Archive for January, 2015
January 14th, 2015
Patten Creations individually hand crafts unique items for special occasions. We found a very creative way for your Bar Bat Mitzvah guests to sign-in!
The guestbook signature quilt is a wonderful way to collect the signatures and sentiments of your guests for your child’s special day.
The signature squares that make up this quilt are 100% white cotton. Prior to your event, 100-125 squares, (depending on the size of your quilt), will be sent to you with a set of fabric pens. After guests sign-in, mail the square back and your quilt will be constructed using all cotton materials, including a premium batting and a solid color backing to coordinate with the front.
You can also include a center image or invitation as shown above. It can be made with 120 squares by leaving out the center image and the overall size is 71″ x 85″ with 6″ x 6″ squares
As shown here, it can also be made with many images and less sign-in squares
They can create different sizes upon request. There is a minimum of two weeks from placement of order to shipment of prepared squares. Lead time on finished quilt is approximately four weeks from receipt of returned squares.
Learn more by visiting their Website.
January 11th, 2015
Special events Website, BizBash.com, published a great article by Alesandra Dubin regarding food donation after your event that we wanted to share.
Catering and food choices are usually one of the main considerations we make when planning a Bar Bat Mitzvah reception. All the leftover delicious food will usually get thrown out, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Your family and caterer can feel good by donating to an organization that could use it. An added benefit is that food donations are tax deductible for either you or the caterer. There are regulations that apply to the kinds of foods that can be donated and how they need to be packaged.
If you plan to donate your leftovers, it’s best to talk to your caterer about it or call your local food bank prior to your event to find out their requirements for preparation and drop-off.
Here are some suggestions per Biz Bash:
1. Plan ahead
Donating food following an event can’t be an afterthought. It needs to be part of the pre-planning process. Speak to your planner, your venue coordinator, or your caterer. Make sure everyone knows your donation plan.
2. Being Protected
Give your venue a copy of the Bill Emerson Act which protects the donor and the recipient agency against liability. In the article, Syd Mandlebaum CEO of Rock and Wrap It Up, an organization that works throughout North America to recover leftover food says, “Food donation starts with simple planning and strategies. Given the opportunity, before you sign a contract with a caterer, hotel, or resort, let them know that you are writing into the contract a sentence that states, ‘All leftover food, prepared but not served, cannot be thrown away, but must go to an anti-hunger agency,’” It is important to note that the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Laws protect food donors as long as safe food handling is used.”
3. Partner with a local organization
Locate the local organization to receive the donation and arrange the specifics—in particular, how the food will make its way to the group following the event. The Hungerpedia tool on the Rock and Wrap It Up Website lists vetted agencies that can be contacted for food recovery from events throughout the continent—groups that have their health certificates, transportation and refrigeration.
Here are a few national organizations that accept food donations.
Rock and Wrap It Up – This is a global, award-winning, anti-poverty think tank. The organization has fed more than 500 million people, supports over 43,000 agencies in North America, and is partnered not only with 150 rock bands, but with professional sports franchises, colleges, hotel chains, film and television producers.
City Harvest – Local food rescue programs will pick up leftovers from the wedding reception, and deliver them to a homeless shelter the same day. Most of the food banks only deal with non-perishable food items. For more information and to locate a local food rescue program, please visit America’s Second Harvest (www.secondharvest.org).
Feeding America – Find a food bank in your area using the locator at Feeding America. They have a nationwide network of food banks that distributes more than 3 billion meals each year to communities throughout the United States and leads the nation to engage in the fight against hunger.
We hope these great suggestions provide you with information on giving back to your community after your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration.
January 11th, 2015
Since 1997, Mitzvah families in New Jersey and the tri-state area have enjoyed celebrations designed especially for them by AJH Entertainment.
With the right mix of enthusiastic talent and musical styles tailored to appeal to you, and your guests, they create memorable entertainment. Each event is produced with the utmost care, quality, and experience that makes them the most recognized name in DJ Entertainment.
They make sure that all of your child’s requests are taken care of during their initial and final meetings in person and on the phone.
Top 10 Bar Bat Mitzvah Entrance Songs
The planning is complete and your special day has finally arrived and all of your family and friends are gathered on the dance floor dancing and waiting for the esteemed guests of honor to make their way elegantly through the doors and into the Bar Bat Mitzvah party to join them…
The only question left to ask now is… Which song do we make our grand entrance to?
If you need a little help choosing the perfect entrance songs for you and your family, then look no further. AJH Entertainment has compiled a list of the top 10 most popular grand entrance songs:
1. Happy by Pharrell Williams
2. Turn Down For What by DJ Snake & Lil Jon
3. Neon Lights by Demi Lovato
4. All Night by Icona Pop
5. Animals by Martin Garrix
6. Don’t Stop The Party by Pitbull
7. Celebrate by Pitbull
8. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
9. I’m The Man by Aloe Black
10. The Best Day Of My Life by American Authors
AJH Entertainment caters to all of your needs and wants from start to finish!
To see 25 more top entrance songs, click here.
