May 27th, 2019
If you celebrate your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah in September or early October you may want to consider mailing your invitations before the typical eight week mark. With many people away during the summer months, a 10-12 week lead time will help you to rest easy when it comes to RSVPs.
Out of the Box NY, an invitation, gift and stationery company specializing in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, shares their guidelines for early fall Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations:
1. If a lot of your guests will be away for the summer, you should plan to mail your invitations by the second or third week in June — with a response date in July.
2. If your date isn’t until mid/late October, with an RSVP date in September, you can either mail in mid June, or wait until mid August when friends come home just in time to receive their invitation.
Alternately, if you’re worried about sending invites out too early, you can always do two rounds of mailings — the first, in mid June to those children who will be away for the summer, and the second, approximately eight weeks before your affair, to your family and adult friends.
When it comes to responses, the summer months require some additional RSVP time. If you are sending invitations out early, Out of the Box NY suggests an RSVP date more than a month before the event so you have more time to follow up.
See below for examples of custom early fall Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations from Out of the Box NY:
We thank Out of the Box NY for sharing this helpful information with our readers. For more information about Out of the Box NY, visit their extended profile page.
May 27th, 2019
Ellie Blumberg loves musicals, both performing in and watching them. For her Bat Mitzvah at The International in Bolton, Massachusetts, “Starring Ellie” was the theme — from a red carpet entry to TKTS seating cards, each of Ellie’s favorite Broadway shows was represented.
The photographer for this event was Dave Lang at Documenting Life’s Moments. A complete list of vendors follows at the end of this Spotlight.
Service
The Blumberg family: (L-R) mom Emily, sister Isabella, Bat Mitzvah girl Ellie and dad Michael
Ellie carried the Torah with pride at Congregation Beth Elohim in Acton, MA
Ellie's favorite color is pink and she requested "pink ombre" flowers on the bima
Close up of Ellie's "pink ombre" flowers for her service
Broadway Baby
Ellie and her parents created this beautiful invitation on Zazzle.com
Ellie's Broadway theme began at the placecard table - inspired by Times Square's famous booth
Place cards were designed to look like tickets to Broadway's biggest shows
A pink director's chair (found on Etsy!) was a creative alternative to the traditional sign-in board
Playbill inspired centerpieces of Ellie's favorite musicals featured her E logo and Broadway marquee lights
The bases to the centerpieces were filled with irredescent cellophane to create a subtle sparkle
Pink napkins matched Ellie's logo and added a feminine touch to the tables
Ellie made her big entrance running down, what else? The red carpet!
The candle lighting display was made by Ellie's mom and echoed the Broadway marquee lights in Ellie's logo and centerpieces
MC Nate from Siagel Productions kept the crowd on their feet!
The green screen photo booth allowed guests to choose from a variety of backgrounds, including this step-and-repeat, Broadway marquees and Ellie's favorite sport, volleyball
Little sister Isabella toasted her big sis
At the end of the celebration, all the guests surrounded Ellie in a giant "friendship circle"
Friends and family shared special memories and messages with the Bat Mitzvah girl
Thoughtful Details
Ellie stayed comfortable in these blinged out Adidas sneakers with pink ribbon laces
Guests were encouraged to kick off their shoes and put on these comfy socks
The Blumbergs even provided ear plugs for guests who preferred to keep the volume down
Light up Bluetooth speakers from Party Favors by Eagle Eye were a fabulous keepsake for the kids
Mitzvah Advice
“Don’t reinvent the wheel,” says mom Emily. “Ask friends who have done this before for advice. When the Bar/Bat Mitzvah day arrives, make sure to take a deep breath, look around the room and enjoy every minute of it!”
Mitzvah Project
Ellie baked and sold heart shaped cookies and raised more than $4,600 for the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation. The money she donated sponsored several themed parties (Macaroni & Cheese, Chinese food, ice cream) on the cardiac floor of the Boston Children’s Hospital.
