October 29th, 2010
The look and feel of your Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration is what leaves a lasting impression on your guests.
Party Harty Entertainment is a full service entertainment company offering MC/DJ’s, extra entertainment (such as photo favors, photo booths, video stations, multi-talent performers, personalized gifts, favors and more), as well as video production and photography.
They can also provide you with the right furniture, fabrics, specialty linens and an array of different décor elements that help create a spectacular, one-of-a-kind venue design.
Whether it’s a small portion of the room or a complete transformation, the possibilities are endless. The Party Harty design team will customize your project to fit your taste and needs.
Check out some of the looks they created below:
To learn more, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
October 24th, 2010
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitations are an important part of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah planning. It is the first impression that your guests will receive and will set the tone for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah event.
This FREE Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Invitation Guide will teach you how to select an invitation, what questions to ask before placing your invite order along with tips on RSVP’s, save-the-dates, thank you notes, stamps and more. Additionally, learn when invitations should be sent out in each season.
Here are some popular Bar & Bat Mitzvah invitation ideas with some unique examples and styles for each.
Sophisticated: For the serious and classy Bar or Bat Mitzvah party, sophisticated invitations are needed. Sophisticated invitations use traditional colors and minimal graphics or design elements. For an added touch of elegance you should layer your invitations using a different color background.
Basic Invite
Invitations4Less.com
A Touch Of Class Parties
Fun: If you want your Bar/Bat Mitzvah party to be laid-back and informal, start it off with fun invitations. Try to pick a design with many colors. You could go with an abstract design or pick out an invitation that is in line with your theme.
A Touch Of Class Parties
Out of the Box NY
Cutie Patootie Creations
Modern: For modern invitations try to incorporate trendy colors and design elements. Keep the graphics clean and simple. Modern invitations can convey your sense of style.
Sophie Taylor Ink
Melissa Trachtman Designs
A Touch Of Class Parties
Unique: Unique invitations are a great way to put your personality into your cards. Unique invitations come in all shapes and sizes, and can be classified as anything that doesn’t fit into any other categories.
Pretty In Paper
Invitations With Love
Classic: Classic designs are a safe bet when choosing your Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitations. Classic colors include blue and white and are usually more toned down as far as graphic elements go. The Star of David may be featured as well as other familiar images.
Informally Yours
Sophie Taylor Ink
Blend of Tradition and Modern: For some it may be important to incorporate classic ideas and traditions and blend them with a more modern outlook. A great example of this concept can be found in a tree of life invitation.
Picking the perfect Bar Mitzvah invitations can take time and patience. Just remember to consider your theme, the people attending, and the mood of the party when choosing your invitations. As long as you try to put your own style and personality into your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitations, you can never go wrong.
Get the FREE Invitation Guide here.
October 13th, 2010
Entertainment Tonite has all the ingredients in house to assist you in making your Mitzvah a huge success.
They have professionals working around the clock to make sure your event goes as planned. You’ll love the energy in the room from the 1st meeting all the way to last song that is being played at your event.
See all that Entertainment Tonite can do to make your child’s Mitzvah a memorable event by watching this video.
October 13th, 2010
Sometimes we find photographs on various photography Websites that make us stop in our tracks! That was the case when we saw these great Bar and Bat Mitzvah photos on the blog of Townsley Portraits in California.
The first party was at the Wynn Hotel and Casino and featured a young man named Jess who loved to cook!
He made his entrance on this giant customized magazine cover!
We love how his place cards continue the cooking theme
Pictures of Jess were part of the table centerpieces and a large collage was used in the far side of the picture
Jess’ candle lighting ceremony
The second party, a Bat Mitzvah for Jordan was at the Mandalay Bay pool.
The Bat Mitzvah girl “makes her entrance” across the pool!
We love her photos on display in the background
The pool area looks beautiful and ready for guests
Very cool table/bench that features photo of family and friends
The kids menu!
Beach balls with Jordan’s name are used as favors
We want to thank Townsley Portraits for sharing these great pictures!
October 11th, 2010
When the Golden family started planning their daughter Ally’s Bat Mitzvah service and celebration, they all agreed on one thing, they didn’t want a one-day event! Instead they booked a full weekend at a sleep away camp. Trail’s End in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania became Camp Ally for a beautiful fall weekend in September.
Their service and party were a perfect combination of camp fun and an elegant party.
Photography was done by Simphonic Events and all other vendor information is listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
Pictured above L-R: Sister Dani, Mom Leslie, Dad Lee and Bat Mitzvah girl Ally.
Trail’s End sleep away camp was the location for Ally’s fun-filled weekend Trial’s End Camp…
Camp Ally signage!
Many of Ally’s friends from home and camp friends arrived by chartered bus
Everyone heads to their bunks before lunch
Trail’s End had golf carts on hand to help bring guests and luggage to the bunks
Guests check out their accommodations
Each guest found their bed made, a flashlight, water bottle and drawstring bag with the theme, Peace, Love, Camp Ally!
