September 25th, 2011
Shalom! Welcome to Israel.
Well, actually this great Bar Mitzvah celebration took place in Washington, D.C. but Evoke Event Planning led by event planner Jodi Moraru made guests feel like they were on a trip to Israel!
This event was full of traditions and meanings, as the family and their guests were able to enjoy a special evening celebrating their heritage and a special day in a magical place.
Photography by Robert Bowen Photography.
The room was brought to life with painted murals of beautiful scenes of Israel outlined by stone archways that bordered the walls, stretching from top to bottom.
A painted mural was created
The detailed, rustic setting was decorated with wooden tables and bars.
Each table was accented by vibrant bouquets, orange flowers and almonds!
Mix it up – look how great these exotic tablecloths go with the wooden chairs and tables
Bulbs hanging from the ceiling recreated the feeling of the square in Old Yaffa outside of Tel Aviv
Ridgewell Caterers based the menu off traditional Middle Eastern recipes and delicacies, with a modern and gourmet twist.
Pita pockets with falafel balls or roasted chicken schwarma with Tahini sauce, finished with freshly made Mediterranean dips
Israeli salad, basmati rice tossed with golden sultana raisins, slivered toasted almonds, and of course…french fries
To become a part of the family’s celebration, family and friends were asked to light the candles hanging from an archway representing traditions of Judaism
Thanks to Evoke Event Planning for sharing this terrific celebration with MitzvahMarket.com.
September 24th, 2011
The Ryder Family from Long Grove, Illinois celebrated their daughter Melanie’s Bat Mitzvah service at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove and then had a Sunday evening reception at the Wyndam Glenview Suites in Glenview, Illinois.
Mitzvah Mom Jill is an event planner and has great ideas and thoughts to share with our readers from planning her daughter’s “Enchanted Evening” themed Bat Mitzvah.
Pictured above: L-R: Mitzvah Mom Jill, younger sister Chloe, Bat Mitzvah girl Melanie, older sister Jordan and Mitzvah Dad Adam.
Lee Ross Photography took all the pictures and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
One side of Melanie’s beautiful invitation that was created by Jamie Joffe featured fuschia with black print, accented with a black bow and grey flowers with a pearl center
Melanie on the Bimah at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
For Melanie’s Enchanted Evening, M&M The Special Events Company which Mitzvah Mom Jill works for, created centerpieces with gorgeous floral and branches dripping with crystals and butterflies as well as trees around the room. There was also dramatic lighting which really enhanced the theme
The lounge area with crisp white furniture and fuchsia accents
Melanie striking a pose before the guests arrive
The kid’s tables were pushed together to form two large flowers. The kids sat at the pedals with fuchsia lamour linen and orange lamour napkins and cushions
Elegant cinnamon bichon linens were used for the adult tables with fuchsia lamour napkins and fuchsia seat cushions
The place card table featured a beautiful tree with butterflies and crystals hanging from the branches
The large fushia “M” made a statement and each place card was actually a pen with a gerber daisy glued on top. The pen said “Melanie’s Enchanted Evening”
Mom Jill made the centerpieces on the kids tables and some of the large trees around the room. She was so glad to get the trees out of her living room and over to the party! She felt like she was living in a forest for quite a while!
Mom Jill rented these great charger plates from her company, M&M The Special Event Company. She also found these cute flower hair bands that guests could keep and used them for napkin rings. Mom Jill wore her hair band that night as a bracelet!
Melanie “makes her entrance” into the party by walking on a custom cobblestone path
The cobblestone path led right to the dance floor which also had street lamps on each corner
The music entertainment was provided by H.Y.P.E. Productions with MC’s Rob and Chicken Wing
Melanie’s moment up in the chair surrounded by her family and friends!