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Ellie’s celebration a success. If you contact them, please let them know you read about their services on Mitzvah Market.
Venue: The International, Bolton, MA, 978-779-6911
Event Planning/Decor/Seating Cards: Keep Calm and Throw a Party, Dafna Erickson & Monica Zimmerman, 508-259-5015
Music/MC: Siagel Productions, Inc., MC Nate, 617-614-5422
Photographer: Documenting Life’s Moments, Dave Lang, 508-740-2992
Favors: Party Favors by Eagle Eye, 203-817-0300
Green Screen Photo Booth: Seacoast Events, 978-462-6877
Invitations: Zazzle.com
Logos: mom and dad with help from friend/designer Emily Krause
Flowers for Service: Copper Penny Florist, 978-369-4500
Sign-In Director’s Chair: Etsy, Comfy Bumz Shop
Candle Lighting Display & Bling Sneakers: mom Emily
Dresses: Pink Domino, 617-964-7465 (Ellie), Macy’s (Isabella), Lord & Taylor (Emily)
Suits: Gould’s, 978-263-0374
Guest Socks: Eros Wholesale, 267-778-1103
Hair/Makeup: family friend Jen Houle (Ellie and Isabella)
Transportation: NRT Bus, Inc., 978-562-5186
May 19th, 2019
Guests were tickled pink at this candy theme Bat Mitzvah. “The entire venue was flooded with shades of pink: pink lighting, pink draping, pink candy and of course, a pink carpet,” says Melisa Imberman of The Event Of A Lifetime, Inc., who collaborated with X-Quisite Flowers & Events on the décor for this celebration at Pier 60 in New York City. After walking through a pink candy forest, guests took photos in front of the step and repeat featuring the Bat Mitzvah girl’s name surrounded by images of pink candies. An old fashioned candy cart with pink and white stripes displayed the escort cards which were placed on top of a bed of pink jelly beans.
Once inside the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed the food while also taking in the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. Kids had a blast in the selfie booth, lip balm station and 16-person LED foosball table. For the reception, live musicians accompanied the DJ. A violinist, keyboard player and vocalist really brought the Jewish music to life and kept the dance floor packed.
The photographer for this event was Abbie Sophia.
Pretty in pink! The Bat Mitzvah girl prepares to enter her reception
Guests walked down a long corridor that was transformed into a pink candy forest with giant pink lollipop trees & oversized cones of cotton candy
Pink lighting added a touch of drama
Close up of the oversized candy lollipops
Whimsical cotton candy cones were a fun surprise
A bright pink candy cart served as the place card table
Place cards were cleverly displayed on a bed of pink jelly beans
The cocktail hour featured stunning views of the Hudson River
After cocktails guests entered a pink candy wonderland
The ceiling was dripping with pink ribbons, icicle lights and replicas of assorted pink candies
Textured pink linens and silver chairs created a fun, feminine vibe
Bouquets of giant pink lollipops were placed on the adult tables
Menus were printed in the shape of wrapped hard candies
Table runners of pink jelly beans sat on top of sheer pink linens with sparkly dots for the long kids' tables
A pink gumball machine with each child's name was placed at each seat
The dance floor looked like a pool of candy thanks to the custom wrap with a jelly bean backdrop, lollipop border and the Bat Mitzvah girl's logo in the center
Imberman worked with EK Productions to create a custom step and repeat for the selfie booth
The custom lip balm station was a big hit with the kids
A 16-person LED foosball table was lit up, of course, pink!
Mini Rice Krispies Treats cones were a fun, tasty, dairy-free choice for the Kosher affair, catered by Prestige Kosher Caterer
Before heading home, guests visited the candy bar offering candies in every shade of pink imaginable!
Close up of the pink candy bar
Favors included cozy t-shirts, logo pajama bottoms and socks...
