October 7th, 2018
Picking a theme for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah can be overwhelming, but when you work with a talented event planner, sometimes the answer is easier than it appears. Melisa Imberman, owner of The Event Of A Lifetime, tells Mitzvah Market about a recent party at Club Infinity in Pleasantville, New York where she utilized the Bar Mitzvah boy’s name, his love of technology and some great colors and to create a cohesive feeling for the event decor, favors and giveaways.
Ethan Cherry, is known as “E” to his friends and family, so Imberman created the main logo with an “E,” a pair of cherries and bright neon colors. She then put a “technology twist” on that logo to create centerpieces, wall and floor decals, pillows, napkins and awesome giveaways. The result? A modern, vibrant vibe that was uniquely Ethan.
Ron Holtz Photography was the photographer.
Tech Inspired Decor
The event space was surrounded by oversized digital screens and filled with many seating options in the kids' VIP lounge
Rotating centerpieces put a "spin" on traditional decor
Neon green lit up the dance floor
A massive floor decal was the focal point of the dance floor
In lieu of assigned seats, Imberman created seating with a combination of couches, coffee tables and ottomans as well as hi tops, cocktail tables & leather communal tables with illuminated bases
Motorized lamps filled with colored water created movement and bubbles
Pixelated table signs captured the techy feel in everything from the decor to these reserved signs
Ethan's logo appeared on walls, digital screens and more
Neon centerpieces brightened up the adult and children's lounges
Another version of an illuminated logo
The Bar Mitzvah boy's shows off his neon socks - which were given out to all guests - in keeping with the neon color scheme
Signature cocktails for the adults included Blue Mojitos and Green Apple Prosecco to go with the decor
Illuminated metal letters were used for the candle lighting ceremony
Ethan's sign in board was made from black acrylic with a pair of mirrored cherries
Logos Galore
The primary logo for the Bar Mitvah was utilized throughout the event
A pixelated, brightly colored logo was used on stamps for Ethan's invitations as well as throughout the party
A bold, black logo was utilized on decor throughout the event space
A clean, simple image of cherries, with Ethan's initials, brightened up the decor and signage
Kids received a soft light weight marled toggle pullover with Ethan's logo
Hi Tech Entertainment and Giveaways
In addition to the club's arcade and photo booth, Imberman created a virtual reality game lounge
Guests loved their tech inspired favors -- logo’d phone pouches, message fans, ear buds & Sohoodies
Kids wore their custom Sohoodies on the dance floor
Metallic drawstring bags filled with favors for the kids
Guests even tried edible balloons
Custom water bottles featured the E logo
Watch this custom message fan with Ethan's name and Bar Mitzvah date
here
The night was capped off with Ethan's favorite treat, Dunkin' Donuts! A DD store was recreated by The Event of a Lifetime
We thank Melisa Imberman for sharing this awesome party with our readers. To learn more about The Event Of A Lifetime, please visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
September 16th, 2018
When the Kaye family of Long Island began to plan son Brendan’s Bar Mitzvah, one guiding principle steered them: NO SUITS! After attending so many Bar and Bat Mitzvahs throughout the year, Brendan wanted to wear a sports jersey and shorts to his party. With that, a theme was born. For the warm night in June, guests at Dave & Buster’s in Westbury, NY, sported their favorite team or player. Others, including mom Janice went one step further, with customized, rhinestone-adorned jerseys. The result was a fun, relaxed night filled with games, prizes, dancing and plenty of hockey and tennis decor.
Photo above (L-R): Bar Mitzvah boy Brendan, dad Larry, brother Max and mom Janice show off their custom jerseys.
The pictures were taken by Maven Jade Photography. Additional vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
Event Space Dave & Buster’s Westbury
“From the moment we booked the date we knew Dave & Buster’s would be the perfect venue for our son,” mom Janice tells Mitzvah Market. “Karen and everyone at Dave & Buster’s were so attentive and easy to work with. We had the cocktail hour in the billiards room where our guests ate, played games and won prizes. Next we moved into the private event space which was set up with tables and a lounge for the kids. At the end of the night, they even had security guards on hand to make sure kids left the party with the correct adult. They thought of everything!”