Melanie’s friends received shirts from Promotional Product Partners. Mom Jill has this tip: “When printing the giveaways, I used two inks and put the more girly stuff in one color, so when it came time to print the boys I only used the one ink minus the flowers”
Melanie’s friends pose wearing their fabulous giveaways
Get Flipped Chicago was part of the entertainment at the party. The guests moved around while they took pictures and then those pictures created a mini flipbook that guests took home
The Wyndham Glenview Suites brought in these beautiful cupcakes from Rolf’s Bakery that had butterflies on them and look like works of art!
Guests enjoyed a colorful candy bar
The following Mitzvah vendors made Melanie’s Bat Mitzvah celebration special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: The Wyndham Glenview Suites, Glenview, Illinois, 847-803-99800
Party Planner: Jamie Joffe, 708-799-9383
Music Entertainment: H.Y.P.E. Productions, 708-895-1400
Invitations: Jamie Joffee
Decor/Florist: The company Mitzvah Mom Jill works for The M&M Special Events Company, 630-871-9999
Party Entertainment: Get Flipped Chicago, 847-272-7865
Photographer: Lee Ross Photography, 847-786-4400
Videographer: Elbaum Video Productions, 847-607-0772
Favors: Promotional Product Partners, 888-772-6674
Cupcakes: Through the Wydham Hotel Rolf’s Patisserie, 847-675-6565
Dresses: Betsey Johnson and Jessica McClintock
September 21st, 2011
We love the personal touch of a backyard Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
We recently brought you Max Rudolph’s Backyard Bar Mitzvah. Now we are headed North to Toronto for this Mitzvah Inspire.
Two event pros put this Bat Mitzvah together. Angela Zaltzman is the founder of A to Z Management and Selena Hazlitt is a vintage stylist and owner of Hazlett Vintage Rentals. They combined vintage decor and the Bat Mitzvah girl’s favorite color, pink in a casual, relaxed setting, the family’s backyard. Many of the paper accessories were from Brilliant Bash.
Photography by Hudson Taylor Photography.
The homemade mash sign tells guests which direction to go
A beautiful frame with a chalkboard insert was used as the signage for the place card table
The place cards were displayed on a pine harvest table stacked with wood soda crates and wicker picnic baskets
Place cards were attached to small jars of homemade strawberry-rhubarb jam from a local farm which also served as favors
Long tables inside a tent with pink linens against white carpet and chairs
Table number stenciled on a tag – simple and stunning – can you see the drop of pink in the center of the flower?
Guests were treated to a real old fashioned lemonade stand
The custom sign above the bar now adorns the fence by their pool to remind them off all the fun they had at the party
Logo and straws by Brilliant Bash
Guests enjoy fresh lemonade
The beautiful and delicious looking candy bar in all pink!
Yummy cupcakes decorated with little flowers on top in honor of the Bat Mitzvah girl’s favorite color
Looks like they know how to throw a Bat Mitzvah in Toronto. Thank you to both A To Z Management and Hazlett Vintage Rentals for sharing this story with our readers.
September 18th, 2011
When we learned about “Mitzvah On The Hudson” this past August, we couldn’t wait to share this special Mitzvah Project with our readers. This story is not just about doing a Mitzvah Project, it’s also about the meaning of friendship.
Thirteen-year-old Ally Witt chose AHRC Nassau (Association Help for Retarded Children) as a beneficiary of her Bat Mitzvah project. She wanted to help raise money to furnish an AHRC home which provides a place for those who can not live on their own, at times when their families and guardians can not care for them.
Ally has chosen this project because her Uncle Jeffrey and his wife Maryann live in an AHRC Nassau residence. Since Jeffrey and Maryann have thrived in large part because of AHRC, Ally feels it is completely appropriate to give the honor of her Mitzvah to the AHRC. “They have made a big difference in my family’s life,” says Ally. “My motto is: One piece of furniture at a time.”
Ally had raised almost $7,000 through social media, family and friends when her friend, 11-year old Aaron Perl and his Dad Mitch decided to give her a special Bat Mitzvah gift. They would swim the Hudson River from West 99th Street to 79th Street with proceeds from their swim going towards Ally’s Mitzvah Project.
