jewish sleep-away but have not had a party attended by extended family and friends from home. Like multiples, these siblings need to work together to balance their expectations.
Best friends may be the most excited teens to share a party. Again, they’d have to share ideas and be extra cooperative (as will their party-planning parents). But most important of all is for their families to clearly agree on how they will handle all the details—money, guest lists, organizational tasks, etc. — ahead of time.
So, how do you make a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party special when you are celebrating more than one child? We asked some real B’nai Mitzvah families to share their experiences:
Twins and Multiples
Emma and Jakey Mohamed, Edgemont, NY, March 2013
Photo credit: Todd Shapera
Emma and Jakey Mohamed, of Edgemont, NY, were never known as “the twins.” As early as preschool, their mom, Suzanne Lovett, took great pains to make sure that they were always recognized as separate individuals and that philosophy carried over when planning their B’nai Mitzvah.
“We didn’t want their ‘twinship’ to define the B’nai Mitzvah,” says Lovett, who grappled with how the family might celebrate the kids’ individuality, while honoring the special bond between them. Yet, she said, “ we wanted a cohesive party.”
Where to begin? Emma loved horseback riding and Jakey was into baseball, so they asked photographer Todd Shapera to join them at a horse farm to take photos of the teens doing their favorite activities, separately.
“When I first met the kids, they didn’t think they wanted photos together, but at the farm and their home, they loved being close,” says Shapera. The single and double portraits were blown up into posters and banners to decorate the B’nai Mitzvah venue.
Working with Shoreline Embroidery in Mamaroneck, the Mohameds created a customized logo for their party — a coat of arms with their initials in separate colors, green for Jakey and purple for Emma, to represent the two of them together. The logo included crossed swords, an inside nod to sibling squabbling, explains Lovett. They used the logo throughout the party space to create a unified theme, on napkins, napkin rings, pillows in the lounge area, t-shirts worn by the DJ, as a gobo and printed on the party favor sweatshirts.
To emphasize the teens’ “separate but equal-ness,” there was an Emma’s candy buffet table with purple candies and a Jakey’s buffet with green. But when it came to cake, there was only one. Sweets by Alissa in Scarsdale created a cake decorated with a jumble of words that had special meaning to both kids, including nicknames, camps, movies, Dr. Who quotes, vacations, etc. It was a sweet day indeed for these twins.
“As much as my kids bicker and argue at home, it was amazing to see how united and considerate they were of each other at the B’nai mitzvah,” says Lovett. “When my husband and I gave them the joint blessing, we noticed that they were firmly holding each other’s hand in excitement. That just may have been the first and last time that ever happens!”
Jen and Will Borowka, Chappaqua, NY, October 2010
Twins Jen and Will Borowka worked together as a team planning their B’nai Mitzvah. “The fact that they had to share it, kept them from being egocentric,” says Mary Borowka of her twins’ B’nai Mitzvah party. “Their ‘keeping balance, showing respect, and willingness to compromise’ muscles got a good work-out.” Her top tip: Hire a party planner willing to mediate any disputes so mom and dad don’t always have to get in the middle.
That’s not to say that Jen and Will weren’t already a successful, working partnership (they’d been doing it for 13 years!). For instance, Jen invited all the girls and Will supplied all the boys for the party. Together, they planned out the perfect co-ed tables.
The only hiccup for Jen, was when her brother stole the spotlight with a lip-synch. Boys!
Explains Borowka: “As I said to my children on the bima about planning their B’nai Mitzvah together, Each of you is very important and your needs and hopes do matter and must be pursued; however neither of you matter at the expense of another. You are a part of a process but not the entire process. This lesson is essential in life. It speaks to the ability to balance drive with empathy, ambition with humility, pursuit of self with concern of others. A life weighted too much on either side of the continuum is a life that is off balance. But a life that takes both sides of the equation into account is the personal journey of someone who will experience satisfaction, pride and happiness. You both have shown yourselves through this process to possess this balance.”
Abby and Samantha Zuckerman, Edgemont, NY, April 2013
Photo credit: Tiffany @ Luciebelle
Identical twins Abby and Sam Zuckerman didn’t want to dress the same or wear their hair the same for their party at Infinity in Pleasantville, NY. After all, they had their own identities.
Still, they were both in dance companies and chose “dance” as their party theme. They had separate sign-ins, each was a dress form wearing a different color tutu (something they’d seen on Mitzvahmarket.com). They both chose long dresses but one twin’s dress bottom was bright blue tulle, and the other’s was white tulle.