Kids enjoy a game of pool during the cocktail hour
Janice and Larry with their friends in the billiards room
Music Entertainment
MC Jamie kept the guests dancing all night long
All eyes were on Brendan for the hora
Brendan's guests watch the video montage in the kids' lounge
Decor & DIY
Mom Janice is a self-proclaimed DIYer and she added many personal touches to the event including lanyards for the kids’ Dave & Buster’s cards, custom water bottles, place cards made from tubes of chocolate tennis balls and more. “It was a lot of fun and all a labor of love,” she says.
Brendan's pals wearing their official Bar Mitzvah lanyards
Mom Janice created these masks of Brendan when he was younger
The place cards were attached to tiny tubes filled with chocolate tennis balls
Fun basketball photo of Brendan behind the place card table
Mom Janice also wrapped pashminas, with a personal note, around the chairs of her adult, female guests; A nice touch to stay warm, and a keepsake to remember the night
Brendan and his big brother Max hold an oversized tennis ball pillow in keeping with the theme
Special Party Details
Brendan's invite ensemble, by Invitations With Love, set the tone for the sports themed celebration
A custom, sequin handbag added some glamour to mom's outfit
Mom Janice created custom tea lights so all of their guests could light Brendan's 13th candle
The Bar Mitzvah boy and his mom enjoy a special moment
Brendan's logo, which combined his two favorite sports, was created by family friend and high school student Jared Haime
Custom t-shirts and lanyards
Party Food
“The food was great and plentiful and the staff was beyond attentive to us and our guests,” mom Janice tells us. “We had a buffet dinner and Karen made sure that my husband and I ate by bringing us a sample of everything. It was really a special touch.”
A candy bar was a sweet touch to end the night
Mom-to-Mom Advice
“Planning a Bar Mitzvah can be stressful, especially given the combination of kids and adults,” says mom Janice. “Listen to your kids and plan the party around what they want. My son didn’t want a black tie affair, as much as I did. He wanted a fun night with games, friends and a bit of craziness. Don’t get caught up in all the ‘stuff’.”
Vendors
The following vendors helped to make Brendan’s celebration special. If you reach out to any of them, please let them know you learned about their business on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue/Catering: Dave & Buster’s Westbury, Karen Kelly, 516-247-6337
Music Entertainment: Crowd Control Entertainment, MC Jamie, 516-390-9535
Photography: Maven Jade Photography, 516-467-6760
Favors: Print Me A Tee, Lisa Willett, 516-965-3084
Invitations: Invitations With Love, Beth Shapiro, 516-314-7298
Custom Jerseys: Designs on You, Robin, 631-473-6363
Custom Handbag: Precious Scripts, Randi Nadel/Heather Seff, 917-841-3359
Hair/Makeup: Hair stylist Elissa Bozzi; private makeup artist, Suzanne, 631-742-4589
September 3rd, 2018
It was a “Gabulous” night for the the Fischer family when they celebrated their daughter Gabriella’s Bat Mitzvah at Temple Avodah in Oceanside. Playing off the Bat Mitzvah girl’s name, the Gabulous party highlighted Gabriella’s love of fashion, glamour and all things pink!
Pictured L-R: Brother Jacob; Mom Odellia, Bat Mitzvah girl Gabriella and Dad Ricky.
The photographer was Chad David Kraus Photography. Additional vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
Bat Mitzvah Service
Gabriella did a great job during her Bat Mitzvah service
Photos of Gabriella through the years accompanied the personalized kippot
Pink kippot gave a hint of what's to come at the party
Gabulous Style
Gabriella's sophisticated, sparkly party dress
Sparkling sneakers took the glam from head to toe
Gabulous Logos
The "Gabulous" logo was featured front and center on the screens behind the DJ and dance floor
Jessica Garmise of Out of the Box Creations created the logos and taglines, all of which were "sealed with a kiss"
Sophisticated Decor
Out Of The Box Creations also took care of the decor including these compact mirrors, which served as place cards!