What’s even more amazing is that Aaron has overcome his own disability. He endured excruciatingly painful surgeries to lengthen his leg after being born with a shortened femur. At 8 years old, Aaron and his Dad started competing in triathlons. He’s now completed 13!
Aaron and Dad Mitch after the swim
Ally with her friend Aaron
Aaron and Ally with Uncle Jeffrey
Ally’s project drew lots of media attention including an interview on WNBC-TV with Chuck Scarborough.
Watch segment here.
If you would like to donate to Ally Witt’s Mitzvah Project please click here to visit her Website.
We thank Ally for sharing her unbelievable project with our readers.
September 14th, 2011
Does your child have a sweet tooth?
We all want candy! So if you are looking for ideas for a candy themed Bar/Bat Mitzvah, we’ve got everything you need right here.
Please scroll down and enjoy the eye candy!
From the Lee Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight, Alison’s invitation was printed on a real box of gobstopper candy!
From Pinnacle Production Group, a great way to display your place cards using candy necklaces
Another cute place card table by Event Planner Karen Segal of Your Party by Karen
A candy themed Bat Mitzvah cake created by Cake Boss
Retro candy is very popular at Candy Favorites. Choose from any decade from the 20’s to the 70’s
DIY place cards from the Lapidus Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight featured M&M labels for Mr. and Mrs. and were tins filled with M&Ms in colors to match the decor
Make it Snappy offers “Million Dollar Candy Drop,” a great game where contestants man the 4 slots to answer questions (that can be customized) and possibly win money and/or candy.
To see the game in action, click here
From Plan It Parties this “candy store” was brought in using furniture
Michelle Farber from M. Studio Events created a candy for her son’s Adamcrombie theme.
Primetime Events creates a candy sushi bar
Choco Rocks from Unique Accents looks like rocks from a garden but it’s chocolate
A candy cake from Sweet Candy Cakes (formerly Tiff’s Candy Cakes) from the Adler Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight
From the Brett Bar Mitzvah Family Spotlight this celebration continued their urban theme with garbage pails filled with treats from Sweet City Candy. Guests scooped their own candy as they left the celebration
Tobo Foods will provide a shiny truck filled with every candy you can think of!
If you have a fun candy idea, let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
September 14th, 2011
The Dropkin family from Cortlandt Manor, New York celebrated their son David’s Bar Mitzvah on May 14, 2011.
The service took place at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester and then they had an evening party at Bounce, The Party Place in Yorktown Heights, New York.
David is a geography buff and someone who likes to travel. “Where in the world is David Dropkin?” was their clever theme!
Formal photos taken at their temple were by photographer Alan Weiss. The party zap shots were done by the DoubleImage/Bounce staff and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
Pictured above (L-R): Mom Suzanne, Sister Eliana, Bar Mitzvah Boy David and Dad Joe.
The traditional invitation with a intricate laser paper cut insert was sapphire in color on silver metallic paper from Paper Orchid.
Passports were used as place cards for different “country” tables which Mom Suzanne made from a template she got online.
Mitzvah Mom Suzanne found the template for the passports online at Aylee Bits
Featured below are David’s sign-in book, program and yarmulkes with palm trees!
Mitzvah Mom Suzanne made the service program which had 12 photos of David around the outside circle, one for each year leading up to the Bar Mitzvah.
The center picture is the most current taken place a week before his Bar Mitzvah.
The theme for this celebration was “Where in the World is David Dropkin?” David loves to travel and eat all sorts of exotic foods and enjoys different cuisines.
Each table had a matching flag table runner so guests could match the flag on the passport with the table. Check out those worldly balloons
Lemurs are primates found in Madagascar, thankfully this one was stuffed but added some authenticity to the decor!
