February 10th, 2023
What came first- the B Mitzvah theme or the logo?
In reality, the two go hand-in-hand. Modern B Mitzvahs are almost always branded with a theme that effects everything from the invitations, to the decorations, to the party favors taken home at the end of the night. While some branding falls easily into place, it can be really hard to pin down something that will represent your big day for years to come. Here are our best tips for brainstorming a brand for your B Mitzvah.
Sometimes, a good theme is all you need to get the ball rolling on your branding. If your teen wants to have a theme like sports, theater, animals, or something similar, that provides a great jumping off point for what their logo or swag may look like. For example, a basketball fan can overlay their initials and the date of their Mitzvah with a graphic of a slam dunk, or use an already existing brand like Nike, Adidas, the NBA, etc, replacing the original text with their name. Broadway lovers can make a playbill-style logo, or use theater motifs like spotlights and a stage to feature their name or initials.
Jake took basketball and golf, his two favorite sports, to make a simple yet distinctive logo.
Annie’s name and love for theater was the perfect opportunity to play off of Annie the musical!
However, if you have no idea what you want your theme to be, it can be hard to materialize one out of nowhere. Start with the basics: have your teen make a list of their favorite hobbies or things that are important to them. Maybe it’s nature, or candy, or books- branding doesn’t have to stick to just one element, it can (and should) bring together all the things that represent your teen and makes them happy.
Go beyond material interests and think about the design elements, too. Does your teen love to doodle hearts? Do they always wear tie-dye, or live for their neon lights in their bedroom? All of these can be incorporated into the branding to make something that is uniquely them!
Reese’s blingy logo showed personality and flair, all sealed with a kiss.
A Mitzvah catchphrase or slogan is another popular way of branding the party, and it usually involves some pun or play on the Mitzvah teen’s name or initials. If you’re at a loss on how to come up with a clever slogan, try taking your teen’s initials and making a list of adjectives that start with each letter. Amazing, Brilliant, Colorful, Darling… these will help get your creative juices flowing. Do the same thing with some verbs: Adore, Believe, Celebrate, Dance…
Once you have these lists, you can play around with sentences and phrases that flow and fit your vibe. You can even choose a word or phrase that just has your child’s initials or nickname in it, and put it in bold when creating your branding for a subtle touch.
A Bar Mitzvah boy with the last name Topf branded his party as “Topf of His Game”
Ryan L is a fearless kid, as proven by this subtle and well-balanced branding.
As with everything in Mitzvah planning, there are highly skilled party planners and designers who can help you craft the perfect branding, logo, and anything in between for your big day. who specialize in all things B Mitzvah branding and will bring your unique vision to life!
February 7th, 2023
I am a writer. So, when the time came to write the speech for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, it was an emotional journey for me – as you can imagine. Wait let me start again… I am an emotional writer, so when it came time to write the speech for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah I couldn’t stop crying. Is that better?
This is my first child’s Bat Mitzvah. My daughter, my baby girl, my pride, and joy. This is the little girl who used to have blonde hair, wear tiny vertical pigtails, and hold my hand as we walked up and down Third Avenue. This is the little girl whom I pushed in every swing, in every park on the Upper East Side, twice. This is the girl who always had a big smile on her face and goodness exuding through her body. One who settled into a new suburban house on a Friday and came home with new friends on Monday. Equally, this is a girl to whom I’ve never once had to say “go do your homework” or ask if she studied for a test. She just does and did, and then gets the best marks in class. This is my daughter, my baby, my dream come true, my best friend.
OK, I’m already crying.
So how do you sit down to write a speech about someone you love so much? How do you perfectly couple all of the above but also not be so “mom lame”?
Do you talk about the hours of labor you endured? First steps? First words? First shoes? First day of school? Yes. But as we know, in between all of those big moments, there are many small moments that we cannot put into words. These little moments we hold so dear, that is quite simple – life.
When you look at your child now, it’s hard to remember them as a little baby because, in the blink of an eye, they are now this teenager (and possibly taller than you).
Hopefully, you can still see this shadow in the brooding, grunting, hoody-wearing, phone drone who now keeps their door closed. The same door they used to beg to keep open because they couldn’t fall asleep otherwise.
More crying.
Oy. How am I going to stand up and do this in front of people, twice!? Maybe I should send a prerecorded message like a celebrity Cameo.
