Red Bull Arena For A Bar Bat Mitzvah Celebration

If your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah child is a major soccer fan – or if you’re looking for an exciting, unexpected Bar Bat Mitzvah venue – check out Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Located just 14 miles from Manhattan, Red Bull Arena is home to the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, and is a perfect venue for a unique, customized Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration up to 350 guests.

Bar Bat Mitzvah families and their guests receive unparalleled access to the stadium — from walking through the famed Players Tunnel for the cocktail reception, to running on the field for activities and games, and ultimately heading up to the Audi Club for the reception. With a flexible room design and full catering service, the special events team at Red Bull Arena is dedicated to delivering the highest service and a lifetime of memories to your family. In addition, player appearances and performances by the Red Bull Street team are available to Mitzvah families.

See below for images from Red Bull Arena’s private event spaces:

Driving up to the Arena makes an impressive first impression for Mitzvah guests

Once inside the stadium, guests enter the cocktail reception through the Players Tunnel

During cocktails, games and activities can be set up on the field; the Bar Bat Mitzvah child's name will also appear on the digital screens throughout the stadium

Mitzvah guests have a once in a lifetime experience on the Red Bull field

The Audi Club space is transformed for receptions; LED screens can feature your Mitzvah logos and branding

Sleek white furniture and high tops create a lounge vibe

A kids' lounge was created for this Mitzvah party

DJ set up and dance floor

Another view of the reception space

The two-story Provident Bank Suite Lounge, can also be used for Mitzvahs, offering views of the stadium, and an opportunity for dramatic lighting and decor

In addition to traditional music and dancing...

...the Red Bull Street Team is also available to entertain guests

Red Bull Arena's full service catering operation features everything from extensive sushi presentations...

... to delicious desserts

For more information on Red Bull Arena, check out their extended profile in the Vendor Directory.

Incorporating Halloween Into Your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Theme

For those celebrating their child’s Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah close to Halloween, we wanted to share ways other families have embraced the holiday at their child’s celebration with costumes, candy, and other spooky treats! 

Get into the Halloween spirit with the below ideas:

Invitations

The Scarselli family hinted at the theme with the invitation's color palette of black, orange, white and hot pink which set the tone for the entire party

The second part of the invite incorporated some fun Halloween wording

The Steinberg family worked with Precious Papers who designed a modern invitation that arrived in a box. Inside the box, along with the invitation, was a beautiful mask, hinting at the theme

This creative Bat Mitzvah invitation had a refined look in a Gothic font with clever wording

Party Style

The Wyner family dressed up as The Addams Family in honor of son Adam's Bar Mitzvah

Face Art by Melissa did the fabulous make-up for the Scarselli family

For Molly's Molloween themed Bat Mitzvah the entire family got in on the action

Party Details

Because it was Halloween, Emma's kippot were orange satin

This white lounge area was accented with skeleton pillows for the Scarselli family

The candle lighting display for Hannah's Boo Mitzvah

Molly's logo was projected on screens around the room.

Vintage horror movie posters lined the front of the venue with the Mitzvah family photoshopped into each terrifying image for the “Horowitz Horror Night”

Desserts/Favors

The Halpern B'nai Mitzvah was held on Halloween, a late night trick revealed a secret treat room filled with a Halloween candy buffet and custom favors

These Halloween buckets made a great presentation for their Bat Mitzvah favors

Party favors for the adult guests were lanterns with an LED candle inside at Hannah's Boo Mitzvah

Mitzvah Project Ideas

For Spencer’s Bar Mitzvah Project, he decided to use his love of dogs, and his creativity, as the motivation to launch a contest he named the Caring Canine Costume Campaign

The Becker family held a fundraiser they called, “Costumes for a Cause” benefiting Little Smiles

Did you have a Halloween themed celebration? Let us know at info@mitzvahmarket.com. 

Mitzvah Inspire: Las Vegas Theme Bat Mitzvah

 Aviva Las Vegas

The Bat Mitzvah girl in front of her custom logo

Dramatic centerpieces were constructed with plumes of Ostrich feathers - recalling the costumes of quintessential Vegas stage shows

White orchids and silver painted leaves created a dramatic but airy aesthetic

Clear glass vases elevated the centerpieces and were draped with crystal beads

High votive candle sticks completed the elegant decor; in the distance white lounge furniture with magenta pillows

Pops of magenta flowers contrasted against the sky blue lighting

Clear dining chairs and metallic linens completed the look

The glamorous bar was trimmed in mirror, reflecting light throughout the space

We thank Extraordinary Productions Event Design for sharing this beautiful Bat Mitzvah with our readers. 