They were both beautiful that day. Separately.
Chloe and Spencer Rehfield, NYC, June 2008
The best advice to planning a party for more than one – consider the nature of your kids individually, says Kori Rehfield, mom of twins. “It is too easy to get carried away with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, especially with twins, where you always have to prove you are not just lumping them together,” she says.
“Since my kids are shy, they did not want a huge traditional party, and neither did we. We had a kids-only event at a comedy club. We had no candle lighting, centerpieces, separate entrances; just a grown-up party where the kids got dressed up and felt the momentum of the occasion. It was a lovely celebration acknowledging coming of age. It was THEIR dream party. We never looked back or wished we had done it any other way.”
The invitations were one area where both kids contributed, says Rehfield. Since there was just one, “they both had to agree. We wanted to incorporate something traditional and reflective of (both) boy/girl, so we picked a brown-backed card with lilac writing, something masculine but feminine at the same time, and both kids approved. Then we stayed with the brown color for tablecloths and had pink flowers and yarmulkes (yes, Spence loved the pink), so again we were setting the feel of masculine and feminine.
Emma, Rachel and Mikey Glozman, Manhattan Beach, CA, January 2012
Photo credit: Karen Ard
The Glozman triplets have always understood that good things come in threes, so they chose to “go with it.” They picked three colors for their color scheme. Dangling above every guest table were photos of the triplets along with a clever table name that played on the theme of three: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; 3 Point Shot; Triple Play; The Three Musketeers, etc.
Mom Liz Glozman says that her children didn’t ask for anything that would draw attention to them individually. The only thing they asked was that their table be horseshoe-shaped—so that they could all see each other. That table was called G3.
Close-in-Age Siblings
Paulina and Daniel Kreymer, Woodmere, NY, August 2012
Paulina Kreymer, of Woodmere, NY, came into the world just a year and a few weeks after her big brother Daniel was born.
“What a mitzvah!” said the Kreymer’s rabbi, “In twelve years you’ll have one big simcha to celebrate.”
And they did. In 2012, when Daniel was 13 and Paulina was 12 (Bat Mitzvah age in orthodoxy and in the Kreymer’s Russian Jewish tradition), the siblings shared one, great, B’nai Mitzvah party.
“Paulina picked out a cotton candy pink dress,” says their mom Rita, “ so I instantly thought cotton candy could be their theme.” Somehow, they got an indulgent Daniel to wear a tux with a matching cotton candy-colored vest and tie.
The two kids, however, did insist on separate cakes. Daniel’s was a NY Giants football cake and Paulina’s was all about makeup.
Mom’s top tip: “Include everyone from your family in the planning,” and that doesn’t just mean multiple children. “I was pleasantly surprised how useful a word or a silly comment can be from your husband who you think never listens to a word you say!”
Best Friends
Cole Strawn, West Hills, CA, and Alek Solter, Canoga Park, CA, July 2013
Photo credit: Karen Ard
Cole Strawn and Alek Solter have been best friends since the age of three. Their moms, Marnie Strawn and Jennifer Solter, are also best friends. As both boys studied for their Bar Mitzvahs privately with Cantor Judy Fox, someone (no one remembers who) brought up the idea of co-hosting the boys’ parties together.
Marnie and Jennifer thought it was a great idea, especially since the boys had lots of friends in common, so they agreed to send out one joint invitation from both families.
The Strawns and Solters had a combined family service and luncheon with football-themed centerpieces. “Their party was at an indoor trampoline facility that we rented out. We also included Terror Trucks (a haunted mobile attraction) and food and dessert trucks,” says Jennifer.
Was there anything they didn’t agree on? “Not really,” says Jennifer. They split costs down the middle and they’re all still friends.
Hot Trends for B’nai Mitzvah Parties
• Two Sweatshirts In One: Reversible Clothing
Instead of doing two favors when you have twins, why not let each design their own side of a tee or sweatshirt? This way no feelings are hurt. For more info contact: Steffsstuff2@aol.com
• Twins Squared and Triplets Cubed
Consider creating a logo using the kids’ initials, or the first letter of their last name followed by a numerical superscript (like the Glozmans’ G3). Each child picks a favorite color to include, or in the case of mixed gender multiples, a gender-neutral color is chosen.
