June 24th, 2015
Danto Photography located in Los Angeles, California, recently shot a Bat Mitzvah in Michigan that we couldn’t wait to share.
The venue was the Lafayette Grande Banquet Facility in Pontiac, Michigan, which embodied the party’s theme, Izzy’s Black and White Ball. Guests were asked to dress in black and white.
Bat Mitzvah girl Izzy created her own version of a Bat Mitzvah ceremony having all the women in her extended family join her in the Havdalah service, one of many special moments.
The Havis family welcomed guests to the historic Lafayette Grande Banquet Facility
Izzy decided she wanted to share the Havdalah ceremony with all the female members in her family
White frames served as both the place cards and adult favors
The signage on the place card table says it all
The beautiful ballroom dressed in black and white
The classic art deco elements of the ballroom complimented the party’s black and white theme perfectly
The table numbers were photographs of the Bat Mitzvah girl holding numbers
There was lots of fun on the dance floor
It’s Horah time with Izzy up in the chair!
The black and white guest attire added to the decor
Dad giving a toast to the Bat Mitzvah girl
The black and white picture of Izzy was the perfect backdrop for her sign-in board as guests wrote messages in colored pens
One of many special gifts from Izzy’s friends
The elegant cake
The favors featured her logo which read, Izzy’s Black and White Ball
We thank Joel Danto of Danto Photography for sharing this very special Bat Mitzvah with our readers.
Photographer/Montage: Joel Danto, Danto Photography; Venue: Lafayette Grande Banquet Facility; DJ/Entertainment: Music in Motion
June 21st, 2015
Laceycakes makes customized mini cupcakes using your own photos, logos, or wording as edible decorations.
These cupcakes are loved and shared on social media by singer Pharrell, Lucky Magazine, People Magazine, Brides Magazine and MTV, to name a few!
Perfect on your Bar Bat Mitzvah dessert table or as party favors. The cake flavors include: yellow cake, chocolate, yellow confetti, red velvet, and gluten-free yellow confetti. They can be delivered throughout NYC and Long Island.
They taste as good as they look!
Your photo plus a cupcake = a cool and tasty treat!
Mix and match images
They come in packs of 12, 6 or 2
Just email them an image and they will place it on the frosting
For more information on Laceycakes email them at contact@laceycakesnyc.com.
June 21st, 2015
Occasions Online featured this chic beach event with tones of lime, turquoise, aqua and bright yellow which took place at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.
Get ready for a “ball” of a good time with these amazing decor ideas from Isabel Bryant of Best Event Ever, who designed this Bat Mitzvah for a teenager who loves the beach.
Photographer was from Shawna Herring Photography and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom.
The invitation set the tone with the blue, green and yellow color palette
Greeting friends and family as they arrived was this twelve-foot beach ball that doubled as a seating chart
Green roadway signs directed guests to different stations throughout the event
“Pull up a beach chair!”
Centerpieces consisted of floating candles, colored stones and a banana leaf
The ballroom, with its “beach” theme, looked elegant and laid back at the same time
This celebration included a simulated tidal wave robo-surfer
The lime green favors looked great in the white cubbies
Guests received two-toned beach bags with Aly’s Bat Mitzvah logo
Atlanta’s signature Sublime Doughnuts, complete with a special A-shaped doughnut designed just for Aly
We thank Occasions Online for sharing this celebration with our Mitzvah Market readers.
Event Planning & Design: BEE – best.event.ever; Photography: Shawna Herring Photography; Decor: Let’s Celebrate; Entertainment: Atlanta Fever Entertainment and Amusement Masters; Venue & Catering: The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North; Photobooth: Smilebooth; Mitzvah Exit Treats: Sublime Doughnuts
June 21st, 2015
The Glaser family celebrated daughter Leah’s Bat Mitzvah in Tokyo, Japan, where the family was living at the time as expatriates due to Dad Jonathan’s job. The family is now back in Connecticut.