Mitzvah Mom Suzanne made a board of all the places David has visited. Brian William Events printed it and decorated the outside edges
David made his entrance on the arms of two dancers from Double Image Sounds and Entertainment.
There was lots of dancing, game playing and fun at this party!
Bar Mitzvah boy David surrounded by his friends
The room is set up for a fun game show
The question is….
“I know the answer, pick me, pick me!” One of the guests is wearing the party favor bag from It’s My Mitzvah
Young guests getting ready for their photos
The food picked up the travel theme as well. Colonial Terrace put together a delicious array of international food offerings with Eastern European, Indian, Italian, and Caribbean stations, plus internationally-themed passed hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
The young guests are enjoying the dessert stations
The cake and desserts were created by the Mansion at Colonial Terrace.
Here is the list of vendors who made David’s party special. If you call any, please make sure you tell them that you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com
Venue: Bounce The Party Place 914-302-2403
Caterer: The Mansion at Colonial Terrace 914-737-0400
Music Entertainment: Double Image Sounds and Entertainment 914-773-1950
Decor: BrianWilliam Event Decorators845-628-0614
Sign-In Board: Brian Williams Events
Passport place card template: Aylee Bits
Favors: It’s My Mitzvah
Invitations: Paper Orchid866-280-2125
Photographer: Alan Weiss Photography 914-739-8888
Videographer: Andrew Stein Drew Video 914-788-4678
Tallis: The Aesthetic Sense 914-244-4429
September 9th, 2011
It’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York and while magazine editors, stylists and reporters are catching a preview of Spring fashion, we are bringing fashion inspiration to all our budding fashionistas who are planning their Mitzvah’s.
A fashion theme Bat Mitzvah with designer shoe centerpieces, fabric swatch seating charts and a dramatic runway entrance, means the party will be one stylish celebration!
Check out these ideas below and get inspired!
For a “Lex And The City” theme, M. Studio Events created “Manolo Blahnik” shoe boxes to hold young guests t-shirt favors
Close-up of the shoe boxes, we mean favors, on display from M. Studio Events
Rik Piks by Erica Shapiro created this logo for “Francine’s French Boutique”
Fashion themed blanket favor from A Promos USA/Imagemaker
The place cards above were fashion illustrations by the Bat Mitzvah girl. To see more of this Project Runway Mitzvah Inspire, click here
Sayings For You designed this sweatshirt giveaway for a Bat Mitzvah girl who wanted to list different fashion designer’s names within the picture of the mannequin
Custom fashion girl stamp from Zazzle
If your daughter is into fashion and makeup, check out this invite from BarMitzvahCards.net
Lighter Than Air added a hot pink base to this mannequin form for a unique “fashion” inspired centerpiece
For this Juicy Couture party from It’s A Wrap, these place cards were mini purse frames that were very “couture” like
These adorable place card bags with the table number card and candy inside from Paper Crew on Etsy
Design consultants from Creative Games Inc. will sketch your young guests clothing at your event
Party Excellence created these “high fashion” centerpieces
And for a Bat Mitzvah girl with a fashion theme, Party Excellence created this red carpet entrance!
This centerpiece was created by Spitz & Peck Florist
A makeup bar was set up at this fashionista’s Bat Mitzvah from Rogers and Gala
From Hey Cookie, this cake was designed around New York Fashion Week. It included a Prada handbag, a Louboutin shoe with a red sole of course, a Tiffany box and hot dog vendor!
Balloon Artistry created these place cards to look like American Express cards
Balloon Artistry also designed these “fashion” centerpieces
For more great fashion ideas, check out these stories archived on MitzvahMarket.com:
Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow
Bag, Borrow Or Steal
I’m Over It: Lease, Wear, Return
Mitzvah Style From The Red Carpet
Louboutin Inspired DIY Shoes
September 7th, 2011
Sterling Tyler, a photographer from California recently photographed a special Bat Mitzvah girl named Nicole who used her Mitzvah Project, “Pennies For Peace” as her theme. Please read below all about this special organization.