• Photo Posters as Décor
Let each child shine by covering the room with over-sized photos showing off their individual passions. This is where we learn that Julie likes to ice skate, David is into football and Alan is a magician.
This story is from the 2013 Mitzvah Market Magazine. If you would like to request a free copy of our current magazine, click here.
December 23rd, 2015
Jaylor Party Favors has 20 years of experience as a screen printer and embroidery company that specializes in designing wearable favors for your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Their specialty items include hooded sweatshirts, zip-up sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, blankets, mesh jerseys, tank tops, shorts, flannel PJs, sport bags and more.
They specialize in silk screening and embroidery on brand names such as American Apparel, Gildan, Jersees, Sofees, Bella, Boxercraft, Champion or any other style you select. They can also add bling to your order.
Often times, Bar and Bat Mitzvah boys and girls and their families will say, “I don’t have a theme for my celebration.” This is when the designers at Jaylor Party Favors brainstorm and get to work! No theme, no fear, they can still come up with an original design for your child’s wearable favor for their friends.
Here are some examples of designs that were created when the party didn’t have a specific theme:
Hot Pink and Zebra Stripes
Game Stop “Gamer” Artwork
Sports Graffiti T-shirt
iPod/iPhone zip-up sweatshirt with phone icons representing what the Bar or Bat Mitzvah child loves
Hot Pink Grafitti T-shirt
Circular design filled with all the Bat Mitzvah girl’s “Favorite Things”
To satisfy two siblings for one celebration, use their initials!
A variety of designs for girls
A variety of designs for boys
The staff at Jaylor Party Favors would be happy to meet with you and your child to discuss design ideas for your Bar Bat Mitzvah favors.
To learn more about Jaylor Party Favors, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
December 21st, 2015
Natalie celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Shelter Rock Caterers in Rosyln, New York with an “Under The Sea” Eilat, Israel theme filled with state-of-the-art decor and production. Her dad Gil is a 20 year event producer so the bar was set high to come up with very creative decor and a unique event for his daughter, the third of his five children.
Her dad tells Mitzvah Market, “It was important for us to come together with our family and good friends to celebrate Natalie. We worked tirelessly creating a breathtaking under the sea theme with an immersive environment from floor to ceiling and a dramatic grand entrance, something to rival what we did for her older brothers’!”
The caterer served up savory authentic cuisine and the wait staff wore thematic attire to complete the motif.
Pictured above (L-R): Brothers David and Jacob, Bat Mitzvah girl Natalie, Dad Gil, sister Ella, Mom Karen and brother Isaac.
The photographer was LMS Entertainment and the rest of the vendors are listed at the bottom.
Bat Mitzvah Details
Underwater inspired coral centerpieces
Blue water beads shadowbox teens table
Under the Sea immersive environment created with 3D video mapping
Water bubble high-boy table with ghost stools
Dolphin ice luge
Live performance by Avi Peretz
Celebrity Electric Violinist
Natalie's Jet Ski entrance with CO2 blasts
Kicking off the celebration with Lights, Camera and Action!
Jet Ski photo opp - "The boys are back in town!"
Natalie celebrating with her friend’s candle
Under the Sea inspired candle-lighting cake
Natalie in front of her logo
Celebrating with Dino the MC
Swag sweatshirts in labeled cubbies
Natalie’s Brothers’ Bar Mitzvah Entrances
Brother David's Bar Mitzvah entrance
Brother Jacob's Bar Mitzvah entrance
Advice from Dad Gil
Captivate your guests by carrying out a theme or motif starting with the decor, production, catering and entertainment, to create a memorable affair that engages all guests throughout the party. Start early! Keep all vendors in the loop.
Bat Mitzvah Vendors:
Venue/Cake: Shelter Rock Caterers, 516-358-0800
Party Planner: PBG Event Productions, 516-358-0800
Music Entertainment: Jewish DJ, 516-358-0800
Additional Music Entertainment: Avi Perets & Ouri Bitan, 917-734-2722
Photographer: LMS Entertainment, 718-229-2700
Videographer: Digital Arts, 718-465-8476
Favors/Sign-In Board: Print Station NY, 646-464-2037
Decor: CERF (Creative Event Rentals & Furnishings), 212-677-0800
Florist: Jerry Sibal, 212-679-3229
Dress: Designing Dreams, 516-248-1988
Makeup: Katrina, 917-285-0648
Hair: Great Hands, 516-931-0445
December 20th, 2015
By Chloe Rehfield
Morgan’s Bat Mitzvah party had begun, and her friends and family swayed to the pounding beat of Welcome to the Jungle—but Morgan was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the sound of bongos could be heard in the distance and the doors burst open. There was Morgan, the jungle queen, being carried into the room on a zebra-print raft, surrounded by percussionists and dancers. Everyone cheered as she made her way through the crowd.