The ballroom stunned in shades of pink with touches of metallic hues
Sparkling linens brought the glamorous theme to the dinner tables
Beautiful flowers and crystals were on some tables
The custom menu cards featured Gabriella's unique logo
Special Party Touches
The "Sealed with a Kiss" sign-in mirror played up the theme of the night
Photos of Gabriella rocking her personal style greet guests as they enter Temple Avodah
A custom photo board tells guests to Save the Date for brother Jacob's Bar Mitzvah
Gabulous Food and Desserts
Gabriell'a's Bat Mitzvah cake was sealed with a kiss
Kombert Caterers at Temple Avodah is known for its tasty, creative cuisine
Got milk? Chocolate and vanilla mini milkshakes were a crowd pleaser
A cereal bar offered sweet toppings for the awesome desserts
Signature drinks at the bar
Friend Presentation and Candle Lighting
Gabby's close friends presented her with a personalized blanket filled with memories
A photo pillow will be treasured for years to come
Gabriella was surrounded by friends for her candle lighting ceremony
Bat Mitzvah Dancing
A "Gabulous" entrance
Everyone joins in during the horah
Dad with the dancers from Geo Events
The teen lounge was a great place to hang out
Interactive Entertainment
Simon Elliot Event supplied the interactive fun with games like Carpool Karaoke...
... and Beat Shazam
The photo booth featured customized logos
Mitzvah Exit Treats
Gabriella's Candy Store made sure guests left on a sweet note
The Bakery Shoppe was filled with bagels, donuts and pastries
A pretzel wall
Custom water bottles
Mitzvah Favors
Gabriella's guests went home with this chic tote to hold party favors and swag
Guests loved the dance floor t-shirt giveaways
Gabriella’s Mitzvah Project:
After being involved with UJA-Federation for several summers Gabriella decided to get involved with their Supplies for Success initiative. “You can’t do well in school if you don’t have what you need,” says Gabriella. She continues to collect supplies for UJA and to help out at their local events.
Mom Advice from Odellia
“Make time for every little detail.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped make Gabriella’s Bat Mitzvah a night to remember. When you call them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com!
Venue/Caterer/Desserts/Exit Treats: Temple Avodah/Kombert Caterers, 516-678-6161
Photographer: Chad David Kraus Photography, 917-532-3478
Logo Design/Compact Mirror Place Cards/Decor/Florist/Sign-In Board/Favors: Out of the Box Creations, 917-518-9389
Interactive Entertainment: Simon Elliot Events, 516-586-6822
Videographer: New Level Cinema, 516-806-2298
DJ/Music Entertainment: Geo Events, 800-670-0462
Invitation: Invite Me, 516-621-1369
Cake: Marios Bakery, 516-766-0891
Mom Odellia’s party gown: Saks Fifth Avenue
Gabriella’s service dress: All About the Dress, 914-219-5300
Party Dress/Sneakers: Designing Dreams, 516-248-1988
September 3rd, 2018
Tired of the same old Bar Bat Mitzvah dance floor giveaways? Melisa Imberman, owner of The Event of a Lifetime, Inc., offers innovative Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah swag that will keep your guests out on the dance floor. She tells us, “In addition to prizes the DJ typically hands out, we’re seeing more and more Mitzvah families who want to surprise their guests with truly custom items. The basic t-shirt & baseball cap have given way to branded tank tops, pjs, hoods, bucket hats, beanies as well as non-apparel items such as Swell and Gatorade-style bottles, customized gift cards, stickers, personal message fans, ear buds, phone accessories, rally towels, selfie sticks, bracelets and more.” All can feature the Bar Bat Mitzvah logo or tagline.
Imberman typically recommends 2-4 dozen of each item depending on the variety and number of Bar Bat Mitzvah guests, and she believes these branded giveaways will continue to evolve. “These coveted premiums really motivate the kids and encourage them to display their best dance moves during the party.”
Gatorade-style bottles and premium apparel bring the "LET IT B" theme to the dance floor
#beyourself custom logos adorn the many dance floor giveaways at Emma's Bat Mitzvah
Customized gift cards are a big hit
"Win the Day" is all over this Mitzvah day swag
Custom bracelet
Hoods with the Bar Mitzvah logo were a huge hit
Branded selfie sticks and bucket hats are Mitzvah guest favorites
Rally towels are a popular giveaway
Custom stickers for phones or tablets feature the Mitzvah logo/theme
More EMazing favors from The Event of a Lifetime
Watch this custom message fan with Ethan's name and Bar Mitzvah date
here
We thank Melisa Imberman for sharing this new trend with our readers. To learn more about The Event Of A Lifetime, please visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
August 19th, 2018
Mitzvah Market’s vendors are the leading experts in invitations, favors, decor, event planning, music, photography and more. They’ve seen all the best Bar and Bat Mitzvah ideas, so when it’s time to plan their own child’s Mitzvah, you know they’re going to pull out all the stops for a memorable party!
