June 21st, 2010
Jamee Bryant from Setting the Mood has done it again. Last time it was a Facebook theme and this time it’s tennis!
She is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and specializes in artsy centerpieces, placecards, party favors, signs and props.
She makes almost everything herself and loves to customize events. We just loved what she did for this Bat Mitzvah girl. She loves tennis and Jamee used robin’s egg blue and brown.
According to Jamee’s blog, the below Bat Mitzvah happened at a the newly renovated Library with tennis as it’s theme. Check out these photos and get inspired with the great ideas from Setting The Mood!
Centerpieces were silhouettes of tennis girls in assorted blue and brown prints with the Bat Mitzvah girl’s monogram
Setting The Mood designed the adult placecards to look like card catalog cards and placed them in old school card catalog drawers
Even the “sweet bar” had tennis themed signage!
The kids place cards were blue and brown tennis balls
And looked great close-up…
…and lined up on a table!
For more great ideas from Setting The Mood, check out their Website here.
June 19th, 2010
By Lisa Gaché, Beverly Hills Manners, Inc.
The act of RSVPing has been on my mind a lot lately. More than ever I hear friends and associates complaining about other people not responding to their personal invitations. It has not seemed to make one iota of difference whether the invitation was to a small baby shower or a big charitable fundraiser, the consensus seems to be that people in general have forgotten common courtesy and the inclination to respond in a timely manner.
According to a recent statistic more than 80% of personal invitations receive no response at all! That’s a big chunk missing! One step above the nonresponders, are those that do us a favor by RSVPing at the very last minute as if we should be thrilled they are gracing us with their presence. I think it’s no surprise that people everywhere are starting to get upset and, in some cases, developing a “talk to you never” attitude towards the nonresponsive recipient.
The fact that we’re living in a technological age only adds fuel to the fire. When we think of all the different types of invitations we are inundated with on a daily basis from social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to electronic invitations sites such as Evite and Ping, not to mention the handwritten invitations for birthday parties or charity events that we receive by mail, how is any sane person able to keep track of it all and respond accordingly? The answer may simply be that we need to instill better organization and time management skills, but the point we are trying to make is, anyone who has taken the time to invite us or include us in their celebrations, events and other festivities, no matter which form of communication they use to invite us, deserves a response either way.
What do you do when guests you have invited to your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration fail to respond by the appointed RSVP date? I would suggest the following:
Call. A person who is well-mannered gives people the benefit of the doubt. It behooves no one to stand on ceremony and risk the wrong headcount, especially for an event as important as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Rather than work yourself into a tizzy, it is safe to assume that in this 24/7 frenetic world that an occasional invitation may get misplaced or a calendar may not be properly marked. Bite the bullet and call your guest on the phone, no emailing. You want to hear the response in their voice and feel their emotion. With any luck, they will be showering you with their most sincere apologies for their accidental oversight.
I think it is perfectly fine to “leave it alone” if the party is casual in nature and the number of guests has no direct bearing on the amount of food, decorations or party favors. Since this is rarely the case with a Bar/Bat Mitzvah reception, it is up to the host to chase down their guests and address the issue.
This is not brain surgery! Accepting social invitations should not be a chore, it should be fun. It is actually a compliment. An invitation received is proof that you are likable and that people want to be in your presence, and that’s a good thing, right?
The truth of the matter is you DO take the time to respond to those invitations that interest you and you DO so in a timely manner. Therefore by not responding or waiting to respond, you are sending an indirect (or direct) message to the invitee that they are not that important or worthy of your immediate attention. Feelings get hurt, people get offended and in some cases entire relationships are severed because the invitee felt ignored and disrespected.
To read more of Lisa’s RSVP rules, check out her blog.
June 16th, 2010
We have once again found great inspiration from Mindy Weiss.
A few months ago, we featured her fabulous Formula 1 Racing B’nai Mitzvah. Now the famous event planner and lifestyle expert designed a very creative travel theme for a lucky Bat Mitzvah girl!
Mindy’s attention to detail is extreme and she did not disappoint with this “Around The World” theme for Bat Mitzvah girl Tess. Check out these great ideas below:
Guests checked in with VIP agents to receive their passports to the country they would be traveling to and their table assignments
The family did their homework in advance and asked each guest for a personal photo to put inside their passport. Lehr and Black did a great job creating the holders above and below!