To make a grand entrance or not? That is the decision many a Bar or Bat Mitzvah child has to decide. A big spectacle really gets the party started and it’s a fun way to make the milestone even more memorable. In recent years, popularity for highly produced and elaborate entrances has spiked as families get more creative in their quest for an unforgettable celebration.
“The entrance is the first impression that you’re making at the party and it certainly can set the tone for the whole event,” says Melisa Imberman, owner of The Event of a Lifetime in Millwood, NY.
Morgan arrives on zebra-print raft, see more here
Photo courtesy of The Event Of A Lifetime, photo credit Peter Oberc
There are plenty of ways for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah to make a standout arrival. Kids today are doing it both low-key and over-the-top. They may just dance their way into the room to a favorite song, join their immediate family as they are escorted by a gaggle of dancers, or come in carried out above the crowd of guests.
“We’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, including kids driving golf carts onto the dance floor and CO2 gas explosions that miraculously reveal the guest of honor on stage with their dancers,” says event specialist Simon Miller of Simon Elliot Events. The best entrances are pulled off, he says, when everyone is involved and “working in sync,” including lighting, video, DJ and MC.
Trending lately is the entrance video, a splashy, highly produced movie that can be poignant or comical; include the child in a crazy adventure, or just a lively photo montage or music video. Sometimes the child then enters the party through a breakaway wall that seems to be part of the on-screen action.
“Regardless of theme, entrance videos can really help get the crowd involved and ready to party,” says Miller. “We always try to inject energy and a good amount of humor into our videos so that it breaks the ice right before the guest of honor enters the room. If the party is built around a certain theme, an entrance video can tie all of the decor in the room together and connect the dots for guests. Many of our videos get guests up out of their seats. They’re short, sweet, and pack a punch.
An example of this might be a 60 second Gatorade-style commercial of the guest of honor training for all of his or her favorite sports, or a young fashionista taking Rodeo Drive by storm.”
One Bar Mitzvah boy Alex, a sports enthusiast, wanted his celebration to revolve around baseball and basketball. As soon as his parents and sister entered the room, the lights went out, mimicking a power outage. Then his video jumped to life on a huge screen, portraying Alex as an athletic superstar using green screen effects and footage of his favorite sports figures. When the short movie ended, Alex broke through the screen and greeted his guests to much fanfare and excitement.
Alex breaks through a screen to enter. See more here
Photo courtesy of The Event Of A Lifetime, photo credit Peter Oberc
Many Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids are entering their party on some sort of wheels. Adam had an Abercrobmie-themed party, which his Mom Michelle Farber, owner of M Studio Events, cleverly coined “Adamcrombie.”Adorned in Abercrombie garb, he rolled into his party in a shopping cart.
Adam arrives in a shopping cart to his “Adamcrombie” themed celebration
Photo credt: Kornfeld Studios
Others make their way into the spotlight via Vespa, golf cart, surfboard, even a little red wagon at a Fire Island fete. One entire family came out onto the dance floor on dirt bikes and wheeled around their guests.
Lifting up the Bar or Bat Mitzvah child doesn’t have to be limited to the Horah; fun and creative platforms can carry the guest of honor out at the beginning of the celebration on something that’s in sync with the theme of the party. If it’s a winter wonderland, use a sled. If it’s beach themed, use a surfboard.
A grand entrance can be an exciting and memorable way to get guests involved in the momentous occasion. Bat Mitzvah girl Amanda Hally is on a school cheer team, so it was only appropriate that she ran through an arch of pom poms her guests waved at her during her entrance. Other ways to get friends involved is to throw confetti or help carry the guest of honor into the limelight.
Sometimes kids will go over the top; and why not? After all, it’s their special day. Leanna actually zoomed into her party via zip line. She practiced her grand entrance with professional circus trainers weeks beforehand to get ready for the big day. As she slid down onto the dance floor at SPACE, a huge party warehouse in Englewood, NJ, her guests looked on in awe.