January 11th, 2015
The Senderowitz family celebrated their son Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah at Temple Ohev Shalom in Maitland, Florida.
A unique neon-themed party was held that night at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park, Florida.
The Bar Mitzvah boy had the idea for a neon-themed celebration and worked with Party Perfect to create something really unique. The family booked this venue before the hotel opened knowing it would be great after taking a hard hat tour the summer before the date of their event.
Pictured above L-R: Mom Robin, Bar Mitzvah boy Jacob, Brother Noah and Dad Phillip.
The photography was done by both Curtis Giles Photography and Cameron Nunez Photography and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
Jacob’s service took place at Temple Ohev Shalom. Jacob smiled as he held the torah wearing his new tallit
Meryl Fischer at Party Pickins helped the Senderowitz family select their invitation from Jebs Designs. The multi-layered invitation featured a black faux crock border
For their celebration, the family wanted the room to be elegant for the adults, but still fun and inviting for the kids. Laura Cohn and Debbie Mintzer, the creative event planners from Party Perfect, knew how to “Let it Glow!” By positioning effective room lighting, creative bright green glow-in-the-dark centerpieces, and using a central focal point with bright colors, the ballroom at The Alfond Inn was transformed.
In the background, you can see the focal point of the room, with each row of squares lit in neon colors
Modern centerpieces were all a-glow lighting each table top
The kids’ lounge area featured white furniture and light up tables giving them a comfortable place to socialize
Custom pillows in bright colors decorated the lounge
DJ Luis Lou from Top Notch DJ Entertainment provided the music and kept guests dancing throughout the party.
For Jacob’s grand entrance, guests popped streamers as he walked in making his entrance festive and fun!
All of the guests enjoyed games and dancing
One of Jacob’s requests was a candy bar. Smaller versions of the neon centerpieces featured Jacob’s name in vinyl adhesive lettering. The candy bar sign was designed to look like a glowing neon sign
Glow sticks were wrapped around the candy jars to make them really pop! Custom labels with Jacob’s logo were placed on all of the candy jars. The candy jars sat on panels filled with giant gum balls. Guests filled custom green stadium cups with candy
Neon touches at this Bar Mitzvah celebration were everywhere! Bright green napkins were positioned under the white plates to add a touch of color on top of black spandex linens
Baked by Melissa cupcakes in neon colors, with custom wrappers from Party Perfect, were a fun treat for guests
There were two types of photo fun at this celebration. Jacob and his family enjoyed posing for PhotoMingle
Guests also enjoyed Bopping Heads
Mom to Mom advice from Robin:
“Enjoy the day and enjoy the night! It’s so much fun having friends and family around to celebrate – try not to get caught up in all the details. I hired planners who helped to make the entire process go smoothly, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing, I even had time to go shopping after Temple when we realized that the shirt I ordered for Jacob was the wrong size! The other piece of advice I can give is to pick a theme and stick with it. I didn’t realize how many places we could add Jacob’s logo to make the evening more personalized (pillows, cups, cupcakes, gift box, votives, menus…the list goes on and on!).”
The following vendors helped to make Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you heard about their products or services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Temple: Temple Ohev Shalom, 407-298-4650
Venue: The Alfond Inn, 407-998-8090
Party Planners/Decor/Candy Bar: Debbie Mintzer and Laura Cohn, Party Perfect, 407-797-0550
Additional Decor: Swag Decor, 407-422-3851
Invitations: Meryl Fischer, Party Pickins, 631-864-1866
Furniture Rentals: Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals, 407-739-5740
Photographer/Videographer: Cameron Nunez, 407-538-2810
Photograher: Curtis Giles, 407-474-1137
Music Entertainment: Luis Lou, Top Notch DJ Entertainment, 954-482-3860
Photo Favors: PhotoMingle, 321-446-4546, Bopping Heads Orlando, 407-383-9854
Furniture: AFR Room Service Rentals, 407-608-5141, A Chair Affair, 407-921-7733
Mom Robin Make-Up: Natasha Bradley, 407-619-8764
Linens: Over The Top, 407-601-5977
January 10th, 2015
Is your child a fan of the popular reality show, “Project Runway?” Or even just an aspiring fashion designer?
Atlanta Occasions Magazine once again featured a great Bat Mitzvah on their website that we had to share with our Mitzvah Market readers. This young woman is a budding fashion designer, so she could think of no other theme suitable for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah than her very own spin on Lifetime’s hit TV show.
What makes it even more special is that all event planning and design was done by her Mom, Michelle Nathan! If you would like to use her fabulous services, just email her at MNathan101@aol.com.
All the vendors are based in Atlanta and include: Chuck Robertson Photography, decor by Tulip and T-shirts from the Atlanta T Shirt Factory. Enjoy!
Colorful signage that hung from the draping
The place cards were fashion illustrations by the Bat Mitzvah girl
The table decor was colorful and creative – this centerpiece included a lamp with scissors and a spool of thread – all the chairs had boas on them
The centerpieces are simple but colorful – wrapped boxes with votives and single carnations
The dessert bar all “dressed up”
The T-shirt giveaways had Project Runway host Tim Gunn’s favorite catchphrase “Make it Work!”