Here are some of the fun and unique ways Mitzvah Market’s experts celebrated their child’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Click through the photos to see all the celebrations:
Invitations and Websites
OUT OF THE BOX NY: Mom Leslie owns an invitation and accessories company, so when planning son Greyson's Bar Mitzvah there were many “GREYT” sports details like the custom invitation and "All Access" lanyard shipped on top of a piece of turf field! To see more from Greyson’s celebration, click
here
INVITATIONS WITH LOVE...:
Mom Beth is the owner of a stationery and invitation company. Her son Maxwell's two layer Lucite invitation was secured with metal bolts and shipped in a special mailer to really get their guests' attention! To see more from this celebration, click
here
Party Decor
iSPARKLE EVENTS:
Event designer and graphic artist Ali celebrated son Sam’s Bar Mitzvah with a Little League theme that featured a baseball diamond dance floor, bleacher seats and a concession stand with ball park fare. To read more about this "home run" party, click
here
OUT OF THE BOX CREATIONS:
Out of the Box Creations specializes in custom graphics and design. For daughter Hannah's Bat Mitzvah, mom Jessica created a bold chevron logo, an interactive puzzle piece place card display and a life size Instagram photo booth. To see more photos, from Hannah’s party, click
here
Music Entertainment
HAL PRINCE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT:
With music in her blood, mom Jill, owner of Hal Prince Music and Entertainment, knew just how to create a NYC Nightclub vibe for daughter Sara's Westchester Bat Mitzvah. A red carpet arrivals line made every guest feel like a VIP. To see more from this "Sara and the City" celebration, click
here
MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT:
For daughter Madison's Bat Mitzvah, dad Joey of Maximum Entertainment created a celebration with maximum candy! A custom candy cake, DIY candy candles and a concession truck overflowing with candy made for a sweet party. To see more from this celebration, click
here
EJ THE DJ: Most dad's don't write a custom song for their daughter's Bat Mitzvah, but when your dad is Ed, aka EJ the DJ, why not? Dancing with daughter Sarah to a song written especially for her Bat Mitzvah was just one way Ed made this day memorable. To see more from this celebration, click
here
EK PRODUCTIONS: Dad Evan customized every detail for daughter Amanda's "Pandalicious" Bat Mitzvah. A digital sign-in board, illuminated and logo'd candle lighting table and custom Lids hat booth were just some of his special touches. To see more from this celebration, click
here
Unique Party Details
CUTIE PATOOTIE: A custom table roster, named after colleges with top wrestling and lacrosse programs, was one special touch mom Stephanie, owner of Cutie Patootie Creations, designed for son Jack's Bar Mitzvah. To see more of this celebration click
here
VIENNA OF ROSLYN:
Dad Keith Senzer created a Wizard of Oz themed party with an Emerald City ballroom for his daughter Jessica's Bat Mitzvah. To read more about this celebration click
here
Montage/Interactive Entertainment
TANTA MARLA STUDIOS: Mom Marla created an awesome video and a Playbill style invitation to set the tone for daughter Dani's Hamilton-themed Bat Mitzvah. To see more from Dani's celebration, click
here
AIRGRAPHICS ENTERTAINMENT:
When event planner and mom Amy designed son Aden's X-Games Bar Mitzvah, she used half-pipe ramps and skate boards for decor and entertainment. To see more from this celebration, click
here
To see more ways families celebrated, check out all our Mitzvah Family Spotlight stories.
August 12th, 2018
How A Mitzvah Mom Branded Her Son’s Bar Mitzvah Celebration
Jen Rosenblatt starting working with Robin Hammer Design a year before her son Sam’s Bar Mitzvah. It was important to her family that their celebration was fun-filled, but also very branded. The Bar Mitzvah boy is a proud and passionate University of Florida Gator fan, making their theme an easy one to plan!