“SPACE has 22 foot ceilings, so we decided to do something innovative and creative with all the room we had,” says her mom, Elvira Grau, party planner and owner of the venue. “In her concerts, Pink usually comes in on zip lines. We wanted to do that. It wasn’t easy because you have to install the hardware in the ceilings professionally, and make sure they supported her weight.”
Leanna enters via a zipline at SPACE, see more here
Photo credit: Chris Herder Photography
But it was worth it, says Grau. “The reactions were unbelievable. There were over 200 people there, and every iPhone was out recording her because it was mind boggling.”
What to do When the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Child Doesn’t Like the Spotlight
If the man or woman of the hour doesn’t like attention, there are ways to make an entrance that will still leave a grand impression.
Occasionally a Bar or Bat Mitzvah child is timid and would prefer to have the spotlight focused elsewhere, says Melisa Imberman
of The Event of a Lifetime. “Some low key children opt to skip a grand entrance or choose to enter with their entire families. Whatever is going to make the guest of honor comfortable is fine,” she says. You can always have a group of dancers bring the guest of honor right to his or her seat rather than onto the stage, or simply announce the boy or girl at the beginning of the party, but not make a big deal about it.
When my twin brother and I shared our B’nai Mitzvah, both of us were incredibly shy. We were too afraid to dance in front of our
own guests, let alone have a magnificent entrance that would create even the slightest bit of commotion. Instead of hosting our
party at a conventional catering hall, we celebrated at a comedy club and were ushered in with all of our friends in lieu of being
announced separately. Looking back, I don’t regret the decision to stay humble—my brother and I had an astounding day, as did
the guests who attended. Whether Bar or Bat Mitzvahs enter with grandeur or back away from all the attention, they’ll have a remarkable experience if they choose to celebrate in a way that lets them have the most fun. – Chloe Rehfield
This story is from the new 2015 Mitzvah Market Magazine. If you would like to request a free copy, click here.
December 20th, 2015
Tie A Bow, an event planning firm in Dallas, Texas, recently created a East-West themed B’not Mitzvah for two sisters who were a year apart and very different from each other.
Party planner Jennifer Barry Watkins created a pink, orange and turquoise color palette that was creative, bright and beautiful.
The venue was Temple Shalom in Dallas, Texas, and the photographer was Andy DeStena, Photography by DeStena.
The service programs were printed in the pink, orange and turquoise color palette
The place card display mimicked a ticket counter. Some of the guests were directed to tables with a New York theme and others
to a Los Angeles theme
Cute embellishments were on place cards like the Empire State Building or taxi cabs for the East Coast. For the West Coast there were palm trees, movie reels, sunglasses and stars
The fun continued as party goers left the cocktail area and made their way into the ballroom walking under a balloon arch entrance
Both coasts were represented with the logo and each table was named after a famous New York or Los Angeles street
The food stations were equally represented: Taco for the West Coast and…
A New York State of Mind display for the Italian buffet
The logo on the DJ booth was bi-coastal
A New York City decor element
The L.A. display complete with a palm tree, surf board and a movie reel
The kids’ tables were decorated with light-up vases and colorful silhouettes of the New York skyline
Palm tree silhouettes were placed on the center of the West Coast tables
DJ P Love and dancer Fenton kept the kids from both coasts moving all night
The candy popcorn bar matched the fun party colors
The logo was also incorporated into the t-shirt favors, a perfect ending to great night
We thank Jennifer of Tie A Bow for sharing this creative B’not Mitzvah with our readers.
Event planner/decor/favors: Jennifer Tie a Bow, Photographer: Andy DeStena, Photography by DesStena; Venue: Temple Shalom;
Music Entertainment: DJ P Love, A Top Notch DJ Service
December 20th, 2015
thecoolestgiveaways.com has worked with over a thousand families to create the most unique ideas for Bar Bat Mitzvah giveaways. They are a one-stop-shop for all elements of your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah. They have an in-house design team who can create original logos for any theme.
In addition to customized giveaways such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, or shorts, they can add special touches to your party with decor items that match your theme. Customized decorative lamps and pillows, cardboard cut-outs, vinyl clings, sign-in boards and place cards are just some of the items they can do.
thecoolestgiveaways.com prides themselves on their personalized and prompt customer service. They inspect and count each order to make sure that it is perfect.