To see another Mitzvah Inspire from Atlanta Occasions Magazine, click here.
January 7th, 2015
Janie Haas Events recently created a modern version of Alice in Wonderland with “Abby in Wonderland” themed Bat Mitzvah that was nothing short of amazing.
The venue was the versatile event space Theatre 1 & Space 57 at The Revere Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Bat Mitzvah girl loves the book and it was a great opportunity for the family and event planner to let their creative juices flow.
With a mix of vintage and modern decor, this popular theme had not been done like this before!
The photography was by Person + Killian.
At the entrance, a window cling with her logo
Custom service programs
Characters from the book came to life
Vintage inspired skeleton key place cards
Tea cup centerpieces
Take a look through this beautiful “Looking Glass” sign-in
Chess pieces and the mushroom forest were a focus of the bar and lounge area
It was the Mitzvah Mom’s idea to use many of the novel’s quotes throughout the décor
Adventure and fun were around every corner
A full room photo from above
Beautiful vintage lace linens, flowered tea cups and dainty china were used for the adult table settings
The adult menu featured a vintage font
The kids’ menu decorated in vibrant modern colors
The table numbers were illustrated characters from the book
“Which way you ought to go depends on where you want to go” was just one of the very cute and appropriate quotes for the kids’ napkins
We love this seating banquette
Sophisticated and modern lounge area
Hanging chairs and over-sized tea cups on the kids’ side
“Every adventure requires a first step” decorated this great serpentine table
The amazing cake with all the characters
We thank Janie Haas Events for sharing this wonderful and creative Bat Mitzvah celebration with our readers.
Event Planner: Janie Haas Events; Photographers: Person + Killian Photography; Venue: Theatre 1 & Space 57 at The Revere Hotel; Decor: Art of the Event, Inc.; Furniture Rentals: Art of the Event, Inc., Peterson Party Center; Lighting: Suzanne B. Lowell Lighting Design; Entertainment: Klass Universal Entertainment
January 7th, 2015
Guests appreciate a bottle of water when they leave a Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration.
It’s a great idea to customize the water bottle label with your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah theme.
Here’s some helpful advice if you decide to do-it-yourself:
Buy your water bottles in bulk from Costco, BJs or Sam’s Club. You should use waterproof labels, so your artwork doesn’t run as the water cools off in the fridge. Onlinelabels.com has a great selection to choose from.
The most important part of this process is to preserve the water bottle packaging, so transporting them to your Mitzvah venue will be easy!
Here’s how:
Cut a hole in the plastic shrink-wrap surrounding the case of water bottles. Make sure it’s in the center on the top
Carefully take each bottle out through the opening you created
Now you can remove the old labels, replace them with your custom labels and put the bottles back into the original packaging.
Voila! Your bottles are ready and can be easily lifted into the car and taken to your Mitzvah venue!
If you have any Mom-to-Mom advice or tips, please let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
January 4th, 2015
Who better to find the latest and greatest for all things Bar Bat Mitzvahs than our own Mitzvah Moms!
We have spotlighted over 200 families and we thought it would be fun to call out some of the “Mom Finds” that you might have missed.
The Perchekly family of Plainview, New York, celebrated their daughter Gabby Bat Mitzvah with a celebration at Temple Or Elohim in Jericho, New York.
Since Gabby loves to dance and the family loves a good party, combining the two was a great way to celebrate.
Using the “The Great Gabby” as her logo, this party had lots of glitz and glamour and a great touch by Mom Sabina!
Bottles of champagne for the adults doubled as place cards and favors and were placed on top of a beautiful hot pink table linen
Simon Elliot Events created the labels, Mom Sabina bought and labeled the champagne bottles herself
To see the rest of this Mitzvah Family Spotlight story, click here.
To see our past Mitzvah Find, click here.
January 4th, 2015
NY Party Works is a full-service Event Planning company. They have coordinated thousands of events in the Metro area and beyond. High-end photo favors, photo booths, arcade games, virtual reality and interactive games are some of their specialties.
Whether you are looking for complete event planning or just looking to add some exciting entertainment to your Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration, NY Party Works can provide it all.
NY Party Works Introduces “AppMe”
AppMe is a new interactive party favor that combines a photo option with a customized game app. It’s perfect for Bar Bat Mitzvah parties; it’s Mitzvah fun that kids of all ages will love! Games can be custom branded with any background or logo to match your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah theme or color scheme.
Here’s how it works:
1. Take a photo in front of a green screen.
2. Select one of the five game choices, including: Hero Dress Up, Hit the Hero, Hero Jump, Hero SlotMachine and Angry Hero.
3. Receive a photo of youself inserted into the game of your choice. You are now part of the game!
For example, on Hit the Hero, it will be your head that pops up to be smashed!
4. Enter the code on the photo into one of NY Party Works tablets at the party or use your own smartphone. You can play at the party and also later at home.
5. Compete in a scoring competition with all your friends who are at the celebration or send your customized game to your friends so they can play too!
Watch this demo of kids at a Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration to see how it works
To learn more about NY Party Works, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