Sam’s party took place at Coastal Sports in Fairfield, New Jersey. This venue was turned into “The SwAMp,” the nickname for the University of Florida’s football stadium which cleverly incorporated the guest of honor’s first name. Décor elements were in blue and orange throughout the venue to ensured a cohesive look. With Mom Jen’s vision and Robin’s creativity, this tailgating celebration scored big among their guests.
Take a look below:
Venue Signage
Guests immediately got into the Gator spirit as they entered the venue
Cute Gator banner for the teen section
Dancers dressed as University of Florida cheerleaders waited for Sam's entrance!
The "Hydration Station"
Signage for swag given out at the end of the party
The adult bar signage was in homage to a popular University of Florida bar
Special Party Details
The candle lighting display table featured a branded table cloth with football helmets as candle holders!
Each guest who received a candle lighting honor got a card with a letter. At the end of the ceremony Sam's last name was spelled out and displayed
There was a sign-In flag for guests to leave special messages
Gatorade bottles and water with Sam's custom logos were given to guests during the party
The logo was also used on the napkins
No red cups here! Guests used and took home these orange and blue reusable logo'd cups
Guests loved the SwAMp bambam noise makers
Sam’s Swag and Dance Floor Giveaways
Much of the branded favors and giveaway items read, “The SwAMp” including the headbands
The Gator theme was carried through to the end on the folding tailgate chair
Each guest also received a stadium seat chair
We thank the Rosenblatt family for sharing their son’s great Bar Mitzvah celebration with our readers. To learn more about Robin Hammer Design, visit their profile page in our Vendor Directory.
August 5th, 2018
Are you looking for a private Manhattan Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah event space with breathtaking views? Upper Story by Charlie Palmer, part of the Michelin-star awarded Charlie Palmer Group, will have your guests talking about the iconic city views, award winning food, modern design and flawless hospitality.
Here are 3 things you might not know about this premier NYC event space!
1. Outside Space & Spectacular Views
Incredible views of the 59th Street Bridge, the Roosevelt Island Tram and the NYC skyline from Upper Story's 1,000 sq foot balcony
Day or night, the NYC skyline will delight your guests
Upper Story's balcony is a unique destination for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
2. Award Winning Food
As a part of Michelin-star awarded Charlie Palmer Group, Upper Story will exceed your culinary expectations
Upper Story will work with you to create a thoughtful, custom menu for your guests
In addition to creative cuisine, Upper Story also offers traditional crowd favorites
Beautiful food presentations taste even better than they look!
3. Special Party Touches
With more than twenty years experience planning Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, Upper Story’s Director of Events, Jennifer Day, understands how much this day means to your family. Her impeccable event planning and culinary pedigree will exceed your expectations!
A 2,700 sq foot event space, with floor to ceiling windows and panoramic views, will take your guests' breath away
Customized decor adds a festive feeling to the sophisticated space
Interactive games fit seamlessly into the modern yet classic design of Upper Story
Cubbies provide an organized way for guests to store their shoes and favors
August 5th, 2018
The Caparelli family celebrated son Austin Jack’s (A.J.) Bar Mitzvah ceremony at Temple Israel in Croton on Hudson, New York. Later that evening there was a party, with a nightclub feel, at The Law Park Pavilion. The theme was centered around A.J.’s favorite NBA team the Oklahoma City Thunder. Initially A.J. was concerned about having his Bar Mitzvah at this unique location but everyone loved the different feel this Bar Mitzvah celebration had and how it was catered using food trucks!
Pictured L-R at the service: Dad Chris, Mom Rorie, Bar Mitzvah boy AJ, Sister Reese and Brother Hunter.
Harry Quiroga Photography was the photographer and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom of the spotlight.
Bar Mitzvah Style
Guests were asked to wear their favorite basketball Jersey to go along with the OKC Thunder theme. A.J.’s mom and sister wore Jersey’s that were turned into dresses and even A.J.'s grandparents embraced the basketball style!