More than 30 family members and friends made the trip from the United States to celebrate with them. The Havdalah service was at the Jewish Community of Japan followed by dinner and dancing at the Tokyo American Club. The family threw a beautiful religious celebration and integrated many touches from their newly adopted home.
Pictured L-R: Mom Alisha, Sister Sophie, Bat Mitzvah girl Leah and Dad Jonathan.
The photographer was Tracey Taylor and Dee Green of 37 Frames and the rest of the vendor information is listed below.
Mitzvah Invitation & Service
The family worked with Just Invite Me on the elegant invitations. For their out-of-town guests, Mom Alisha created a website to help with things to do and see while in Tokyo. The Havdalah service was at the Jewish Community of Japan, a synagogue of approximately 100 families, where the Glaser girls attended religious school while in Tokyo.
The colors white, turquoise, and gold accents were used throughout the party
They planned excursions around town to nearby tourist sites and arranged guides for their guests. The website included: jet lag tips, things to do and see, cultural information and basic travel suggestions, as well as the schedule of events for the weekend
Leah's dress, a Stella M'Lia brand, was purchased at Ragamuffin & Radical Rags Shop in Mount Pleasant, SC. Since the family was only in the States a brief time, the boutique allowed Leah to choose several dresses in a few colors with no obligation
As a special gift Leah's parents gave her custom-made silver tallit clips with a sakura flower (cherry blossom) that was the symbol of the ward they lived in while in Japan. They were created by close friend, Lynn Cooper of the Etsy.com shop, KanoaPureSilver
For months before the big day, Mom Alisha carted a bag of needlepoint around to sew a tallit bag and was finished in time to ship back to America for finishing and then picked up and brought back for the big day!
Mitzvah Details
Each table setting was slightly different with a cohesive peacock-themed color scheme. One of the many challenges of an event in Tokyo is there are no linen or table number rentals, so they ordered linens back in the States over the summer and carried them in their suitcases! Mom Alisha made the table numbers, place cards and all signage.
The entrance to the Tokyo American Club
Several trays of place cards greeted guests at the Tokyo American Club -- gold dots indicated vegetarian meals
The area set aside for kids and their buffet had a separate patio that was turned into a kids' lounge serving kid-friendly appetizers as well as root beer floats and smoothies
The elegant adult tables
The color coordinated menu with a beautiful peacock accent
The extensive welcome bags, (because guests came so far), included American and Japanese snacks to help stave off munchies when up in the middle of the night from jet lag as well as "survival kits" to help with the side effects of both jet lag and touring
Mom Alisha made pillows with Leah's name on them to decorate the kids' lounge area
Colorful custom socks matched the decor perfectly
For some of more "noise sensitive" guests, they provided ear plugs, which were a big hit!
For the sign-in, Mom Alisha painted a chair with Leah's name in English and Hebrew and the date. It was also used as the Horah chair and she now uses it as her desk chair
Mitzvah Fun
There was a photo booth for extra fun.
Fun props made for great pictures
Mom and Dad in disguise
Mitzvah Moment
Leah is a stroke survivor and wears an assistive device on her right leg which was blinged out to match her dress for the weekend!
Mitzvah Cake & Favor
Leah’s Bat Mitzvah was on her actual 13th birthday!
There was a traditional birthday cake and everyone sang to her!
L.L. Bean tote bags were monogrammed for each guests and hung from bows on their chairs with custom labels
Mitzvah Project
Travel is a huge part of the family’s life living overseas, as it is for many expats and Leah decided to incorporate this into her Mitzvah Project. She volunteered with her school making onigiri (Japanese rice and seaweed sandwiches) for homeless men and noticed how much pride they took in their personal appearance. She wrote letters to all her friends and family asking them to collect travel-sized toiletries. She collected them while back in the United States the summer before her Bat Mitzvah and also rode her bicycle around Tokyo collecting items from her friends months before. She collected over 2000 individual items, and was able to make up personal hygiene kits that the family distributed to homeless men.