...which were wrapped in these custom logo bags
We thank Melisa Imberman for sharing this great Bat Mitzvah celebration with our readers. To learn more about The Event Of A Lifetime, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
May 15th, 2019
When planning your child’s milestone Bar or Bat Mitzvah event in the Boston area, you will need a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah venue, perhaps a party planner, DJ and music entertainment, caterer, invitations, favors like sweatshirts, t-shirts, along with a Bar Bat Mitzvah photographer, montage maker, event decor and much more.
We have provided a list of the best Bar Bat Mitzvah experts in the Boston area. They are all ready to provide a creative, unique and special Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration for your family and friends.
Check all the boxes for the vendors you are interested in learning more about. Fill in form on bottom.
You can also ask questions and get advice in our Boston Bar Bat Mitzvah planning group on Facebook. Join here.
May 14th, 2019
Hindi’s Libraries collects gently used children’s books and donates them to families in need throughout the United States.
May 12th, 2019
SPACE Events, the all inclusive, over-the-top party/event space in Englewood, NJ is coming to NYC with the launch of SPACE 54. Located at 226 East 54th Street, SPACE 54 brings everything Bar and Bat Mitzvah families have come to love about SPACE Events right into the heart of Manhattan with 4,500 square feet and a 265 person capacity.
Full service event planning, design, production and entertainment will all be available at SPACE 54. Founder and Creative Director Elvira Grau tells Mitzvah Market “Our incredibly talented team will plan, design, and execute a flawless event for you in New York City. We will take care of it all- design a custom theme, create a logo and carry it throughout. Our in-house creative team is the best and we will bring your vision to life!”
SPACE 54 will offer catering and entertainment for private and corporate events beginning in the of Summer 2019. To learn more about this new venue follow them on Instagram @Space54NYC. Contact elvira@spacenj.com for date availability.
For more information about SPACE Events, visit their extended profile page.
May 12th, 2019
Miles Pilchik’s Bar Mitzvah was planned in 30 days. Yes, 30 days! The Pilchik’s of New York City received their Bar Mitzvah date more than a year ago, but the only thing they planned in advance was the Havdalah service in the main sanctuary at Temple Emanu-el. Thirty days before the big day, mom Beth’s very detail oriented friend, Nancy, pushed her to finally start planning the reception.
The goal? To make sure this was a Bar Mitzvah that suited Miles, a gamer who likes having fun with his friends, while taking the entire family’s needs into consideration. Miles’ younger brother, Matthew, has Autism, so while the day was 100% about the Bar Mitzvah boy, making sure Matthew would be comfortable was key. That’s how Miles’ Bowl Mitzvah was conceived. Miles loves to bowl and Bowlmor Lanes in Times Square has bowling and an arcade in house, which they knew would work for Matthew.
To ensure Matthew’s comfort, the family hired a 1:1 ABA therapist to work with him the entire day. His school, the Manhattan Children’s Center, played an important role preparing him for the celebration. They created a social story detailing everything that would happen that day, and during OT at school, Matthew practiced putting on his suit and getting comfortable.
Beth, a small business marketing and PR consultant, also made a point to hire other small businesses to help execute the big day. “It’s more than possible to plan and execute an amazing Bar Mitzvah in 30 days,” says mom, Beth. “We had everything you can imagine at our Bar Mitzvah and the kids and parents had fun!”
The photographer for this event was Ivan Piedra Photography. A complete vendor list follows at the end of this Spotlight.
Service
Mom Beth, Bar Mitzvah boy Miles, brother Matthew and dad Evan at the historic Temple Emanu-el in NYC
Brotherly love: the boys share a hug before the service
Miles was poised and confident on his big day
Brother Matthew proudly joined his family on the bimah- a special moment that was many months in the making
Fun & Games
The venue featured a lot of built-in decor, so the Pilchiks kept it simple by adding balloons, flowers and these metal light-up letters which Bowlmor provided
Instead of a traditional sign in board, Miles' guests signed this bowling pin and also left their autographs on a special t-shirt that the DJ wore
Guests lined the room for Miles' big entrance ... cocktail tables and lounge seating kept everyone comfortable when they weren't bowling
The MC kept everyone on their feet...