The holder featured the Bat Mitzvah girl’s initials
The unique theme continued as the guests made their way to the ballroom for the party. As they went up the staircase, piles of “unclaimed baggage” greeted them!
An air traffic guide directed guests to the Customs Booths. The guests had to have their passports stamped before they entered the airline lounge for cocktails and hors de oeuvres
The lounge area awaits guests
Each table in the ballroom had amazing florals representing a different travel destination
The flowers were designed by Eric Buterbaugh and his team
This table represented Washington D.C.
In theme signage…
…and posters were everywhere! These were created by Popink.
Including a large airplane that read “Tess Air”
Mindy’s team even covered the enormous chandelier in the center of the room. Romina from Revelry designed a vintage style map/globe to hang above the dance floor
To learn more about Mindy Weiss, visit her Website and blog.
June 14th, 2010
For one of our very first Mitzvah Project profiles, we wrote about Allison Grey and her project called, Children With Soul. Now it’s her brother Alex’s turn and he is asking for your help.
He wants to know if your closets are overflowing and if you have way too many Bar or Bat Mitzvah sweatshirts and sweatpants? Are you ready to give them away?
Alex is collecting Bar and Bat Mitzvah sweatshirts and sweatpants starting now thru November 1, 2010. He will be donating them to the homeless for his Mitzvah Project.
If you are ready to give some or all away, they’ll take them!!! Email Alex’s Mom Sue at suegrey@verizon.net or call them at 516-364-0527 to get their address. You can either drop your donation off at their house or mail it to them.
Please tell your friends about Alex’s Mitzvah project! Cleaning out your closet will be helping yourself and a good cause!
June 14th, 2010
We think you can find inspiration everywhere. Today’s Mitzvah Inspire was from a baseball themed Wedding we found on Celebration At Home. All the great ideas were created by Amorology.
Even though this celebration was for a Wedding, if your Bar or Bat Mitzvah child is into baseball, we thought there were amazing ideas and wanted to share these photos with you.
“Ticket” invitations started off this terrific theme. The party space was decorated with penants, baseballs, and peanuts!
The “ticket” theme was used for the place cards and treats were displayed on a vendor style tray
As you can see above and below, the centerpieces included baseballs but were done with flowers for an elegant look
This is our favorite special touch! “Hey, batter, batter” favor boxs are on each guests place setting and are filled with pancake batter!
We also love the idea of having real bats and baseballs for guests to sign with special wishes
For another baseball idea, check out our story about having your child’s Mitzvah at CitiField!
June 10th, 2010
We love hearing from our Mitzvah Market readers, especially when they have interesting photos to share with us!
Mitzvah Mom Sue celebrated her son Jake’s Bar Mitzvah this past weekend and wanted us to know that her husband Steve took the Horah to new heights!!!
Steve Brett during the Horah at his son Jake’s Bar Mitzvah
Sue said, “The party was great, but I must admit I looked up to see Steve standing on that chair and thought, ‘I hope the life insurance money will cover the cost of this party!'” She then adds, “I hope this doesn’t inspire anyone else to try this circus-like act at their party!”
Look for the Brett Mitzvah Family Spotlight very soon. Jake had a terrific and clever candle lighting idea that we know you will love!
June 10th, 2010
We all want our children to have a meaningful Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience.
How about starting with your Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations. Invitations4Less.com is sharing 4 terrific options:
1. An invitations that fulfills a Mitzvah act, such as a donation to the Jewish National Fund
With each invitation purchased, a $5 donation is made to the Jewish National Fund. Guests will be honored to receive an invitation which supports such a worthy cause and a tree is planted in Israel or a water certificate is issued for each invitation purchased. A note is included on each invitation to indicate the donation was made in the guest’s honor.
2. An invitation that is manufactured and printed in Israel
Declaring support for Israel through the purchase of Invitations manufactured and printed there. Mosaica Studios Invitations are available with a special imprint on the reverse side indicating their origin.
3. An invitation of Recycled Paper Content
Invitations printed on recycled content papers show your commitment to the environment and are a perfect tie-in for a green Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
4. An invitation that’s created especially for your special day
Designer’s Connection invitations offer the option to have a special dedication to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah printed on the back of each invitation, truly making your ensemble unique. This service is available at no extra charge with invitation purchase.