Leah with more than 100 necessities bags for homeless men in Tokyo. Each bag contained soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, warm socks, razors, shaving cream, combs, brushes, tissues, shampoo, lotion, lip balm, and mints
And here is the whole family out on the streets distributing them at 4:00 AM in a typhoon because they said they would be there!
Mom to Mom
Some advice from Mom Alisha:
“The biggest challenge for me was planning an event in a country where no one knew what a Bat Mitzvah was! However, this was actually quite liberating on some level – Leah and I were free to plan exactly the event we wanted to without competing for vendors, worrying if anyone else would do the same things, or that it had all been “seen before.” As a Mom, I found the best mindset was to do the special touches we wanted, and anything that couldn’t be done, I’d remind myself that no one but our little family even knew they’d been a possibility and wouldn’t be missed. Leah and I are both crafty and love to plan, so we did a lot of extra touches ourselves, which was both fun and special. As a Mom, I loved having her involved in as much as possible.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Leah’s celebration extremely special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Service: Jewish Community of Japan, 81-03-3400-2559
Venue: Tokyo American Club, 81-03-4588-0381
Party Planner: Mom Alisha Glaser
Music Entertainment: DJ: Duane Wachna/MC: Guy Totaro
Photographer/Videographer: Tracey Taylor and Dee Green 37 FRAMES, 81-80-3271-9071
Invitation: Just Invite Me, 847-285-3495
Décor/florist: Bloom and Stripe, 81-3-6421-1187
Place cards, signage, pillows: Mom Alisha
Favor bags: L.L. Bean
Cake: Cookie-Hound
Cloth napkins: efavormart.com
Personalized paper cocktail napkins: ForYourParty.com
Sign-In Chair: Mom Alisha
Talit clips: Lynn Cooper, Kanoa Pure Silver, Etsy.com
Custom labels for welcome bags Evermine, 1-855-383-7646
Dresses for Mom: Theia, Neiman Marcus
Bat Mitzvah girl Leah: Stella M’Lia dress from The Ragamuffin Shop & Radical Rags, 843-884-4814
Sister Sophie’s dress: Sweet Kids
Suits for Dad: Teijin Men’s Shop of Ginza
Hair/makeup: Roberto Perozzi
June 17th, 2015
Here at Mitzvah Market we get lots of questions from readers about many things, including themes for a B’nai Mitzvah. Whether a boy/girl or same sex siblings, it’s hard to show individuality.
Below are some ideas that we hope will inspire you for your children’s B’nai Mitzvah celebration.
FIRE & ICE – This is a popular theme when it’s a boy and girl B’nai Mitzvah.
Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company shot this B’nai Mitzvah with a Fire & Ice theme with decor by Diana Gould LTD
Balloon Artistry provided the decor for this “Fire & Ice” theme…“Burn & Chill, Reid & Jill”
These “Fire and Ice” themed B’nai Mitzvah invitation ensemble are from Cutie Patootie
HE SAID, SHE SAID – This is another great idea for a B’nai Mitzvah celebration with plenty of room to showcase the interests of both children.
Party Excellence provided the decor for this celebration at Temple Avodah with Kombert Caterers
PHRASES THAT WORK – We love how these phrases can work for any B’nai Mitzvah combination!
DYNAMIC DUO
From thecoolestgiveaways.com, “Kaufman Productions Presents the Dynamic Duo”
TWO BOYS – Here are some ideas when brothers are sharing the stage:
The Event Of A Lifetime: For Ethan & Zach it was a play on PG 13
Party Harty Entertainment: “ETT Zone” for boys with the last name Ettenger
TWO GIRLS – Here are some ideas when sisters are sharing the stage:
Their theme was “Dubble Trubble” using an adorable logo that was a take off of “Dubble Bubble” gum
To see more of this idea, click here
“Sisters” was the theme of this B’nai Mitzvah
To see more of this idea, click here
Other ideas for Bar Bat Mitzvah celebrations with multiples:
The Pieced Palette can create keepsake pillows and sign-in pillows from your invitation
From A Promos USA/ImageMaker – When one siblings likes the Yankees and one likes the Mets!