... except when Miles' friends lifted him off his feet!
The kids had a blast bowling
With the help of his ABA therapist, Missy, little brother Matthew enjoyed some bowling too
What party would be complete without a group "dab"?
After bowling Miles and his friends hit the in-house Arcade
The graffitti wall was a perfect spot for photos
Mom and dad get silly with their friends
The photographers and event staff all wore MRP logo t-shirts
Exit Sweets & Treats
The custom donut bar with toppings was a big hit at the end of the party
Make your own ice cream sundaes - YUM!
Brother Matthew's favorite foods were reserved especially for him
Miles' favors included custom logo sweatshirts and drawstring bags
Guests also took home their favorite candy
Mitzvah Advice
“Our goal was to have a great party our entire family would enjoy,” says mom Beth. “Sometimes people get lost in the planning and the Bar Mitzvah becomes ‘work’ instead of ‘fun,’ and it doesn’t have to be. As long as you make the day/night about your child and his/her needs and likes, it will be great!”
In terms of preparing a child with Autism for the celebration, Beth says, “My advice is prepare and expect the unexpected. Matthew had a meltdown outside the sanctuary. His therapist took care of it. To get him out of hit, he realized he didn’t want to miss Miles’ passing of the Torah. He arrived right on cue. Our goal was to embrace all while recognizing Miles’ hard work.”
Mitzvah Project
Miles chose to have a Video Game-A-Thon where all proceeds would benefit his brother Matthew’s school, Manhattan Children’s Center, for children with autism spectrum disorder. MCC is in need of a new, larger location to accommodate more students. For every dollar Miles raised for MCC, he would be able to play video games. To date Miles has helped raise more than $2000 for the school.
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to pull off Miles’ 30 Day Mitzvah. If you contact them, please let them know you read about their services on Mitzvah Market.
Venue/Arcade: Bowlmor Lanes, 212-680-0012
Event Planner: Mom and family friend Nancy Held
Day-Of Coordinating/Flowers: The Finer Details, Cheryl Reiner, 201-906-9327
Music/DJ: Good Times Productions, Anthony Gelo, 718-926-5143
MC: RTJ Entertainment, Robert Taylor Jr., 917-670-6602
Photographer/Photo Booth: Ivan Piedra Photography/Air Graphics Entertainment, 973-247-1844
Montage: Images4Ever, 973-945-0573
Decor: Balloon Kings, 646-669-8361 (bowling pin balloons); Love, Laura Gifts, 212-744-0754 (napkins, staff logo t-shirts); VistaPrint, 1-866-614-8002 (pillows)
Favors: Black Sheep Branding Solutions, Aly Taff, 516-993-3870 (bowling socks); Jade Promotional Marketing, Elaina Durso, 914-393-4286 (logo sweatshirts); Promotique by Vistaprint, 1-866-891-3156 (drawstring bags)
Bowling & Game prizes: Five Below, 1-844-452-3569
Invitations: PaperlessPost.com
Candy Bar: Economy Candy, 212-254-1531
Mom’s Service Dress/Bowling outfit/Custom Necklaces: Ted Baker, Bloomingdales & Nordstrom Rack; Designs by Audrey, 917-703-4971 (necklaces)
Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Hair/Makeup: Blu Bocker, 646-678-5316 (hair); Beautini, 212-235-7060 (makeup)
Transportation: Great American Charters, Michael Saburro, 917-946-1723
May 5th, 2019
Need a unique venue to host your upcoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Are you tired of attending parties at the same hotels and catering halls? Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue with several event spaces that are sure to make your Mitzvah exceptional and stand out from all of the rest!
