Life is Better on the Ice for Bar Mitzvah boy Jordan Freund. An avid ice hockey player since age seven, Jordan’s Bar Mitzvah theme brought to life his favorite aspects of the game. From a hockey rink dance floor, complete with penalty boxes, to NHL ticket place cards and hockey jerseys galore, this party had it all. Following a service at Community Synagogue of Rye in Rye, New York, Jordan’s guests gathered at LIFE, the place to be in Ardsley, New York where they were treated to a night of non-stop action on and off the dance floor.
Photo above (L-R): sister Brooke, mom Jackie, Bar Mitzvah boy Jordan and dad Lee. The photographer for this event was Angelica Glass. A complete list of vendors follows at the end of this spotlight.
Bar Mitzvah Service
Jordan became a Bar Mitzvah at Community Synagogue of Rye
Nervous and excited, Jordan did a fantastic job at his service
Ice Ice Baby
Jordan's invitation was designed like an NHL game ticket
From the moment guests arrived at LIFE, the place to be, Jordan's theme was front and center
Place cards were displayed on lucite stands and resembled NHL tickets
A circular light-up bar, with Jordan's logo on the floor, was the place to be during the cocktail hour
White and blue lighting created an icy vibe; the high top tables were later used in the kids' lounge
Jordan's logos were scattered throughout the cocktail hour
The blue and white theme continued into the reception with oversized balloons, draping on the ceiling and custom logos on the walls
The hockey rink dance floor was the centerpiece of the party
Penalty boxes, featuring some of Jordan's favorite brands, lined the dance floor rink
Images of Jordan playing hockey were projected on the walls
Lucite trays and votive candles added a cozy vibe to the ice theme
Close up of table centerpieces featuring photos of some of Jordan's favorite NHL players
Jordan's logo appeared on LEDs and other signage
White lounge furniture with custom pillows created a comfy space for the kids
Hockey photos of Jordan through the years captured some of his favorite on ice moments
Jordan's Grandma Carol made this unbelievable cake! She drove to NY from Chicago with all of her baking supplies and began baking the cake two days prior to the event
Sister Brooke joined Jordan for the candle lighting
The DJ kept the dance floor packed all night
Dance floor giveaways included New York Rangers jerseys, logo t-shirts, Big Baller Brand t-shirts and sweatshirts, gift cards and Apple AirPods
Party swag was stored in "The Locker Room"
Special Touches
The sign in board was framed by hockey sticks with Jordan's logo in the center
Jordan's friends surprised him with a special keepsake-- a New York Rangers flag which they all signed
An electric violinist played along with the music from the DJ
LIFE also provided an arcade
Kids (and adults!) could hit the video games when they needed a break from dancing
Everyone stopped by Jordan's Oreo Bar
Traditional, Red Velvet and Birthday Cake Oreos were among the choices
Jordan tested out the custom S'mores bar with Steven, the owner of LIFE
Guests could pick their chocolate, cookies and marshmallows... YUM!
"Dragon Popcorn" was a huge hit-- presented on dry ice, it looked like smoke was coming out of guests' mouths when they ate it
Jordan's logo was printed on custom ISlide favors
Kids took home their ISlides in logo drawstring bags
Logo water bottles were presented as guests headed home
Mitzvah Advice
“I wasn’t sure if I really needed a planner as I enjoy the planning process myself and the venue came with a planner,” says Mitzvah Mom Jackie. “But I’m thrilled that I did decide to hire my own planner, especially when it got closer to the event. She helped with so many crazy details (timeline, tipping, transportation etc…) that I hadn’t realized would make the last few weeks so incredibly busy. I was able to relax the day of the party knowing she was there and not worry about a thing!”
Mitzvah Project
Jordan sold snacks at his synagogue each week before Hebrew school. He donated the proceeds to the ASPCA as he loves animals. The family has a dog and two cats of their own.
Vendor Directory
Venue/Decor: LIFE the place to be, 914-591-4400
Event Planner/T-Shirts/Drawstring Bags: Stacey Nisenson, Full On Events, 973-800-2619
Entertainment: Total Entertainment, 201-894-0055
Photographer: Angelica Glass, 917-741-4160
Videographer: Giulianna Marie Studios, 973-835-4300
Favors: iSlide Customizable Slides, 781-352-0677
Invitations: Etched in Sloane, Sloane Zane, 201-848-6006
Sign-In Board: ShotsOnGoalHockeyFrames.com
Cake: Jordan’s Grandma, Carol David, 815-212-2204
Dresses: Roland Mouret (Mom), Zoe Ltd. (Sister), All About the Dress, 914-690-1593
Suits: Rothmans (Dad), Lubin’s (Jordan), 914-713-0300
Hair/Makeup: Rita Devlin Wolf (hair), 914-588-5471 and Valerie Guglielmo (makeup), 914-320-0944
Transportation: Country Coach Corp., 914-967-5959
Posted in
Mitzvah Spotlight,
Family