Bites, Sweets ‘N Treats created a cake for a B’nai Mitzvah that used the kids initials as their JAM Productions theme. Logo and event decor for this celebration by Luxeventsandco.com
Enjou Chocolat can create delicious favors to match your B’nai theme
Did you have a clever theme for your children’s B’nai Mitzvah? Let us know at info@mitzvahmarket.com.
June 17th, 2015
Club LED is an exciting up-to-date entertainment venue with incredible customer service, and one-of-a-kind extras for your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration.
They bring the look and feel of an exciting New York City nightclub close to home. Club LED features state-of-the-art lighting, lasers and sound in an incredible multi-sensory environment that your family and guests will love. They feature all the extras clients expect including their unique, award-winning ride film simulator!
Top 5 Reasons Club LED Is A Great Venue For Your Child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah Celebration:
5. Staff: They work with clients from start to finish to create the perfect celebration for family and friends, making sure your child’s wishes come to life.
4. Spectacular add-ons: Their award-winning Roller Coaster simulator and incredible inflatable “Meltdown” are just some of the most unique interactive activities you will find only at Club LED.
Roller Coaster simulator
Inflatable “Meltdown”
3. Music: The best MCs and DJs who will keep the party exciting and making sure guests will be experiencing the most incredible party ever!
2. Total Sensory Experience: They bring the look and feel of an exciting New York City nightclub close to home. Club LED features state-of-the-art lighting, lasers and sound in an incredible multi-sensory environment that your family and guests will love!
1. It’s all about You! At Club LED, they’re parents too. They understand that you want to throw an incredible celebration for your son or daughter, and that’s exactly what they will accomplish. Personalization is key and they want your child and family to feel like they are the stars of the day. Clients can expect warm and friendly customer service through the entire process.
To learn more about Club LED, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
June 14th, 2015
The Gary family celebrated their son Spencer’s Bar Mitzvah with a Havdalah service followed by a party at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael in Springfield, New Jersey.
The evening was truly a celebration as guests saw the grace and poise of the Bar Mitzvah boy reflected in all of his wonderful characteristics in the theme, A Night of Champions.
Pictured L-R: Dad Aaron, Bar Mitzvah boy Spencer, Brother Alex and Mom Rachel.
Brad Photo and Video was the photographer and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
The family worked with Merri Kurzner of Letter Perfect on the sophisticated invitation.
The black, red and pewter color palette was used throughout the party
Spencer had a beautiful Havdalah service.
Spencer with his family on the Bimah
Spencer drinking from the kiddush cup as his proud family and Rabbis look on
Flower Power Design owner Mindi Shaevitz created a room for a champion starting with a great idea for the place cards.
Customized Gatorade bottles served as place cards and thirst quenchers!
They had Spencer’s logo and the table assignment
The lounge furniture featured lots of customization with pillows and decals on the coffee table
Spencer’s logo front and center
There were alternating custom centerpieces, this one featured Spencer’s picture and logo
The centerpieces included silhouettes of basketball, lacrosse and soccer players
An over-sized Gobo was projected on the wall
Spencer’s logo was displayed on the screens around the room
The menu card at each place setting included the logo.
Mom Rachel created the sign-in book on Shutterfly.com.
A great picture of Spencer on the cover
The book included pictures of Spencer throughout the years
Robbie of Pure Energy and the dancers took care of all the fun on the dance floor.
Spencer made his entrance with two dancers
The DJ and dancers all wore black t-shirts with Spencer’s logo
There was lots of action on the dance floor
Instead of a traditional candle lighting ceremony, the family honored the people who helped make Spencer “a champion.” The final candle was given to the Sportsman of the Year, Spencer, while simultaneously a large canvas poster of the cover of the Spencer Illustrated magazine was unveiled. This custom and personalized keepsake was conceived by Dad Aaron, written by mom Rachel and designed by Spencer’s aunt Vanessa Gary, a graphic designer. Copies of the magazine were distributed to all the guests.