A picnic lunch is served to guests
Ally’s friends get together for a group picture before beginning afternoon activities
Some guests enjoyed hitting balls on the golf range
Counselors were on hand to organize activities like basketball for the younger guests
Some hoop action
and swimming…
The Golden family wanted their invitation to reflect the theme of camp and hired Amy Wohl, FabuDesigns to design a fun camp invite and save the date. Here is the “save the date.” a rustic single mount card and set the mood for their weekend Bat Mitzvah celebration
The same design was followed for the actual invitation. The pocket folder had 4 inserts including a packing list, rsvp, direction and transportation cards
They also created a Website filled with information for their guests at www.campally.com.
The Golden girls all looked great for the evening service and party! Ally and Dani both found their dresses at Party Girl in Tenafly. Mom Leslie is wearing a Dolce and Gabbana dress
Bat Mitzvah girl Ally had her service on the lake. What a beautiful setting!
Lorraine Litvin Mann officiated the service by the lake
Special programs created by Artistic Displays
What a beautiful setting for a Bat Mitzvah service
The dining hall at Trail’s End was renovated a few years ago and is a great party space. The dining hall featuring a “Camp Ally” blue flag
The large dining hall before it’s transformed for Ally’s party
Entrance to the Camp Ally celebration
Logo’d Signage
Place cards continued the campy feel!
Centerpieces were created by local Honesdale Greenhouse Flowershop
Trail’s End created this adorable “bunk” cake covered in pretzel logs and graham crackers!
Instead of a traditional candle lighting ceremony, Ally decided to light one candle
Pure Energy provided the music entertainment for the party with Jared as the MC. Ally “makes her entrance”
The guests all having fun!
Ally’s sign-in book was created by Artistic Displays and continued the “peace, love, Camp Ally” theme.
A wonderful memory of a special celebration
After the celebration, guests traded their high heels for flip flops and headed back to the beach for s’mores and a surprise fireworks display!Everyone enjoyed making smores by the camp fire!
After the celebration, guests traded their high heels for flip flops and headed back to the beach for s’mores
And a beautiful surprise fireworks display lighted up the sky over the lake
Ally’s friends received sweatshirts created by Gotham T-shirts and all guests enjoyed a photo booth provided by Simphonic Events.Peace, Love, Camp Ally!
Photo favors by Simphonic Events
Bat Mitzvah Project
She volunteered at Sunrise Day Camp, the only day camp in the country for kids with cancer and their siblings. On May 2, Ally and her camp friends participated in Planting Day. And, on June 6, she and her friends and family participated in a Walk-a-Thon at the camp. She raised almost $2500 for Sunrise Day Camp!
Advice From Mom Leslie
Mitzvah Mom Leslie is already looking forward to planning her younger daughter’s celebration. She has this advice for our Mitzvah planning Moms. “The key to a successful party is a relaxed host…once your event starts, let your trusted vendors run the show so you can enjoy yourself.” She then adds, “It takes a village to plan a weekend away and I couldn’t have pulled this off without the help of my two wonderful sisters!”
Leslie’s sister, Melissa and Andrea with Dani and Ally
Each of Ally’s guests received the bracelet below with their “thank you” note!
Vendor Driectory
The following Vendors helped to make Camp Ally a huge success. If you give any a call, please tell them you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com. Thanks!
Venue/Caterer/Fireworks?S’mores/Cake: Trail’s End Camp
Invitation, Save The Date & Graphic Design: Amy Wohl, FabuDesigns, 312-513-1698
Sweatshirts/Drawstrings bags: Howard Zwang, Gotham T-shirts, 516-676-0900
Place cards/Sign-in book/Banner Camp Ally/Siddur: Lori Zaransky, Artistic Displays
Flags/Flashlight: Good As Gold
Photog/Videographer/Montage/photo favor: Simphonic Events
Florist: Honesdale Greenhouse Flowershop
Girls Dresses: Party Girl,
Mitzvah Mom Leslie’s Dress: Dolce and Gabanna
Dad’s Suit: Nordstrom
Bracelets: Michelle Collins, Off The Cuff 516-459-6495
Water Bottles: Pride Products
Officiator of Service: Lorraine Litvin Mann
October 9th, 2010
The Vatkin Family celebrated their son Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah at Restaurant 353 in Mount Kisco, New York.
As you will see, Dylan loves rock n roll – thus the theme!
Their guests were mainly Dylan’s friends with about 40 adults who celebrated in a casual way.
Most of Dylan’s Rock n Roll theme decor and other ideas were the result of his creative Dad – who is a photographer/videographer.
We want to thank them for sharing all their ideas with Mitzvah Market!
All pictures are courtesy of Infinite Images Photography. Pictured above: Dylan with his brother William, sisters Ilana and Esther and his parents.
Restaurant 353 in Mount Kisco, NY was the setting for this rockin’ party!
Album covers line the walls of Restaurant 353
Custom guitar picks served as decor and favors for guests
Infinite Images (Dad Leo’s company), created a Website for RSVP’s and further information about their celebration. Check it out here!