Invitations4Less.com also employs an in-house designer to assist with custom invitations and a Hebrew typesetter for invitations featuring as little as a name or date or as much as a full typeset of the invitation in Hebrew.
June 10th, 2010
Jamee Bryant from Setting the Mood is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and specializes in artsy centerpieces, placecards, party favors, signs and props.
She makes almost everything herself and loves to customize events. We just loved what she did for this Bat Mitzvah girl who loves Facebook!
We loved what Jamee did with this event! Check all the photos out below:
This customized archway greeted guests and made you feel like you were walking right into her fanpage!
This sign hung in the kids lounge area. We love how Jamee used CDs to decorate!
Check out these place cards! They were made to look like iPhones complete with a text message to each guest telling them which table they were sitting at
The room is set for guests and has the Bat Mitzvah girls favorite lingo hanging from the ceiling
Instead of table numbers they used the Bat Mitzvah girls favorite apps as table assignments
Centerpieces included giant iPhones, computers, Blackberry phones and iPods
Jamee from Setting The Mood also had another great idea on her blog related to this theme idea. See below the chocolate app phone from Etsy. Too cool….!
Chocolate app here.
May 25th, 2010
Hi All!
The Morris Family had their daughter Beckett’s Bat Mitzvah on March 27, 2010. After services at Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, New York they held a luncheon for 130 friends and family at Half Moon Restaurant in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
The theme was their family’s favorite vacation spot, Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The idea was to have the event feel casual and warm – like your favorite clam shack at the beach – only this time the restaurant would be filled with everyone they loved. They are foodies, and serving a wonderful meal was a priority. Photographer Margaret Fox captured this family’s spirit perfectly. All vendor information is listed below.
Pictured left to right: Mitzvah Dad Alan, Mitzvah Mom Bonnie, Bat Mitzvah girl Beckett and big sister Juliet.
Multi-colored and oversized, the invitation set the tone for the party – casual, fun and colorful.
Even their selection of stamps had that beachy feel
Half Moon Restaurant is situated on the Hudson River, and on a clear day it has views of the Tappan Zee Bridge to the north and the George Washington Bridge and chunks of Manhattan to the south. They got very lucky and had brilliantly blue skies the day of Beckett’s Bat Mitzvah.
Half Moon’s beautiful views!
Beckett lets her personality show!
To bring their beach theme to life, Daniel Florals and Events worked with Mitzvah Mom Bonnie and daughter Beckett to create that summer environment that spilled right onto their guests tables!
Centerpieces were simple – on the adult side of the room, anodized aluminum beach buckets were bursting with muted flowers and beach grasses
The adult tables also had craft paper runners strewed with beach glass and sea shells with a little crab hanging onto each bucket for dear life!
The kids’ centerpieces were jaunty gerbera daisies nestled in buckets filled with sand
A kite and beach ball centerpiece on the bar added to the laid-back/beach decor
With Rooney Tunes Entertainment providing the music and Joe as the MC, the crowd had a ball.
Mitzvah Mom Bonnie has this advice for our Mitzvah Market readers. She says, “I didn’t have a party-planner so it came down to me to manage all these details, to record them on paper for my Vendors and to review everything with them in advance (and twice) prior to the event.” She then suggests, “Create a day-of-event contact sheet and keep it with you. Another must-do: Give the DJ a song list you love well in advance; make sure your photographer is equipped with a shot list sheet; think through and plan the event flow until it feels right. Then, write it down.” Thanks Bonnie, great advice!
The party favors were t-shirts featuring a logo you see at any souvenir shop at the beach (but with Beckett’s ID) and personalized sea shells for each child.
The shells also served as place cards and were created by Bonnie’s Mom Gerri Rothman, the founder of “To Coin A Phrase,” a highly-regarded social stationery and invitation line which she founded in 1974 and sold in 1990. The place cards were clam shells that she shellacked, edged with gold and personalized with pearls and glitter dust.
The sign-in board was stocked with postcards from Long Beach Island, and guests were encouraged to “Drop Beckett a Line” by signing a postcard and dropping it into a red crab trap (complete with a big old crab).
The highlight of the party wasn’t beach-themed, it was the video montage “The Real Bat Mitzvah of Westchester County.” Shot in the style of the Bravo show, it told the story of how Beckett was so focused on her Bat Mitzvah studies, she couldn’t do much of anything else. Beckett’s Dad is a professional video editor and he directed and produced the montage.