Her service was held at Temple Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, California. Then it was onto to the Brentwood Country Club in Brentwood, California for her celebration.
The invitation incorporated the peace sign beautifully in lime green and purple and was created by Candi Stern Stationers.
Although it’s sometimes hard to come up with a theme, we love how Nicole combined her Mitzvah Project into the elements of her Bat Mitzvah celebration.
For her Bat Mitzvah project, Nicole participated in Pennies for Peace, a fund raising program dedicated to improving education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Following that theme, the room decor featured peace signs and colorful florals. McCann Florist designed many of the wonderful decor elements along with Nicole’s mom.
The place card table had a beautiful arrangement and a letter from the Bat Mitzvah girl about her project.
The colors through the reception were purple and lime green. The “peace” sign centerpieces were made out of twigs
Bat Mitzvah girl Nicole showing off her decor
The Party Photo Studio was a hit, parents and kids decked themselves out with props for some fun, wacky photos.
Guests went home with 5×7 keepsakes that were instantly retouched and printed on-site
Nicole and all her friends
Purple and green florals decorate the candy table
Nicole had the opportunity to meet author Greg Mortenson who wrote, “Three Cups of Tea.” She was very inspired by his passion and cause. Pennies For Peace builds all girls’ schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nicole attends The Archer School for Girls, an all girls school in Los Angeles, which makes this cause more meaningful to her. She feels very fortunate to live in a free country and have the opportunity to go to a private school in Los Angeles. Raising money for this organization is a way for her to give back. She made and sold organic chocolate covered pretzels to raise money for Pennies For Peace. The money Nicole made will fund the schools with supplies, books and teacher salaries. The girls who attend these schools have the opportunity to become leaders, doctors, lawyers because people donate money which gives them the opportunity to be educated.
Thank you for sharing your celebration and terrific Mitzvah Project with our readers.
September 3rd, 2011
Party Planner Dee Dee Hoffman used a unique venue to put together one awesome party for a sports lovin’ Bar Mitzvah Boy named Grant.
Dee Dee Hoffman Party Design led the way with flowers by Dawn Owen and catering by Cutting Edge Cuisine.
“Grant’s Got Game” and all of the unique party ideas came to us from photographer Abby Rose.
Grant’s celebration was held at the Argonaut Building – one cool venue!
Terrific signage let everyone know “Grant’s Got Game”
The metal silhouettes were hung from the ceiling – created from actual photos that photographer Abby Rose took. Picture on the right features real footballs
Guests enjoyed all different types of foods designated by the signs above
Baseballs, basketballs and footballs hang from the ceiling
Guests enjoy music by Star Trax
Colorful flowers were in orange and green
Guests enjoyed a perfume making station
Every kid was treated to a pair of customized Nike sneakers!
To see another party by Abby Rose, check out Saturday Nat Live.
August 21st, 2011
We know “sports” is a popular theme at many Bar and Bat Mitzvahs! More specifically, “baseball” is often used in elements throughout these “sports” themed celebrations.
Here are some great ideas we have found to help you hit a home run!
From Bees Cards a beautiful custom invitation
From Urban Coast Design Studio here is another invite we loved
Suite Paperie put together this place card table with wooden trays, paper grass and baseball card runners!
Lindsay Landman Events put together this creative scoreboard used for place cards
CitiField is available when the Mets are not playing. Look at that cool centerpiece!
We featured this will call booth in the Margolis Mitzvah Family Spotlight created by Simon Elliot Events
Give your guests a treat from Cooperstowncookie.com
Hey Cookie! came up with a great cake for a B’nai Mitzvah. One was a fan of the NY Mets. The other a fan of the NY Yankees
The new Yankee Stadium by Cake Fiction
Looking for a baseball related Mitzvah Project idea?
Pitch In For Baseball needs balls, bats and helmets for needs kids
Do you have a great baseball idea? Let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