I was recently talking to a friend who is the mom of a girl my daughter met in nursery school. We used to sit in my backyard and chat as our younger boys slept in their strollers and the girls played on the swings. I am pretty sure this was yesterday. However, actually yesterday, we coordinated carpooling to the Bat Mitzvah of another girl they met in nursery school. Neither of us understood how we got from there to here.
So, what does one say in a speech? And how does one differentiate what one says on the bema versus at the party? Two totally different “vibes.”
In thinking about this, I realized it’s really a speech with an audience of one. Because much like a montage, it is a public, tangible love letter to your child. It is a forum to humble brag, roast, and kvell with a side of “you will always be my baby.” The key is to exit stage left before someone goes looking for a hook to pull you off.
Of course, parents talk about achievements in school and extracurricular activities, but the truth is, a parent is proud of their kid no matter what they do. It’s simply pride that parents want to convey.
In writing both speeches, I found myself emphasizing different things. My temple speech was very near and dear to my heart since it is the temple my grandparents founded 70 years ago. It is a place that’s played a pivotal role my whole life – where my mom and I both became Bat Mitzvahs, my parents got married, my husband and I had our Auf Ruf, my daughter was named, and where my second son had his bris. It’s also where my grandma sang in the choir and my grandpa blew the shofar. I spoke of how my daughter standing on that bema was like her standing on the shoulders of her ancestors, and for her to feel the weight and beauty of that moment. I sprinkled in some highlights about her, her mitzvah project, and how it all came together. Plus, you know, Torah stuff. I spoke of how she is not only a legacy to our family but to our temple, and that this should all mean something to her. I also pointed out how important it is to acknowledge that we live somewhere with religious freedom and that we can openly witness our child becoming an adult in the eyes of the Jewish people.
The party speech is a total 180, and much lighter. There is a little humor, a little sentiment, and some poking fun. I say things about scholastic, athletic, and musical achievements, highlight some extracurriculars, yadda yadda yadda. Here I’m looking for a 40/60 split of touching and comical. I was trying to explain the art of a roast to my nine-year-old. I said it is a loving mock. Like he can say to her “I love our heart-to-heart chats, like when I ask you to play, and you respond” “Ugh! You’re so annoying, leave me alone.” In this speech, I just want to be funny and get the spirit up in the room. I think it is also nice to publicly highlight what makes your kid a little different and special despite their desire to just be the same as their friends.
In closing, when these speeches end, I want my audience of one to take away that she is here because of so many others, she is the next generation – now blessed to carry on our people. She is loved, we are proud, and even if she does not remember holding my hand and walking up Third Avenue, I do. Because I am and forever will be her keeper of memories. I am her mother and I will love her forever, even when she closes the door in my face.
Stacey Wallenstein is the founder of the parenting & lifestyle blog The Mint Chip Mama. Visit her website at themintchipmama.com and find her across all socials at @themintchipmama.
February 7th, 2023
Looking to blow up the world of B Mitzvah parties? Balloon art is a popular, creative, and versatile way to incorporate your party theme, decorate or venue, and add something extra special to your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah day. To get you inspired, here are some fun ways to use balloon art at your B Mitzvah:
Balloon Arches
Make a grand entrance with a balloon arch! Try subtle, neutral colors…
Or an extravagant themed arch, like this playing card inspired one.
Take the arch entry concept to a different level with a balloon curtain…
Or light up the dance floor with a cascade of glowing LED balloons.
Centerpieces
Once inside the venue, treat your guests to magnificent balloon centerpieces that can be done minimalist,
stuffed with confetti or sparkles for an extra special pop,
themed and colorful,
and completely out of this world!
Florals
Looking for an updated take on traditional floral arrangements? Check out these creative balloon bouquets:
More stuffed balloons provide a subtle and sleek way to present flowers.
Try an hybrid bouquet…
Or ditch the live flowers altogether and go all in on your balloon bouquet:
Balloon Backdrops
What’s a great party without the pics to prove it? Use balloons to create eye-catching backdrops for unforgettable photos.
Try an extravagant draping wall,
an epic picture frame,
or an artistic take on your theme, perfect for photo ops!
Like what you see here? Check out our favorite B Mitzvah decor vendors to start planning your perfect party!
February 1st, 2023
We are very lucky to be able to throw our children beautiful mitzvahs.