MEADOWLANDS RACING & ENTERTAINMENT – ONE VENUE WITH MANY OPTIONS
Trackside, the main Mitzvah reception area, offers a vibrant atmosphere with unlimited ways to transform the space for up to 400 guests.
The Gallery is the perfect place to host Mitzvah ceremonies or smaller parties up to 100 guests. This multi-purpose room features a projection screen as well as complete AV capabilities.
The Skybox Suites provide a truly unique experience! The Suites can hold a total of up to 200 people and are complete with AV capabilities and can also be re-configured for smaller groups. The Suites also feature an outdoor deck with skyline views – the perfect venue for a summer-time Mitzvah.
Victory Terrace is a beautiful outdoor rooftop bar that boasts views of the NYC skyline and can accommodate up to 500 guests.
The Backyard is an outdoor dining and entertainment section that can accommodate up to 10,000 people. Diverse party options are available within this outdoor area including party tents, picnic tables, outdoor games and activities and extensive barbecue catering options.
Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment event planners pride themselves on their professionalism and experience. You can expect an all inclusive, stress-free planning experience where their team will work with you to create the most unforgettable and amazing event. They will help you conceptualize your theme and execute it with close attention to detail while focusing on the highest standard of service. Vendors, entertainment and catering options can all be sourced, negotiated and implemented to perfection.
To book your event or schedule a personalized tour, visit their Website or call 201-843-2446
To learn more about the Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
May 5th, 2019
Everyone had Gold Vibes at Lizzie Gold’s Bat Mitzvah. Known for her sweet disposition, the “Heart of Gold” theme was an easy choice for Lizzie and her family. This theme was first introduced on the RSVP cards, where guests indicated if they would “love” to attend or were “broken-hearted” to miss the celebration. Following a Havdalah service, the Gold’s celebrated with family and friends at Temple Or Elohim in Jericho, NY. The ballroom was transformed with candlelight and a Tiffany Blue and gold color scheme. Fun taglines- Gold Vibes, Life is Good- were designed by The Coolest Giveaways and featured throughout the decor and signage. Stepmom Colette tells Mitzvah Market there were “Gold Vibes in the room with the kids, our friends and our family dancing all night long!”
Photo (L-R): sister Ryan, brother William, dad Oren, Bat Mitzvah girl Lizzie, stepmom Colette and brother Wesley. The photographer for this event was Leo Vatkin Photography and Video. A complete vendor list follows at the end of this Spotlight.
Havdalah Service
The family before Lizzie’s Havdalah service
Stepmom Colette surprised her daughter with this handcrafted tallit, purchased during a trip to Tzfat, Israel last summer, "It was very special surprising her with it"
Gold Vibes
Lizzie's invitation, in Tiffany Blue and gold, set the tone for the event
Photos from Lizzie's pre-shoot on the cover of her sign-in book
Creative placecards were made from lollipops with gold flakes inside
Lizzie’s stepmom found the lollipops on Etsy
Lighter Than Air Events created the decor; Gold was the prominent color on everything from table linens to centerpieces
Lizzie’s host table was aglow with white orchids floating in candlelit vases
Other centerpieces featured a large gold L with a heart on the bottom, which was similar to the initial on the back of Lizzie’s invitation
The kids' lounge was filled with sleek white furniture and decorated with photos of Lizzie from her pre shoot
Sequin mermaid pillows featured the Gold Vibes logo on one side...
... and Lizzie's Heart of Gold logo on the other
Even Lizzie's custom Converse sneakers were on point with the theme - featuring gold pearls and crystal hearts on the back
Gold Vibes everywhere - including the cocktail menu and water bottles
"The Lizzietini" was the signature cocktail with, of course, gold flakes!