You can maximize your logo throughout your event with the COOLEST event decor:
Battery-powered lamps work great in a lounge setting or as centerpieces on table tops. See more samples here
Customized Vinyl Clings are a colorful way to enhance your party decor. See more samples here
For a fun accent to your lounge decor, add colorful, customized pillows. See more samples here
Cardboard Cut-outs add to the fun! See more examples here
“Brand” your party with a customized Step & Repeat. See more samples here
“Coolest” Sign-In Boards and Books. See more samples here
Additionally, they are offering the COOLEST new headphones and speakers:
Customized headphones and speakers are all the rage.
They come in the coolest customized boxes your guests will love! See more samples here
December 13th, 2015
The Caplan family from Florham Park, New Jersey, celebrated their son Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah on March 8, 2014, at Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael in Morristown, New Jersey. A party in his honor followed at The Grove, an event venue in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
Hunter’s theme was Hunter’s 8 Wonders Of His World centered around his favorite interests.
Pictured L-R : Dad Jonathan, Bar Mitzvah boy Hunter and Mom Allison.
The photographer was Ira Casel and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom of this story.
The family worked with Stephanie Tarre of Stationary Stephanie on the plaid pattern invitation.
The stamp, which hinted at the theme, was designed by Eileen Toll of The Write Address
Hunter’s service was held at Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael.
Hunter at the bimah
The beautiful bimah flower arrangement
The logo was designed by Tracey Fox of Party Artistry.
The decor was also created by Party Artistry. They captured and incorporated Hunter’s varied interests which included: camp, gardening, Broadway, martial arts, outer space, insects, reptiles and The 80’s!
Airline “pilots” stood in front of a Step-n-Repeat photo collage where guests picked up “boarding pass/seating cards” to board Hunter’s World Airlines
Cute signage that read “No Passengers Beyond This Point” blocked off an area leading to the ballroom
Great decor elements flanked the place card table including vintage airplanes with clever signage
A view of the beautiful ballroom at The Grove
The adult centerpieces were large globes each one depicting one of Hunter’s interests
The Broadway centerpiece
Hunter attends two summer camps; Jeff Lakes and Timber Lake West. Both were represented in one of the centerpieces
Outer space decor in the kids’ lounge area
This celebration featured lots of special touches.
The custom logo’d pillows looked great on the royal blue couches
Framed photos of Hunter were placed throughout the cocktail area adding a personal touch. This one spotlights his love of camp and one of his many “first days” at Jeff Lakes Camp
The Grove created a Tequila luge for the adults that was a big hit
Hunter’s bedroom door became his sign-in board, thanks to Party Artistry.
Hunter’s interests were represented on the door in fun fonts
Unique Musique Entertainment, with Larry as the MC, provided great music to dance to throughout the party.
A great smile for the Horah!
MC Larry Gold, Hunter’s cousin Dillion and Hunter having a blast on the dance floor
There were lots of extra entertainment for their guests.
Airgraphics Entertainment created air-brushed hats for guests
The air-brush artist in action
Unique Musique Entertainment provided a photo graffiti booth
Mom Allison ordered logo’d candles for Hunter’s candle lighting ceremony.
Hunter during his candle lighting ceremony
Two special memory candles for his grandparents
A great moment captured between Hunter and Mom Allison.
Blue Wave Printing provided the logo’d t-shirts for Hunter’s friends.
The front of the shirt
The back of the shirt
Watch a re-cap from Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah created by Professional Video, LLC.
Watch highlights here
Some advice from Mom Allison:
“Planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is overwhelming from photographers, videographers, flowers, décor, centerpieces, invitations, favors and more, it is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Stay ORGANIZED – it is the key to successful planning! An organized event is a well-run event. Remember to make the weekend about your child. Think of the children when creating such a big event. When the children have fun the adults will too!”
For Hunter’s Mitzvah Project, he volunteered at the Lester Senior Housing Assisted Living in Whippany, New Jersey. He has been visiting weekly since September 2013 and has special friends he meets with each Sunday and he also helps with group activities.