Spencer surrounded by his friends
Spencer with brother Alex
The family enjoyed a special moment
The canvas poster of the cover of Spencer Illustrated incorporated all of his favorite sports
Spencer posed with his magazine!
The grey hooded sweatshirt favors from Robin Edelman, Always Smile Designs Logo and Party Favors, included Spencer’s great logo.
Spencer modeled his sweatshirt
Another large canvas poster was created and placed near the exit reminding guests to save the date for brother Alex’s Bar Mitzvah on September 17, 2016.
Coming Attraction poster for younger Brother Alex
For his Bar Mitzvah project, Spencer volunteered for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and Special Olympics New Jersey. In addition to assisting in the 2014 USA Games offices completing administrative tasks, Spencer welcomed the 3,500 athletes competing as part of the New Jersey Welcome Day celebration. A highlight of his involvement with Special Olympics New Jersey was swimming the first leg of a triathlon as a Unified Partner to two Special Olympics athletes. After this experience, Spencer considers “Special Olympics athletes to be true champions because despite their differences, they continue to try their best.”
Spencer helping out folding t-shirts for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games
Welcoming the athletes as they arrived for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games
Spencer with one of his partners from Special Olympics New Jersey where he served as her Unified Partner in an area triathlon
Some advice from Mom Rachel:
“Event planning is something that comes naturally to me in my work in public relations; however, even I was amazed at all the little details that went into the planning of the celebration including coordinating with the temple, the room designer, the wardrobe fittings for all of us, the hotel and all the creative elements we were doing ourselves. I recommend creating a binder with sections for temple, venue, entertainment, decorations, favors, etc. and make lists so no detail is forgotten. Most of all, it is important to enjoy the process and work together with your Bar/Bat Mitzvah child so that it is your collective vision. One of the best moments of the night was my son’s reaction to the transformation of the temple ballroom as he did not truly envision how it could have a club atmosphere.”
The following vendors helped to make Spencer’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, 973-376-0539
Photographer/Videographer: Brad Photo & Video, 973-696-8763
Party Planner: Mom Rachel
Décor/florist Centerpieces/Placecards: Mindi Shaevitz, Flower Power Design, 973-951-5676
Music Entertainment: MC Robbie, Pure Energy, 732-952-8772
Favors: Robin Edelman, Always Smile Designs Logo and Party Favor Design, 973-865-6863
Party entertainment: Tap Snap, 1-877-729-2715 ext. 1070
Invitation: Merri Kurzner, Letter Perfect 973-467-4541
Logo: Created by a personal friend
Sign-In book: Shutterfly.com
Magazine Spread: Mom Rachel and Spencer’s Aunt Vanessa
Mom Rachel’s dress: Rhona’s Boutique
Suit, Dad Aaron: Hugo Boss
Suit, Bar Mitzvah boy Spencer: Sam’s of Livingston
Suit, Alex: Men’s Warehouse
June 14th, 2015
Meet Interactive Entertainment Group.
They are a nationwide direct source and full service event production company. They produce unforgettable events for their clients which include the following elements: DJs/MCs, photo favors, lighting, cocktail hour entertainment, light-up lounges, specialty acts, interactive games, montages, entrance videos, fun food carts, a variety of craft and party favors, and party endings.
What makes them different? They set new event trends and customize all the above elements to meet their clients’ style, vision, and budget.
We spoke with Interactive Entertainment Group to learn about their Top Ten List for Bar Bat Mitzvah party entertainment. In no particular order, here’s what’s hot:
Urban Hoops
Giant Lite Brite
Plunk It!