This save the date was mailed to guests
Leo bought old 45 records and created his own labels with information about the service and party on the back and front! (Pictured above and below)
Dylan’s Dad worked magic and designed popular album covers starring Dylan! These served as party decor and were hung around the restaurant. See below
We love the vinyl records hanging from the ceiling!
Starlight Express provided the musical entertainment along with Dylan’s band called, The Justice League, which they formed together at their camp, Frenchwood for the Performing Arts. Dylan enters his party upside down with his MC from Starlight Express!
The Justice League performs for guests
The Vatkin’s bought a Rock n Roll coffee table book and as guests arrived they wrote special messages to Dylan
Lexington Square Cafe created the most perfect Bar Mitzvah cake for Dylan!
Dylan and friend model his sweatshirt favor
Photo favors included these cool themed backgrounds created by Dad Leo
Here is a list of the Mitzvah Vendors who helped make Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com. Thanks!
Venue: Restaurant 353
Musical Entertainment: Starlight Express Entertainment DJ/MC Mike Pericas, 516-761-8884
Favor/Sweatshirts: Donald Kramer, Trans Trade 203-445-9558
Photo favors/Photography/Videography/Invitation/Decor: Leonardo Vatkin Photography, 516-640-5688, 845-878-2222
Cake: Lexington Square Café, Mount Kisco NY, Pastry Chef: Garald Alcin
Guitar picks: www.gtpicks.com 702-375-7090
Bar Mitzvah Website design: Infinite Images: www.dylansbarmitzvah32010.com
October 6th, 2010
Event Kings strives to provide outstanding service to their clients while offering exceptional event elements of off-premise catering, entertainment and decor. They are sharing this “casino” style Bat Mitzvah with Mitzvah Market.
This Bat Mitzvah young lady wanted a cool lounge for her friends to “relax” and a casino for both the young adults and older adults to play and mingle. It all worked perfectly! The guests all mixed at the tables and everyone was entertained by either a black jack table, money wheel, roulette game or dancing.
Guests were greeted by black, red and white balloons down a red carpet
Check out these adorable themed place cards!
Guests enjoying a round of blackjack
To learn more about Event Kings, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
October 4th, 2010
By Ellen Futterman, Proper Notice
After years and years of helping Bar and Bat Mitzvah families with the selection of their invitations, I have found there are a few important things you can do to ensure a pleasant experience during this process:
1. Think about your venue, the season and what type of event you want to have.
2. You should have a discussion with your child before you start the invitation search. Decide how much input they are allowed to have. Many parents think that they are “on the same page” as their child only to come in to pick invitations and find out very differently.
3. A budget is very helpful. We want to please you at every price point, remember postage and calligraphy add up too.
4. Think about the details of your child’s special day. Are you inviting everyone to the service, do you need separate celebration cards, are you providing transportation? These details are very helpful when creating your own custom suite.
5. Do you want to show your theme or keep it quiet until the big day.
6. Last but not least, it’s very helpful to bring in samples of things you and your family like and don’t like.
Believe or not, a popular trend right now involves the back of the invitation. That’s right, surprise your guests with something unexpected with the detail on the back. All the examples below follow this trend.
This invitation uses a heavy 2 layered card and an animal print, zebra to be exact, on the back!
Danielle’s invite used 2 color letterpress with a fashion forward design on the back
In this example, heavy museum board is used with a custom “pop” inspired design
Lindsey’s invite is 2 color thermagraphy with a custom floral design
Matt’s invitation uses a 4 color digital print with a sports motif
Ross’ custom photo invitation is oversized and metal with rounded corners
To learn more, visit Proper Notice.
October 3rd, 2010
On a cold January afternoon, guests arrived at the Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich, New York for Jessie’s Beach Club themed Bat Mitzvah. How perfect that her initials are JBC!
Thanks to Mitzvah Mom Lisa for sharing some pictures from her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah celebration. She tells us Victor Hatami, the owner of Great Neck Games transformed the room. She walked in and was blown away.
In keeping with her theme, Jessie “made her entrance” on a surf board carried by the staff of More Than Music
Jessie’s sign-in board was created by Surfboard Beach Art
Great Neck Games found these adorable coconuts that served as guests’ place cards!
Part of the kids lounge area featured tiki styled huts
Cubbies kept the kids favors organized
A beach scene covers the walls
If you would like to share pictures from your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah party, please let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com. Thanks!
September 26th, 2010
As many of you know, the Mitzvah Market team is made up of real-life Mitzvah planning Moms who are not only planning their own children’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, but are attending many themselves!
We recently saw a unique candle lighting idea and wanted to share it with our readers.
The All-Inclusive Candle Lighting!
The Kaufmans wanted to include as many guests as possible in their daughter Madeline’s candle lighting ceremony. They accomplished this by placing unlit votive candles on all the adult guests tables.
As Maddie read each poem honoring family and friends, guests were asked to each light the candle in front of them on their individual tables.
This was combined with a traditonal candle lighting in which all the kids and then the immediate family were able to come up to the cake to light candles as well.
If you have an unusual candle lighting idea, please let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
Just type “candle lighting” into the search bar on our Website’s homepage to see our other candle lighting stories.