Beckett and her friends getting a kick out of the montage
To go with the simple beachy theme, Martine’s Fine Bakery designed a big fun, colorful cake decorated with beach balls and flip flops and topped with a big yellow boogie board. Most of all, they wanted the cake to taste delicious. No fondant, all butter cream. They served a vanilla cake with butter cream icing and chocolate ganache filling. Fun and yummy!!!
The cake was topped by a giant yellow boogie board – the color of Beckett’s board.
My husband and I both really loved being involved in the Bat Mitzvah prep at the temple. We participated in Torah study and talked to the girls about what becoming a Bat Mitzvah means. We also got to know our Cantor and Rabbi a little better, which connected us to the day even more. Even with all the excitement around the party planning in the house, we tried to stay focused on the service because it’s an incredible and monumental moment in a family’s life.
Beckett loves to cook and bake, and she wanted to incorporate her hobby with her Mitzvah Project. She got involved in the Domestic Abuse Task Force at their temple, which helps settle families who have suffered from domestic abuse from shelters into permanent housing.
To make one new family feel welcome in their new home, Beckett purchased baking supplies – from rolling pins to baking sheets to flour – for the family. She wrote up a few of her favorite recipes and baked a batch of brownies. Then, she delivered the supplies and goodies to the family a week after they had moved into their new apartment and just in time for the holidays. She will continue to donate her time to the task force when she enters our temple’s Academy program next year.
Here is a list of the Mitzvah Vendors who helped make Beckett’s Bat Mitzvah special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com. Thanks!
Venue: Half Moon Restaurant 914.693.4130
Entertainment/Photo Favors: Rooney Tunes Entertainment DJ/MC Joe Rooney
Invitation: Collage 941-922-2939 barrie-collage@comcast.net
Decor: Daniels Florals and Events 914-481-5528
Cake: Martine’s Fine Bakery 914-346-8650
Photographer: Margaret Fox Photography 914-332-9704
Mitzvah Style: Dresses off the rack and on sale! Beckett’s dress at Neiman Marcus
Juliet’s at Lord & Taylor and for Mitzvah Mom Bonnie Woodbury Commons Outlets
Hair/makeup for Mom: Linda Gallo 914-473-7657
Hair for Bat Mitzvah girl Beckett: Salon Topaz 914-231-6212
Transportation: Chappaqua Bus 914-238-4404
May 21st, 2010
By Margaret Fescina, NY Party Works
Planning a successful event is a collaborative effort by everyone involved. There are many details concerning timing, access, electrical requirements and spacial issues. Vendor conflicts can be avoided if they are addressed early in the process.
Here are 5 quick tips to insure a positive working relationship with your Vendors:
1. Supply all information when asked. If you do not know the answer to a question by one of your Vendors, tell them that you will call the appropriate people and get back to them, and do it as soon as possible. Your Vendor is trying to do the best possible job for you and will need this information to make sure that everything goes smoothly on the day of your event. Some questions might concern sources of electric, where items are being placed, when specific Vendors can access the loading area, scheduling of entertainment with things like the candle lighting ceremony. The more your Vendors know about your event, the fewer surprises there will be.
2. Act as the liaison between the venue and your Vendors. You are the person that they all have in common unless you are using an event planner. So it is best once again to be sure that everyone is on the same page. For example, if one of your Vendors give you an arrival time for setup, be sure that you pass this information on to the venue so someone will be there to meet and direct them.
3. Be open to advice and suggestions by Vendors. You hired them because they are the professionals and have years of experience in working events, so at least listen and discuss the options when they offer an opinion. They may know something that you don’t.
4. Be flexible whenever possible. No one wants you to not get the party that you are paying for, or to alter your vision in anyway if it isn’t necessary. But sometimes compromise is needed. Cooperation is the key to planning an event with multiple Vendors. If everyone works together, with you bending a little here, and a Vendor or the venue bending a little there, it will all work out with much less conflict and aggravation for everyone.
5. Discuss ahead of time what your balance is and how the final payment will be made. Whatever you decide upon, do it. Don’t make your Vendors come look for you, it is uncomfortable for everyone.
Being prepared and anticipating any problems is a win, win situation for everyone.
To learn more about NY Party Works, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