Additional vendors who made this event special include:

Event Planning: Events Custom Taylored, ​201-505-4983, Photographer: Andy Foster Photography, 973-744-4484, Invitations: Julie Maloof Designs, 973-615,6952, Venue: The Hilton Short Hills, 973-379-0100, Music/DJ: Total Entertainment, 201-894-0055, Favors & Branding: SWISH, 917-714-8357

For more information on working with Mitzvah vendors in the New Jersey area, check out Mitzvah Market’s New Jersey Bar Bat Mitzvah Planning Group on Facebook. Live in another city? You can ask questions get advice in Mitzvah Market’s regional Bar Bat Mitzvah planning groups on Facebook.

Creative Long Island, Brooklyn & Queens Locations for Bar Bat Mitzvah Pre-Shoots

Long Island and neighboring Brooklyn and Queens are filled with incredible backdrops for photography. From miles of pristine beaches and beautiful parks to historic Gold Coast mansions and world famous sports arenas, you can easily find a creative location for your Bar and Bat Mitzvah pre-shoot. If your child wants their prince or princess moment, check out Oheka Castle in Huntington. Looking for a funky, urban vibe? Head to the Bushwick Collective street art murals in Brooklyn.

*Be sure to contact the venue in advance, or check with your photographer about possible photo permits and fees.

Read on for Mitzvah Market’s top picks for Bar and Bat Mitzvah pre-shoot locations:

Long Island

The Montauk Point Lighthouse is an iconic Long Island destination. In addition to the lighthouse, you'll enjoy beautiful ocean views (photo credit: Kat Dinsmore)

Long Island has miles of beachside boardwalks perfect for photo ops. Pictured here, the Long Beach boardwalk at sunset (photo credit: Adam Mordetsky)

Looking for a nautical vibe? Port Jefferson offers a New England style fishing village backdrop, complete with local shops and a busy harbor (photo credit: Gayle Zucker)

Feeling royal? Look no further than Long Island's own Oheka Castle in Huntington. Set atop Long Island's highest point, the historic estate and hotel is a major WOW moment for photos (photo credit: OhekaCastle.com)

Modeled after an Irish castle, Castle Gould at the Sands Point Preserve offers a majestic backdrop (photo credit: SandsPointConservancy.org)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Westbury Gardens features some of the most beautiful landscape design and architecture in NY (photo credit: OldWestburyGardens.org)

Historic architecture and sweeping views of Long Island Sound are the attraction at The Vanderbilt Mansion & Planetarium in Centerport (photo credit: Renjith Thomas)

A local artist created this massive Pokemon mural in the village of Huntington; making a bold, colorful backdrop for photos (photo credit: Efren Andaluz)

The Bunger Surf Shop Mural in Sayville, by artist Michael Amorillo, is another street art destination (photo credit: MichaelAmorillo.com)

The abandoned grounds and greenhouses of the Welwyn Preserve in Glen Clove, juxtapose nature with graffiti art (photo credit: atlasobscura.com/users/th4698)

The town of Roslyn has several Instagram-worthy spots for photos. The historic clock tower and duck pond are favorites. For a more industrial vibe, check out the Roslyn Viaduct Overpass and neighboring Lumber Street (photo credit: w:User:Antony-22/Gallery)

Brooklyn & Queens

The remnants of the 1969 World's Fair in Corona Park, offer dramatic, one of a kind backdrops (photo credit: Bruce G, Google Maps)

Nothing says "fun" like the world famous Coney Island Amusement park. Grab some popcorn and cotton candy and make the most of this unexpected location for a Bar Bat Mitzvah pre shoot (photo credit: LonelyPlanet.com)

If your child is a sports fan, take advantage of the incredible stadiums in the Long Island area. Pictured here, Citi Field in Queens (photo credit: Baseballparks.com)

For an only in NY urban vibe, head to Bushwick for photos at the Bushwick Collective (photo credit: GoogleMaps)

Astoria's Welling Court Mural Project offers a whimsical backdrop for photos (photo credit: WellingCourtMuralProject.com)

The DUMBO Walls under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway feature colorful wall art by many famous artists (photo credit: dumbonyc.com)

Looking for other areas with creative backdrops for pre-shoots?
Westchester
DC Metro Area/Maryland/Virginia
Philadelphia

Would you like to share your favorite pre-shoot locations? Send suggestions to info@mitzvahmarket.com or post in your regional Mitzvah Market Facebook group.