3D Live Photo – more on Live Photos here
Giant iPhone
Virtual Graffiti Wall
InstaCam Photo Booth
Giant Strip Photo Booth
Giant Arcade Games
LED Sports Games
To learn more about Interactive Entertainment Group, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
June 10th, 2015
Cupcake Cuties is a great find for those who like to bake and/or want to include cupcakes for their Kiddush reception, party or Mitzvah Project bake sale.
These fun designer cupcake kits can be customized for your special event or you can choose from a variety of fun themes.
You bake and they help you decorate! Some customers give cupcake kits to their local baker to finish off their cupcakes!
Each Cupcake Cutie Kit comes with 24 themed wraps, and all the necessary toppings to create the design that is pictured
Each kit comes complete with themed wrap sleeves and all the custom toppings needed
Summer Fun!
Cupcakes that look like hamburgers!
For every Cuties for the Cure sold, 5% of the sale will benefit Susan G. Komen LA.
You receive 3 designs and even the pink ribbon confetti to complete awesome cupcakes
For more information about Cupcake Cuties visit their Website.
Mitzvah Market readers, use promo code Mitzvah and receive 25% off your order.
June 8th, 2015
On the Mitzvah Circuit…by Carrie Berk
Today we welcome our newest teen blogger, Carrie Berk. For her first installment, she is telling us about her friend David’s Bar Mitzvah which took place in Manhattan.
David Ruff and I have been great friends since second grade, and I was so excited to attend his B’nai Mitzvah in honor of him and his twin brother Harry. Both of the Ruff boys like to have fun, and I knew their reception would be an over-the-top, non-stop party.
It took place at Arena Event Space in New York City. As soon as I walked in, I noticed video screens flashing the slogans, “Life is RUFF!” “RUFF and Ready!” and “Play RUFF!” Love the puns!
Pictures of Harry and David riding Harley motorcycles were hung over the bar: In a word: COOL!
It would be hard to forget who’s party you were at: everything was “branded” with Harry and David’s images or initials, from tabletops to vests and beanies to the candy boxes piled high to form a “Candy Cube Cake.”
Signage was everywhere including on these tabletops
Candy boxes piled high to form a “Candy Cube Cake”
As I walked upstairs, I discovered a beauty bar, fully stocked with every kind of makeup you can imagine—in case us girls need a little touch up or just wanted to try out a new shade of lipstick. So thoughtful!
The boys’ fave foods were everywhere, from kiddie cocktails to chicken nuggets and a pasta bar with every kind of noodle and sauce imaginable.
David wanted everyone to get on the floor and dance (he’s an amazing hip-hop dancer), and the deejay and “Discoball Dudes” from Total Entertainment kept the crowd revved up. There were strobe lights, sparklers, and a pounding techno beat; at one point, there were people dancing on the bar!
Everyone kicked their shoes off and got down on the dance floor
And when we were too tired and needed a break, there were plush, comfy couches to lounge on with the H/D “ying-yang” logo pillows.
I couldn’t help but notice the attention to personal detail. There was a bowl of colorful rubber “Cartier” love bracelets since the family likes Cartier jewelry
Lastly, at the end of the night, we all left with awesome favors: black hoodies with a bulldog on them that read, “It was a RUFF night!” I’m so happy for the Bar Mitzvah boys, and that I was able to be a part of their amazing event!
(L-R) Hayley Solomons, Bar Mitzvah boy David and Carrie
VENDORS: Music Entertainment/Photo booth, Total Entertainment; Venue & Food: Arena Event Space; Candy cake: Sugarfina; Party planner: Amy Shey Jacobs, Chandelier Events; Photographer: Michael Jurick
ABOUT CARRIE
I am a 7th grader in Manhattan who loves ballet, blogging and writing my own bestselling children’s book series, The Cupcake Club (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky). In my spare time, I take Soul Cycle classes, sing, model, and hang with my friends in the city and the Hamptons. Follow me on Facebook, www.fashionacademybook.com and on Instagram @cbgirliegirl.
