Long Island Bar Mitzvah Mom Shares Her Tips

When the Feirman family of Long Island began planning their son Jared’s Bar Mitzvah, they knew mom Michele’s 20+ years of experience as a corporate and non-profit event planner would come in handy. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that vendors can make (or break!) the event,” says Michele. “For Jared’s Bar Mitzvah I interviewed vendors, spoke with friends who had already planned their Mitzvahs and did a ton of online research utilizing Mitzvah planning websites and social media groups. I chose vendors who were creative, responsive and most of all, understood our vision.” 

Feirman’s team of vendors helped to transform the ballroom at North Shore Synagogue into a sleek club-like atmosphere with dramatic lighting and plenty of space for multiple entertainment options for guests. The theme played off of Jared’s initials (JFF), last name, and love of sports. Several taglines, designed by The Coolest Giveaways, really defined the event: “Just Frickin Fun,” “Totally FEIRless” and “No FEIR” were used throughout the reception. Combined with a distinct orange/grey/black color scheme, the result was totally modern and fresh with a just a bit of an urban edge.  The best part of the night? “Being surrounded by friends and family,” says Michele.

A complete list of vendors follows at the end of this spotlight.

Service

The color palette for Jared's celebration was first introduced with his invitation

Jared posed with his parents on the bima at Temple Chaverim

The Bar Mitzvah boy was confident and poised throughout his service

Jared's siblings, Dylan and Falyn, played an important role in his celebration

FEIRless Decor

From the moment guests arrived at the reception the color palette and theme were front and center; Here kids were able to check out all of the SWAG coming their way

Jared's logos and taglines created an edgy backdrop for the three dimensional lucite sign in board; Guests left their messages on top of the lucite cover with metallic markers

The place card table was designed to look like a steel grey brick wall with Jared's initials, one of his taglines and his three favorite sports

Kit Kat bars, Jared's favorite candy, were cleverly disguised as place cards with custom wrappers printed with guest names and table assignments

Jared prepared to enter the "No Feir Zone," aka the kids cocktail hour, where pop-a-shot and other games were set up while the kids noshed on kid-friendly appetizers and drinks

Adults enjoyed an extensive cocktail hour with a taco bar, peking duck station, sushi and more

Inside the ballroom, several table configurations were used to create visual interest and accommodate groups of guests

Centerpieces celebrated Jared's love of sports and featured a combination of sports equipment, metal platforms, lucite cylinders and flowers

Soccer balls inside metal spheres sat atop LED columns

Hockey silhouettes and dramatic white florals were used on the oversized rectangular tables

The kids' lounge featured sleek white and grey furniture and custom pillows with Jared's logo and taglines

Jared's taglines were also projected on the dance floor and on large LED screens throughout the space. The stage changed color throughout the night

The cake complimented his theme perfectly

Guests enjoyed an extensive dessert buffet...

... as well as passed sweet treats

Non Stop Action

Jared entered the ballroom on the arms of the ET dancers, who wore custom t-shirts with one of his taglines

There was no shortage of love (or FUN!) at Jared's Bar Mitzvah. The dance floor was packed all night. Here, dad Mark's friends created a big circle with their sons

Giant sparklers (and a smoke machine) went off several times throughout the night, adding to the energy in the room

Jared loved throwing out sports jerseys to his friend

The Le Selfie photo booth was a ton of fun and allowed guests to take home photos from the celebration

Kid-friendly blackjack tables were set up adjacent to the kids' lounge

The kids loved being a part of the action

Memorable Moments

Jared and his siblings, Dylan and Falyn, were inseparable all night

Little sister Falyn stole the show when she toasted her brother and told him how much she loved him

Jared was very involved in selecting the swag for his guests. He chose sweatshirts, t-shirts, flip flops and drawstring bags

Guests were treated to a fully stocked food truck on their way home. Candy, chips, warm churros, drinks and a selection of fast food favorites were an awesome surprise

White Castle burgers and Chicken McNuggets were a huge hit

Mitzvah Advice

“Don’t wait until the last minute. Plan ahead, work with well known amazing vendors and everything will run smoothly,” says mom, Michele.

Mitzvah Project

Jared raised more than $4,500 and collected swim goggles for Sunrise Day Camp, a Long Island based day camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Jared visited the camp and raised money via social media. During Jared’s Bar Mitzvah service he discussed how cancer had touched his family and why he in turn wanted to help those affected by the disease.

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped the Feirman family to create the the Bar Mitzvah celebration of their dreams. If you contact any of them, please let them know you read about their services on Mitzvah Market.

Venue: North Shore Synagogue, 516-226-1460
Caterer: The Standard, 516-226-1460
Event Planner: mom Michele
Music/MC/DJ: ET Events, DJ Showtime, 516-826-6900
Photographer/Videographer: Hi Tech Events, David (photo), Mark (video), 631-923-2260
Montage: Elissa Owen Montages, 617-480-4935
Selfie Booth: Le Selfie Booth, Shobie, 917-856-8912
Favors & Logo Design: The Coolest Giveaways, Sue and TCG Team, 516-439-4303
Blackjack Table and Wheel: Send in the Clowns, Lindsey, 516-962-3691
Invitations/Place Cards/Yarmulkes/Napkins: Designs by Donna, Donna Wexler, 516-379-0655
Cake: Cakes with Character, Jean, 516-935-6924
Decor/Sign-In Board: Dazzling Parties, Barbara, 516-766-1471
Dresses: Eleanor Schain, 718-444-4253 (mom) and Designing Dreams, 516-248-1988 (sister)
Suits: Mur-Lee’s Men & Boys Shop, 516-599-7777
Custom Shirts (boys) & Custom Sports Jacket (dad): Stacy Solow, 516-375-4876
Hair/Makeup: Entourage Salon, Megan (hair), Brittany (makeup), 516-496-1700
Food Truck: Mobile Delights, Steven, 631-786-2657
Transportation: Late Night Chauffeurs, 631-601-7503