You can also ask questions and get advice in our Long Island Bar Bat Mitzvah planning group on Facebook. Join here.

Top 10 Bar Bat Mitzvah Entrance Songs: EJ The DJ Shares Their List

Among the many decisions that need to be made when planning your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration, one of them will be the entrance songs. In addition to the Bar Bat Mitzvah child making a special entrance, you may also want to plan a special moment for parent and sibling entrances. When it comes to knowing what’s trending in music, we suggest consulting with an expert.

EJ the DJ, a full service event company based in New York, is always on the lookout for what’s hot and what’s going to be the “next big thing” in Bar Bat Mitzvah music and entertainment. The EJ staff has produced more than 10,000 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, so they definitely know which songs will get your guests off their feet and keep them on the dance floor!

These are EJ The DJ’s picks for the Top 10 Bar or Bat Mitzvah entrance songs:

1. Break Free – Ariana Grande
2. Celebrate – Pitbull
3. Don’t Stop the Party – Pitbull
4. This Is What You Came For – Rihanna 
5. Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay
6. Turn Down for What -DJ Snake 
7. My House – Flo Rida 
8. Love Myself – Hailee Steinfeld 
9. Jackie Chan – Tiesto & Dzeko
10. The Man – Aloe Blacc

See below for photos of the EJ the DJ team in action at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs:

To learn more about EJ the DJ, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.

You can also ask questions and get advice about entrance songs, Mitzvah music and more in our regional Facebook groups. Join here.

Cole and Chase’s Amazon Adventure: B’nai Mitzvah Inspired by Family Vacation

Bar and Bat Mitzvah inspiration can come from anywhere. For twins Cole and Chase Turnof of New Jersey, a family visit to the rain forest in Panama and a love for animals led to an “Amazon Adventure” theme for their B’nai Mitzvah. (A love of the beach led to sister Kayla’s ocean themed Bat Mitzvah.) For Cole & Chase’s celebration, The Channel Club in Monmouth Beach was transformed into a lush, tropical jungle through the use of vibrant colors, foliage, natural materials and a ton of creativity. From rustic jungle cabanas for the kids to the twins’ entrance through a wall of vines, the event had a fun, cohesive vibe that was totally “wild.” 

The photographer for this event was Matt Kirchhof of Kirchhof Photograhy. A complete list of vendors follows at the end of this story.

Service & Luncheon

Rustic wood grain invitations were custom made in Poland! Mom Stacy found a photo on Pinterest which she used for design ideas. It took her a few weeks to track down the vendor. "If working with a vendor from overseas, she says, "Order two months ahead to be on the safe side"

The twins' B'nai Mitzvah service was held at Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford, NJ. Here they are joined by (L-R) mom Stacy, sister Kayla, and dad Aaron

Custom kippot, from DavidKippot, and head coverings, made by mom Stacy's family, featured delicate shades of jungle green

Amazing Amazon

The Channel Club is located on the water in Monmouth Beach, NJ. Here the Turnof family posed in front of the beautiful marina before heading inside to celebrate

Cole and Chase were definitely ready to party

Guests were greeted by a custom green jungle step and repeat with a green carpet before entering the cocktail hour

Place cards were displayed in wooden boxes with green moss and yellow orchids; the gift box was made to look like a wooden animal crate

The unique sign in board allowed guests to write their message on a leaf and drop it into the wooden frame

Inside the ballroom, tropical decor, including trees and burlap ottomans, created a sophisticated jungle vibe

Potted plants in basket weave planters were placed throughout the room and also hung from the ceiling

Cole and Chase each had their own lounge to hang with friends

The cabanas were decorated with bird nests, string lighting, bamboo canes, jungle leaves and more. Custom ottomans were covered in burlap

Logo pillows mixed with large tropical pillows were placed throughout the space

A variety of centerpieces utilized lush palm leaves, birds of paradise, orchids and vines

Green uplighting added to the tropical vibe

Glass vases filled with tropical leaves and orchids created a lush set up for the candle lighting

The bamboo bar featured bright green signature drinks and bamboo straws

Cole and Chase, in jungle/safari hats, made their big entrance through an archway of jungle vines custom made by their family