The back of the Jersey's were personalized at the NBA store
A.J. and Hunter giving Reese a lift
Bar Mitzvah Venue and Decor
The party was held in Briarcliff Manor on the grounds of The Law Park Pavilion
The inside of the Pavilion was festive with balloons, high top tables and lounge furniture
There was also a great DJ set up and dance floor
Bar Mitzvah Logos
A.J.'s two logos were designed by his grandmother Marian Pinkman, who is a freelance artist
The logo's were used throughout the party, on the invitation and favors
Bar Mitzvah DJ and Entertainment
A.J.'s guests loved wearing their Jersey's and dancing to great music
The dancers from Party Harty Entertainment with the family
A.J. up in the chair!
Pop A Shot fit in with the basketball theme
There were also lots of other interactive games brought in to entertain guests of all ages
Special Party Details
The sign-in board and gift card basket
Sister Reese, Bar Mitzvah boy A.J. and Ginger who was happy to be part of the celebration!
A.J.'s invitation had a basketball border and featured his logo on top
A.J. felt all of his friends had so many Mitzvah sweatshirts and chose to do towels since his Bar Mitzvah was in June
Bar Mitzvah Food
The family used a few food trucks to cater the event. Here is the popular truck, "Put Some Meat On Your Bones" specializing in grilled cheese. What a great idea!
DoughNation, a caterer of mobile wood-fired pizza set up shop in front of their truck
This pizza truck is famous in the area for it's perfect Neapolitan pizza topped with local ingredients from a 900° wood-burning oven!
And of course you need ice cream from delicious Bona Bona!
A.J.’s Bar Mitzvah Project
A.J. did a few different Mitzvah projects, one with the Special Olympics, a polar plunge as well as a basketball instruction camp for a day, and he also did a midnight run with Temple Israel and he raised money and participated with his friends in a JDRF walk to support their friend who was diagnosed with the disease.
Some Advice from Mom Rorie:
“The food trucks were very popular and the kids all got to eat food that they loved. Since we were having the party outside in a park, it was a great idea to have bracelets made for our guests so the food trucks knew who to serve.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make A.J.’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Briarcliff Manor Pool Pavilion, 914-488-2115
Party Planner: Andrea Gottschall, 914-260-7837
Photographer: Harry Quiroga Photography
Music Entertainment/Videographer: MC Evan, Party Harty Entertainment, 516-845-8585
Grilled Cheese Truck: Put Some Meat On Your Bones, 914-391-5527
Wood Burning Pizza Truck: Dough Nation, 914-305-2336
Greek Food Truck: Gyro Uno, 914-906-1444
Hot Dog Truck: Walter’s Hot Dog Truck, 914-400-3164
Bona Bona Ice Cream Truck: 914-732-3024
Cocktail Hour Caterer/Bartender: Tony Fortunate,105 Ten Bar and Grill, 914-236-3651
Lounge Furniture: AFR Furniture Rental, 201-974-3700
Tents: Cartwright and Daughters, 845-225-9200
Favors: Neal, TJ Promotions, 516-655-1094
Invitation: Andrea Kronethal, Small Fry Press, 914-747-6668
Décor/Sign-In/Gift Box: Billy, Brian William Event Decorator, 845-628-0614
Logo Design: Grandmother/freelance artist Marian Pickman, 212-348-0495
Personalized Jerseys: NBA Store, 212-457-3120
Dresses: Lyn Kohls turned NBA jerseys into dresses, 973-467-7800
Suits for Service: Lubins of Westchester, 914-713-0300
Hair: Kim Flood, Nu’Me, 914-762-1122
Party Makeup Artist: Laura Melissa Scalere, 914-438-8018
Security: Joy, Bar Mitzvah Bouncer, 973-758-9800, 631-367-1519
July 22nd, 2018
The Kossak family celebrated Ryan and Matthew’s B’nai Mitzvah at Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Later that afternoon there was a party in their honor at SPACE, an all-inclusive party venue in Engelwood, New Jersey. The boys chose a theme that was the perfect mix between hot and cool as the brothers are very different – like “Fire and Ice.”
Pictured L-R: Bar Mitzvah boy Matthew, Dad Andy, Mom Natalie and Bar Mitzvah boy Ryan.
B’nai Mitzvah Service
The Kossak family up on the bimah during their pre-shoot
The boys worked so hard to prepare for their ceremony. They truly complemented each other, and they each did a beautiful job
B’nai Mitzvah Invitation & Logos
The invitation set the tone for their theme!
