Archive for November, 2019
November 24th, 2019
By Claudia Miller
What do you get when you combine custom pickles, a Justin Bieber impersonator, and one special girl swinging from the sky? Hint: they all happened at Dylan Woods’ Bat Mitzvah!
For many Bat Mitzvahs, deciding on a theme can be the hardest part. For Dylan, though, it wasn’t a color scheme or a favorite sports team that defined her celebration; instead the entire weekend was simply a way to reflect her vivacious and outgoing personality. At the event held at SPACE Events in Englewood, NJ, you could see elements of the star all around.
Dylan standing by a life-sized custom logo at SPACE Events
“She got to make it her own thanks to the people at SPACE,” says Dylan’s dad, Ethan Woods. “You can just tell that they enjoy what they do and they’re really good at it. It really did reflect her (Dylan); she’s got so many different areas of interest and intrigue so it worked out well.”
Dylan’s personality popped starting at the invitations. The family wanted to keep it elegant and classic while still representing who Dylan is at her core. Purple, one of her favorite colors, served as the base for the plexiglass invites, that featured glittering elements and flirty touches like a kiss mark. The response card offered options of “Love To,” with a heart for those attending, and “Broken-Hearted,” for those who couldn’t make it.
That same lighthearted feeling continued from the moment Dylan arrived at the afternoon extravaganza. She showed off her style with a quick change from the outfit she wore to synagogue, into a glittering two piece mini-dress; trading her heels for a pair of sparkly sneakers.
For her logo, Dylan took inspiration from the must have sweatshirts from the brand Aviator Nation and their iconic lightning bolt design. Projected on the screen at the center of the room and printed on t-shirts, pillows, and décor around the venue, the unforgettable DW initial logo served as the glue connecting all sides of Dylan included at the party.
Her taste even shone through with the special treats from a Dunkin’ Donuts-like display, proclaiming “America Runs on Dylan,” to a custom pickle bar — one of her favorite snacks —playfully titled Dyl Pickles. And it didn’t stop there. She entered the party on a swing from the ceiling amidst fog, confetti, and music. She continued surprising her guests, spraying them with her own fog gun.
Dylan's Donuts were a dessert hit!
A Bat Mitzvah first? The clever Dyl pickle bar
Dylan made her big entrance on swing
During the party, Dylan’s friends enjoyed an exclusive glam bar, arcade games, and a couple of important special guests. Magician Devonte Rosero wowed friends and family during the cocktail hour with his mesmerizing tricks and illusion. The second was a surprise to everyone but her dad. “After my speech and the montage – and without Dylan or my wife Stephanie knowing – I secretly worked with SPACE to have a Justin Bieber look-alike,” explains dad. He told the guests: “We have a very famous celebrity here today; please welcome Justin Bieber.
The Justin Bieber impersonator totally surprised the crowd
“The kids went wild… for about 12 seconds. The minute he came out it was so obvious it wasn’t him, but they had fun dancing and singing with him.”
Once the Bieber excitement died down, the DJ and dancers from SPACE kept the party going with classic games like Coke & Pepsi, giving away swag like Bluetooth speakers, Polaroid cubes, and gift certificates to the winners. Those who didn’t win still left with custom photo magnets, bags full of candy, and trendy DM logo-branded sweatshirts, hats, and apparel.
Dylan and her camp friends didn’t let the party stop there. The group hopped in a limo to head to a giant sleepover at the Hilton in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, where they spent the night splashing in the indoor and outdoor pools and diving into endless pizza pies.
“Everything just worked,” says Woods. “From the food and drink to the music and the entertainment, people were just raving about it and the amazing time they had. You can tell the sincerity in what they were saying. It was one of those parties where everyone really let loose and had a great time.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make the celebration special. If you contact them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Party planning, Catering, Entertainment, MC/DJ, Décor/Flowers, Sign-In Board: SPACE Events, 201-567-3810
Invitations: Leslie Goldberg, Out of the Box NY, 914-934-2323
Photographer/Videographer: Chris Herder Photography
Glam Bar: Glam On the Go, 732-983-1065
Favors/SWAG: Missy, fingerprintpromos.com, 310-601-7669
Magician: Devonte Rosero, devontemagic.com, 917-536-2868
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
November 18th, 2019
By Brynne Magaziner
The only turbulence at Benny’s Bar Mitzvah was on the dance floor. His celebration was the very first Bar Mitzvah to fly at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport on September 7, 2019. The unique venue restored and redesigned the 1962 TWA Flight Center into a retro hotel and event space with nostalgic touches everywhere.