Mom Stacy enjoyed a special dance with her boys

JK Productions kept the dance floor packed

Special Touches

Jungle vines and animals also adorned the Mitzvah cake

Gourmet donuts were displayed on custom stands made from elm trees

Logo t-shirts, water bottles and draw string bags were created for the twins' friends

Cole and Chase's friends each received these green inflatable air sofas (for use at the beach, camping or in the jungle!) which were packaged in a logo bag

Baseball hats were custom airbrushed for guests

Mitzvah Advice

“It is very important to being organized and prepare well in advance,” mom Stacy says. “For our family, it was not a frenzy last minute. Set your budget appropriately as it is easy to digress from it. It’s easy to do research and find alternative options. Pinterest and Etsy are a great resource for ideas.”

Mitzvah Project

Cole & Chase were involved in a number of community services projects over the course of their Mitzvah year– they worked at the Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Center, helped with environmental cleanup at Watchung Reservation, gardened at the Jewish Family Service’s Urban Community Vegetable Garden in Elizabeth, made hamantaschen for TSTI/Interfaith Food Pantry of Orange and Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, and assisted in planting at the Adath Shalom Mitzvah Garden in Morris Plains. Lastly, the boys raised over $300 for the World Wildlife Fund through their lemonade stand in Belmar, New Jersey.

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Cole and Chase’s Amazon Adventure a success. If you contact any of them about their services, please let them know you read about their company on MitzvahMarket.com.

Venue: The Channel Club, 732-229-3131
Event Planner/Decor/Logos & Graphics: Magnolia West Events, Danielle Zaleski, 732-236-4167
Music/Photobooth: JK Productions, DJ Jason Barbanel, 732-616-2015
Photographer: Kirchhof Photography, Matt Kirchhof, 732-616-2015
Videographer: Gerry Condez Studio, Gerry Condez, 908-578-3685
Kippot: DavidKippot USA, 917-683-5879
T-Shirt/Bag Favors: ProImprint, 844-PRO-IMPRINT
Inflatable Sofa/Drawstring Bag Favors: Alibaba.com
Air Brushing: Top Gun Airbrush, 718-819-1094
Gourmet Donut Stand: Deez Donutz, The Shindiggity Shoppe/Etsy (custom stands)
Invitations: Margo & Bees, +44 191 432 4911
Cake: Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe, 908-228-2937
Sign-In Board: Miraculous Gifts/Etsy
Dresses: For service, Bloomingdales (mom and sister); For party, Dream Dresses (mom) and Macys (sister)
Suits: For service, Lord & Taylor (Chase), Boytique (Cole), Jos A. Bank (dad); For party, SAMS – store closed (Chase), 580 South, 973-758-0580 (Cole), Jos A. Bank (dad)
Custom Shirts: Mtailor.com
Custom Bowties: The Bowtie Collective, 862-217-4001
Hair/Makeup: Elegant Image Salon, 908-232-4900
Transportation: Trans-Ed, Inc., 973-881-8004

Grand Prix New York Racing & Entertainment Unveils New VIP Event Room, Multi-Level Track & Ninja Park

If you’re looking for an unexpected Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah venue that will give your guests an adrenaline rush, check out the latest additions to Grand Prix New York Racing & Entertainment in Mt. Kisco, New York. Their VIP room has been redesigned into a sleek, modern space. Featuring a built-in bar, lounge, projection screens and a glass wall overlooking their incredible indoor racetrack. This private room will wow your guests!

Grand Prix New York has also unveiled a new GPX annex for guests who want to get closer to the racing action. (Don’t worry, curtains can be drawn if you want more privacy!) Private event planners and hosts will make sure you can enjoy the fun with your guests. The space can accommodate up to 240 people.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah guests at Grand Prix NY have the opportunity to race on the new $3 million state-of-the-art multi-level track with cosmic lighting. Or they can challenge themselves on the new Extreme Play ninja course, with almost 20,000 square feet of attractions for all ages.

Check out fun in these behind-the-scenes photos from a recent Bat Mitzvah at Grand Prix New York.

For more information about Grand Prix New York Racing & Entertainment, check out their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.

Looking for more information on Westchester area Mitzvah vendors? Check out Mitzvah Market’s Westchester/Rockland/Fairfield planning group on Facebook. Live in another city? You can ask questions get advice in Mitzvah Market’s regional Bar Bat Mitzvah planning groups on Facebook.

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