The Fire and Ice logos were designed by the team at Gotham T-shirts.
Matt is very outgoing and his favorite color is red!
Ryan is more reserved and his favorite color is blue!
B’nai Mitzvah Decor
SPACE created all the decor for the Fire and Ice theme starting with door decals which greeted guests as they walked into the venue
The place card table featured floral displays and candles
The theme was carried out on the place cards too!
For the "Fire" design, there were tall clear glass votive candles with red colored water, red linens and up lighting
For the "Ice" design, the family selected dramatic, tall clear glass votive candles, manzanita tree centerpieces, with low white floral arrangements, blue linens with blue up lighting
The ballroom was ready for guests to arrive
Special Party Details
This candle went to all the kids at their celebration who are twins or triplets!
Sweatshirt favors for their friends were created by Gotham T-shirts
Matt and Ryan's friends were able to get custom airbrushed pillows
Each boy had a sign-in locker which are now in their bedrooms
The step-n-repeat featured their custom logo in red and blue
As the party ended, guests were treated to a delicious exit treat, Cookie DŌ NYC
The logo was also used on water bottles given out to guests at the end of the night
Mitzvah Video
Mitzvah Project
Matt collected gently used sneakers for Dunk Your Kicks. Dunk Your Kicks is part of the The Max Cure Foundation which collects gently used sneakers and recycles them as affordable footwear in developing nations to raise money for families battling pediatric cancer. Ryan loves cooking and put his talents to use making chicken cutlets, lasagna and cookies that were all donated to a local men’s shelter.
Advice from Mom Natalie:
“Be organized and make lists. Have fun and enjoy the day.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Ryan and Matthew’s B’nai Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com
Venue/Caterer/Decor/Entertainment/Security: Sara and Lindsey, SPACE, 201-567-3810
Photographer: Stolen Moments Photography by Joanne, 201-805-5380
Videographer: Rob Shotwell, Shotwell Productions, 732-735-8006
Logo Design/Sweatshirt favors: Howie, Gotham T-shirts, 516-676-0900
Airbrushing: Top Gun Airbrush, 718-819-1094
Invitation: Sloane Zane, Etched in Sloane, 201-848-6006
Sign-In Lockers: Joregenson Lockers, 800-952-0151
Exit Treat: Cookie Dough Bar by Cookie DŌ NYC
Mom Natalie’s Dress: Lord & Taylor
Boy’s Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Hair: Lindsey, David Michael Hair Studio, 201-843-2727
Makeup: Jessica Mamola, 201-286-1285
Transportation: First Student Bus, 201-843-3331
July 22nd, 2018
Wildlife Conservation Society – New York Zoos & Aquarium Events & Catering has opened a new exhibit perfect for hosting your child’s Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah celebration!
Ocean Wonders: Sharks! is the New York Aquarium’s highly anticipated new exhibit. Guests will be able to get nose to nose with sand sharks while enjoying some of the most beautiful coral. Additionally, they will be able to dive into cocktails while observing underwater views of nature’s most colorful underwater attractions. Should you have the need to invite up to 2,000 of your closest friends, their park can accommodate that as well!
You and your guests will be put right in the middle of this colorful coral reef, surrounded by a 40-foot tunnel in the new portion of the Aquarium that surrounds visitors with fish from the Great Barrier Reef and Fiji
There are a variety of spaces to hold celebrations. Parties of 120 guests can enjoy a sit down dinner in Hudson Canyons Edge where ocean animals such as sharks and sting rays swim by as you dine
Wow your guests as they dine in a sophisticated and unique setting
The state of the art exhibit will feature more than 115 species of sea creatures, including blacktip reef sharks, sand tiger sharks, zebra sharks, nurse sharks and sandbar sharks, plus cownose rays, loggerhead sea turtles and stingrays!
This bar will certainly make a splash with guests sipping cocktails while gazing at this view!
The New York Aquarium is located right off the Coney Island Boardwalk
For those smaller gatherings, guests will be able to head upstairs to the rooftop bar
Wildlife Conservation Society provides all catering needs at the New York Aquarium. For Kosher Catering they partner with Mark David Hospitality.
To learn more about this and other great entertainment options, visit the Wildlife Conservation Society’s extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