The refurbished TWA Hotel was the site for Benny's Bar Mitzvah
The venue was a perfect and meaningful location that combined Benny’s love of aviation, geography, history, and travel. Benny’s mom vividly remembers traveling through the terminal as a child and Benny’s parents took their very first trip together from its gates. Because of all of these factors, the family took a leap of faith and booked the property while it was still under construction.
There were a lot of uncertainties in planning a party without having actually seen the completed venue, so they worked closely with the venue, planner Amy Rubel of Rubel Event Management, and event designer Tina LaMorte of Oh So Fabulous. They also used artist renderings to utilize and enhance what was planned for the TWA Hotel.
Guests knew they were in for something special from the start, when they received their passport-shaped invitations. The rest of the event stayed perfectly on theme. The hosts provided bus transportation from New York City to the event venue. While waiting in traffic, adults enjoyed beverage service by bartenders. Kids munched on popcorn served in custom containers with Benny’s logo and drank juices with names like Malawi Mango and Costa Rica Clementine.
Once they arrived at the hotel, guests walked through the jetway (which you may have seen in the movie “Catch Me If You Can”) to receive their first-class tickets on BNF Air. The adult cocktail hour took place in the Landmark Hall named as a nod to the building’s landmark status. Adults sampled various “Captain’s Cocktails“ and “In-Flight Snacks,” surrounded by historic TWA artifacts. Then they “boarded” the party through the giant airplane hangar doors to the Constellation Ballroom.
Red, white, retro and aviation elements were everywhere
Inside the ballroom, red, white, retro, and aviation elements were everywhere, from centerpieces of airplanes and runways, to tables named after airport abbreviations, to “Inflight Menus” and “First Class Mocktails.” The family carefully chose the menu knowing they wanted to serve primarily dairy and fish during cocktails and ensuring that all meat was certified kosher. Benny’s friends relaxed in the First Class Lounge with comfy couches featuring pillows declaring “Born to fly” and “Up, up and away!” Gobo lights included his logo and airplane propellers on the wall.
Pillows with travel captions
Centerpieces of airplanes and runways
The iconic Solari split flap message board
In keeping with the theme, this globe served as the sign-in!
Benny’s logo was a play on the “TWA” tag, with his initials “BNF.” The venue’s iconic Solari split flap message board (like you once saw in all transportation hubs) said “Mazel Tov Benny on your Bar Mitzvah.”
As a different twist on the traditional photo booth, a photographer shot vignettes of guests in front of TWA artifacts with decade-appropriate props. The photos were then made into luggage tags.
Even the dance floor area kept to the theme with its custom logo wrap and giant screens which projected images of airplanes, moving propellers, and cloud-filled skies. Guests danced the night away with the help of MC Jordan of Xplosive Entertainment. Jordan and his dance crew wore shirts that said “Ground Crew.” When it came time for dessert, flight attendants served nostalgic candy, mini apple pies and churros from an inflight food cart brought right to the dance floor.
Benny’s friends and out-of-town guests received white retro toiletry bags with a variety of helpful and fun items for travel, including LED message fans, an inflatable neck pillow, a lip balm, screen cleaner/earbud combo, and mini suitcases filled with jelly beans.
Mom offers the following advice for parents planning their own celebration: “Make it personal and get creative. There are so many ways to incorporate a theme in a fun way and keep it Jewish. I love that we offered guests an opportunity to color a traveler’s prayer keychain for their luggage.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Benny’s celebration special. If you contact them please tell them you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com:
Venue: TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, 212-790-373
Planner: Amy Rubel, Rubel Event Management, 917-886-8609
Decor: Tina LaMorte, Oh So Fabulous, 201-981-7280
Invitations: Out of the Box NY, 914-934-2323
Montage: Marvelous Montages, 732-431-4391
Graphics and Logos: Robin Hammer Design, 917-439-5889
Photography: Cynthia Chung, 646-678-0777
DJ/Games/Photo Novelty: Xplosive Entertainment, 732-866-1620
Projection and Lighting: Lumi Events, 718-850-5864
Dance floor decal: Holo-Walls, 818-735-3565
Dancer T-shirts: Custom Ink, 800-293-4232
Ipad artist: Drawing Booth, 347-593-8663
Favors: 4imprint.com, beau-coup.com, and bigpromotions.net
Transportation: M&V Limousines Ltd, 800-498-5788
Bus Snacks: Colby Ridge Popcorn, 800-328-2676
Bus Bartenders: Nadine Personal Bartending Services, 347-670-6166
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November 14th, 2019
If you’re looking for a Long Island venue for your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah, don’t miss Dave & Buster’s annual Bar Bat Mitzvah Showcase on Sunday, December 1st.