The following vendors helped to make Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Temple: Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael, 973-538-9292
Venue: Michael Subarsky, The Grove, 973-239-0270
Party Planner/ Venue Decor/Logo Design/Sign-in: Tracy Fox, Party Artistry, 973-503-1333
Photographer: Ira Casel, 973-580-4594
Invitation: Stephanie Tarre, Stationary Stephanie, 201-463-2505
Calligraphy & Zazzle Stamp Design: Eileen Toll, The Write Address, 973-758-9368
Candle Lighting handmade candles: Teresa Cavender, Cavender Candles, 214-701-2320
Montage & Video: Seth Elgart, Professional Video, LLC., 973-218-0800
Music Entertainment & Photo Booth: Larry Gold, Unique Musique Entertainment, 732-431-4082
Favors: Scott Zabelski, Blue Wave Printing, 732-270-9200
Graffiti Airbrushing: Ivan Piedra, Airgraphics Entertainment, 201-615-8309
Temple Flowers: Debbie Cohen-Pendolino, Debbies Bouquets, 973-476-0097
Father & Bar Mitzvah Boy Suits: Sam’s Clothing, 973-422-1000
Mom’s dress & Bar Mitzvah Boy party shirt: Alex & Scott Couture, 973-535-6035
Hotel & Brunch For Out Of Town Guests: Hyatt Morristown at Headquarters Plaza, 973-647-1234
December 13th, 2015
Jimmy Dee Entertainment guarantees to take your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah party to a whole new level.
They offer a plethora of services which can be mixed, matched and packaged together to offer clients full-on customization. You’ll work with a team of event coordinators who are available around the clock to help you create, customize and, most importantly, enjoy your event.
They offer everything from the area’s most dynamic talent, to cutting edge games and favors and much more. Visit Jimmy Dee Entertainment’s beautiful new office and see why they have been awarded the exclusive “Best of Westchester” award, four years in a row!
One of the many special moments during your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration will be the Mother-Son and/or Father- Daughter dance.
To help you cross this off your to-do list, we asked the experts at Jimmy Dee Entertainment for the top Mother-Son and Father-Daughter dance songs and here’s the list!
TOP MOTHER-SON DANCE SONGS:
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
Count On Me by Bruno Mars
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) by James Taylor
Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
93 Million Miles by Jason Mraz
You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
TOP FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE SONGS:
One Call Away by Charlie Puth
Never Grow Up byTaylor Swift
I Learned From You by Hannah Montana
Daughters by John Mayer
Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
My Wish by Rascal Flatts
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
To learn more about Jimmy Dee Entertainment, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
December 13th, 2015
By Carrie Berk
About Carrie Berk
I’m an 8th grade Bar & Bat Mitzvah teen blogger for MitzvahMarket.com and live on the Upper East Side in NYC. I love fashion, soul cycle, theater, hanging out with friends, and cupcakes (I have a blog about them: www.facebook.com/PLCCupcakeClub). My Bat Mitzvah Project is for my dance teacher and friend, Elizabeth Maria Walsh, who died of a rare form of cancer at just 26 years old. Direct message me on Instagram (@carrieberkk) for information on how to donate, and follow me for more fun Bat Mitzvah photos!
I had the best time at Cassandra and Madelena Kishner’s B’nai Mitzvah at Current at Chelsea Piers where the theme was “Hugs and Kishes,” a cute play on the sisters’ last name. The night was all about fun and pun!
Ever since I got their invitation, I knew it was going to be a night to remember: it came in a huge gray and pink fabric box filled with chocolate Lindor truffles! So sweet…literally!
The outside of the grey box was adorned with a pink ribbon and broach
Inside was the invitation with all the necessary information
Also inside were these delicious Lindor truffles!
The twins started the night off wearing short, sparkly dresses and then switched to breathtaking ballgowns. They made a grand entrance at the top of the stairs during the reception.
Everything at the reception was double for the two sisters, including two huge sign-in boards with hilarious logos: Cassandra’s read, “Kish My Cass” and Madelena’s read, “Mad About You.”
The whole room was pretty in pink, from the candles and glasses to the lighting.
The cake was triple-tiered, white, and whimsical: there were pink fondant circles decorating it and also had the girls’ “MC” monogram on the bottom tier.
The kids’ area was so cool: I had a blast lounging outside, checking out the view of the boats and the sun setting over the river. And there was so much to do! Besides a surfboard simulator, there was a putting range for us to play golf. Can you say “hole in one?”
Putting range
I loved partying with the girls and am happy I could share their special night. When it finally ended, we were all sad to “Kish it goodbye!”
Vendors: Venue: Current at Chelsea Piers, Music Entertainment/Photo booth/Games: MC Sharkey, Untouchable Events; Party Planner: Jennifer Gould; Dresses: Estelle’s; Photographer: Photo op
Read more of Carrie’s blog posts:
Blog #1 here
Blog #2 here
Blog #3 here
Blog #4 here
Blog #5 here