Lizzie’s big entrance, with the Maximum Entertainment dancers
The whole family gathered in the Le Selfie photo booth
Lizzie's three tier Tiffany Blue cake was topped with a gold heart and gold "paint" dripping down the side
At the end of the night, guests were treated to hot pretzels and candy apples
Tiffany Blue candy apples were wrapped in gold bows
Water bottles featured Lizzie's logos
Golden Moments
A quiet moment in the ballroom before the party began
Lizzie's parents, Colette and Oren Gold
Lizzie shared a special moment with big sis Ryan during the candle lighting
Lizzie’s friends presented her with gifts during the cocktail hour
The crowd went crazy when big brother Wesley took the stage to perform his original hip hop song that Lizzie loves. Lizzie’s friends all knew the words and sang along while W3S performed, “Won't Ride”
Lizzie's friends had a blast with the dancers
Lizzie gave her Camp Echo friends custom bucket hats that said "Left My Heart at Echo." Here they joined her on the dance floor to sing their camp's theme song
All of Lizzie's friends - many in their Gold Vibes t-shirts - joined her for a candle
Lizzie's friends modeled their logo t-shirts in the photo booth
Dance floor giveaways also included heart shaped "Life is Good" tees
The Camp Echo girls show off the Heart of Gold sweat shirts that each girl took home at the end of the night
Boys took home long sleeve tees with a G logo (for Gold) inspired by Gucci
Favors were wrapped in custom drawstring bags
Logos
The Heart of Gold logo was visible throughout the event
Custom decor, t-shirts and water bottles were made with this Gold Vibes logo
The heart shaped Life is Good logo was used on giveaways, in the photo booth and more
Mitzvah Advice
“This was our third family Mitzvah in a short time, so we have become experts,” says stepmom, Colette, who planned the entire event. “The best advice I can give is to ask others to share their positive experiences with which vendors they used. Bar and Bat Mitzvah planning groups on Facebook are an amazing resource. I found most of my vendors from hearing other family’s reviews. Then meet the vendors you are considering, and make sure you feel comfortable with them because you will need to have a lot of communication in planning your child’s Mitzvah celebration.” She adds, “try not to get caught up in the stress of event planning. There are a lot of details to consider, which can become very stressful, but the celebration will be over in the blink of an eye. None of the guests, or your child, will remember what shade of cocktail napkins you chose. They will remember the love and joy you all felt celebrating your child’s special day.”
Mitzvah Project
Lizzie collected new and gently used socks as her Mitzvah project to donate to organizations that provide socks for men, women, and children who are homeless. Lizzie learned about how socks are one of the most needed items of clothing, through the organization Knock Knock Give a Sock. Lizzie’s family and friends generously donated hundreds of pairs of socks. She collected eight giant bags filled with socks that everyone brought to her home, or shipped from Amazon. Lizzie posted on her social media pages to let friends know about her Mitzvah project, and even told her teachers about it.
Vendor Directory
Venue/Cake: Temple Or Elohim, Hasson Caterers, Shawn Farber 516-523-0191
Party Planner: Stepmom Colette
Music/MC/DJ: Maximum Entertainment, DJ Eddie, MC Evan, Co-MC owner Joe, 516-826-8632
Photographer/Videographer: Leo Vatkin, 914-497-5730
Decor: Lighter Than Air, Artie 516-933-3210
Photo Booth: Le Selfie Booth, 917-856-8912
Favors/Logos: The Coolest Giveaways, Sue and the TCG Team, 516-439-4303
Mermaid Pillows: Lovekess Clothing, 516-382-8539
Invitations: Written and Wrapped, Tracey Cooper, 516-375-8851
Montage: Elissa Owens Productions, 617-480-4935
Dresses: Ask Alice, 516-921-2464 (Lizzie and Ryan); Runway Couture (Colette), 516-308-4639
Alterations: Nedy’s Alterations, 516-359-9600
Custom Converse Sneakers: TheeQueenOfBling, Etsy
Suits: Kenny’s Men’s and Boys Wear, 516-921-2660 (Wesley and William)
Hair/Makeup: Raquel of Tom Salon in Merrick (makeup), 516-807-0517; Christina Speciale (hair), 516-589-3779