With locations in Westbury and Massapequa, Dave & Buster’s offers a variety of private event options for Mitzvah families at every budget. In addition to a private banquet room for your reception, your guests will have access to Dave & Buster’s 48,000 square foot facilities – each featuring a game rooms, bowling alley and billiard room. Lounge furniture, special themes, customized entertainment and favors are among the services that Dave & Buster’s private event team can coordinate. They also offer kosher catering and they customize every party to fit their clients’ individual needs. Ask about their “delayed opening” so your guests can enjoy the entire game room to themselves!
Details about the upcoming Showcase:
WHEN: Sunday, December 1st; 11am -1pm (Massapequa) and 3pm-6pm (Westbury)
WHAT: Sample Dave & Buster’s catering, including Kosher options, and meet Bar Bat Mitzvah vendors including: DJ’s Crowd Control & Azamra, montage company Frozen In Time Films, event designer Lauren Taylor, photographers, magicians and more
PRIZES: Giveaways and raffles
PLUS: If you book your event during the showcase you’ll receive a $500 savings!
Preregistration is required: 516-809-8514 or Karen.kelly@daveandbusters.com
Photos from recent Dave & Buster’s private events follow:
To learn more about Dave & Buster’s, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
November 10th, 2019
“The presentation gift” has become an exciting and important moment in a Bat Mitzvah girl and some boy’s celebration. Originally conceived as a simple, at-home craft or scrapbook given to a Mitzvah guest of honor by her friends during the cocktail hour, has now evolved into everything from professionally mounted collages to custom-made acrylic gift boxes.
Task Me, a NYC based graphic design company, specializes in collage posters which can be made in any shape or design. Typically they are printed, framed and given as gifts, though they may also be given digitally or printed on another medium (such as an acrylic tray!). These collages have gained a tremendous following among the Bar/Bat Mitzvah crowd.
Sleep-away friends may create something to commemorate all of the good times they’ve shared with their friend at camp, school friends might highlight their friendships since elementary school. These gifts are sure to be cherished by the Bar or Bat Mitzvah kid for years to come!
Task Me Collages
These NYC girls are loving Task Me's most popular style collage, "inverted initials"
Photos can also be presented in an initial collage, framed and ready to be hung on the wall at home
The Acrylic tray is a high-end evolution of the Mitzvah collage
Task Me's Acrylic box is another beautiful keepsake for the Mitzvah girl
Collages by Task Me are available in virtually any design/image you can think of!
Even boys can get in on the presentation fun! Task Me created this collage for a basketball loving Bar Mitzvah boy.
Presentation gifts are an opportunity for friends to relive all the fun times they've had with the Mitzvah child
This Vogue "Model of the Year" collage is being shown off by girls at a Long Island Bat Mitzvah
Creative…and Classic Presentation Gifts Featured On Mitzvah Market
Gabby's friends presented her with this blanket filled with memories. See more from this celebration
here
Alex's friends gifted her a classic, framed collage. See more from this celebration
here
Kayla's friend presented her with a variety of Olympic style gifts.
See more from this celebration
here
A classic presentation gift - wooden letters, painted and decorated by friends
Another oldie but goodie, a customized mirror for the Mitzvah girl
**GIVEAWAY ALERT** CONTEST NOW CLOSED
Instagram Giveaway – Win a medium size/any style Task Me NYC collage ($90 value)
1. Follow @mitzvahmarket and @taskmenyc
2. Like the photo with giveaway info
3. Tag your friends! The more tags, the more entries!
Winner will be announced 11/18/19 – Good luck!
To ask questions out about the hottest Mitzvah presentation gifts and more in your area, check out Mitzvah Market’s regional planning group’s on Facebook. Join here.
November 3rd, 2019
This Bat Mitzvah girl really knows how to make an entrance!
Samantha Goldberg’s family entered her Bat Mitzvah celebration at Washington Hebrew Congregation, in Washington D.C., in traditional style- the MC announced their names to a song and they came out dancing. When it came time for Samantha’s big entrance, there was nothing traditional about it. The lights dimmed, her camp Olympic break out song played overhead, and a huge teal and magenta gift box (complete with oversized sparkly bow on top!), was wheeled out on to the dance floor. When the dancers opened the box, out came… Samantha! This surprise entrance was actually conceived by dad, Marc, who worked with the event designer to make the magic moment happen.
For the party theme and decor, the Goldbergs worked with Corey Paige Designs to come up with a pop art style collage that represented Samantha. Her favorite sports, college, camp, TV show, colors and even her dog Lily were incorporated in the collage. The collage was the centerpiece of the reception, covering the entire dance floor and setting the color scheme.
Photo above (L-R): sister Jenna, Bat Mitzvah girl Samantha, mom Nicole, dad Marc. The photographer for this event was Bradley Images. A complete list of vendors follows at the end of this Spotlight.
Bat Mitzvah Service
The Bat Mitzvah girl shows off the invitation that led to her one of a kind theme
Favorite sport, drink, college, TV show... this invitation was All About Samantha
Samantha's service took place at Washington Hebrew Congregation in the heart of Washington D.C.
The family before Samantha's service
Teal kippot matched the accent color in the Bat Mitzvah girl's dress - and her custom collage
Bat Mitzvah Celebration
A present for the Bat Mitzvah girl? A special guest?...
Everyone was totally surprsied by Samantha's big entrance
The Bat Mitzvah collage was repeated throughout the event, including this massive dance floor wrap
Silver couches and glass tables created a glamorous yet relaxed lounge vibe for guests
Custom pillows featured images from Samantha's Mitzvah collage
Cocktail time! A geometric bar added interest
Teal and magenta lighting created a dramatic backdrop for the stage
MC Ice & DJ Ralph kept the crowd on their feet
Guests signed in on a pink mirrored board
Family dog Lily was a crowd favorite - she made an appearance on custom pillows and dance floor giveaways
Favors included logo sweatshirts inside matching drawstring bags
These cute custom tees, modeled by Samantha and her friends, were giveaways along with cosmetic bags, hats and pj pants
Color coordinated mini Rice Krispies treats sent guests home on a sweet note
Mitzvah Advice
“Just have fun!” says mom Nicole. “Listen to your child and try to involve them as much as possible.”
Mitzvah Project
Samantha raised money for the organization SCOPE to help send kids to camp. “She has been going to Camp Towanda since she was eight years old and she loves it. She wanted others to have the same opportunity,” says mom.
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Samantha’s Mitzvah celebration unforgettable. If you contact them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Washington Hebrew Congregation, 202-362-7100
Music/MC/DJ: Glyde Productions, MC Ice and DJ Ralph, 301-762-1800
Photographer/Videographer: Bradley Images, 410-902-6664
Logos, Graphics & Branding: Corey Paige Designs, 516-376-6843
Décor/Florist/Sign-In Board/Dance Floor Wrap: Christopher Vasquez, Amaryllis Floral and Event Design, 240-770-8600
Favors: VRB Party Consulting, 954-494-1579
Dance Floor Giveaways: Spreadshirt.com, 800-381-0815
Invitations: Sarah Schwartz, 844-44-MAZEL
Dresses: Lola’s, 732 972 5222
Suits: Heather Webb, J. Hilburn, 917-921-0991
Hair: Zohra Salon, Nicole, 301-299-3100
Make Up: Lauren Miller, 917-273-0622
For more information on working with Mitzvah vendors in the Washington DC area, check out Mitzvah Market’s DC/Maryland/Virginia planning group on Facebook. Live in another city? You can ask questions and get advice in Mitzvah Market’s regional Bar Bat Mitzvah planning groups on Facebook.
November 3rd, 2019
Sunset Terrace at Chelsea Piers is one of NYC’s best kept secrets for Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations. Located on the Hudson River at the tip of Pier 61, Sunset Terrace offers unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty, New Jersey, luxury yachts, and of course, breathtaking sunsets.
Sunset Terrace can accommodate up to 300 guests for cocktail receptions or 150 guests for seated dinner receptions. Best of all, the talented special events team from Chelsea Piers works with Bar and Bat Mitzvah families to create a customized catering package (including Kosher-friendly options) to suit any budget.
See below for photos from recent Bar and Bat Mitzvah services and parties at Sunset Terrace:
Bat Mitzvah girl Lily led a beautiful service at Sunset Terrace
Surrounded by family and friends...
... the space is intimate and personal
For Lily's reception, Sunset Terrace was transformed with lighting and decor
Plenty of room for dancing and celebrating
Bold colors and dramatic lighting create a whole new feeling in the space
Sunset Terrace easily accommodates lounge furniture as well
For this hockey themed Bar Mitzvah, decor and linens create a more masculine vibe. (Attention hockey and figure skating fans: the Ice Rink at Chelsea Piers can also be used during your Mitzvah celebration!)
This celebration took place as the sun was setting over the Hudson
Whether your Mitzvah is during the day...
... or at night, the views will be spectacular!
For more information about Sunset Terrace, and other private event spaces at Chelsea Piers, visit their extended profile page.