We are very lucky to be able to bring our children to the bema at our synagogue – the actual crux of a mitzvah – and then celebrate their hard work with a gorgeous party.
We are incredibly lucky to have children able to do these things as well as the means to do them.
Furthermore, much like the dozens of friends our children will have in their mitzvah mosh pit, we are very lucky to have friends surrounding us as our support system through the mayhem of mitzvah planning.
As I age, I have clarity on who is a real friend, who shows up, and who does not. This has become very clear this year as I plan my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Many of these women have been my good friends since my daughter was in nursery school or kindergarten. But regardless of how and when we met, since moving to the suburbs, these women have been my rocks.
Whether we’re taking Mah Jong lessons, volunteering for the PTA, celebrating our 40th birthdays, going to the beach on a summer night, or eating carrot or cheesecake on the lanai, these are my golden girls.
It has been the same group of us – a strong, practical, smart, funny, creative group of women, for a decade. These are women who are both bosses by day, and ready to meet for tacos and margaritas at night. These women do not waste time. They get stuff done. They are my lobsters.
Throughout the years, we’ve helped with each other’s kids, aired our spousal complaints, laughed until we cried, and gossiped non-stop. We’ve shared in our children’s birthday parties, cheered on at our kid’s performances, celebrated each other’s big achievements, and provided shoulders for devastations.
As we approach mitzvah season, we are now there for each other to celebrate this beautiful milestone. But also to create a village where we can lean on each other for all the invisible things that go into mitzvah planning while planning them together.
Much like I spoke about how beautiful it is for “new mom friends” to now dance at each other’s mitzvahs, I equally want to honor my current cohort. I am so grateful to have this group to lean on for all the mitzvah minutiae.
There are texts about candle lighting vases, photographer comparisons, invitations, and swag. About DJs, giveaways, signature drinks, and jerseys. We ask – did you fill out this form? You already bought X, can I just borrow yours? Did you reach out to this vendor? When do you order the yarmulkes? Everything and anything as if we were in a texting red tent together.
I cannot measure the importance of these friends. Even more valuable – the friends with older kids who can give perspective and help check things off your list having been through this before.
With mitzvah planning, there are so many little details. We can outsource things or we can figure out how to do them ourselves. Often, we need help. When you put out the call and your friends come running, that is a strong message. It deserves so much respect and appreciation. It is something I am so grateful for this last year and hope I am giving back as much as I am receiving.
Many years ago, I was at a friend’s out-of-town wedding. On the dance floor was a circle of people dancing with their arms around each other. It was the groom’s parents and their friends. Since I grew up with him, I knew these people had all flown to middle America to celebrate the simcha which was their friend’s son’s wedding. Similarly, this group of friends started when their children were in nursery school, stayed close over the years, and were now dancing together wedding by wedding as their children paired off around the country.
This was such a profound and beautiful vision. Even more special, I recently saw the same group – now grandparents – dancing together at their grandson’s bar mitzvah. I turned to my husband with tears in my eyes and he just started laughing. He said, “You’re thinking about their wedding, right? I know you”. It was true.
What a beautiful gift to have the same group of “family” friends for not only thirteen years but thirty or forty. What a beautiful gift to celebrate together from our four-year-olds singing “You Are My Sunshine” to lifting them in a chair.
Of course, it is expected that as years pass, so do friendships. As children grow up and their interests change, so do their “friend groups” as my daughter would say. But hopefully, if you really connect with another parent, you can both overlook this and stay close. However, it’s ok too if you learn a friendship was more situational, and both of you move on. But I’m a firm believer that those who show up for you are the ones who matter, and actions speak louder than words.
I’m having so much fun with all of my “mitzvah wives” right now. Not only are they providing the mental support that I need – as I feel like my head is spinning out of control – but the physical act of getting stuff done as well. Again, actions speak louder than words.
I cannot wait to dance at their children’s mitzvahs. I cannot wait to be the “parent circle” dancing at ours. But even more – I hope these are the people who dance in a circle at my daughter’s wedding one day and then years later stand in the same circle as they raise my grandchildren in a chair.
Stacey Wallenstein is the founder of the parenting & lifestyle blog The Mint Chip Mama. Visit her website at themintchipmama.com and find her across all socials at @themintchipmama
January 31st, 2023
The tradition of having a candle lighting ceremony honoring friends and family is a staple in many modern Mitzvah parties. The custom evolved as a way to bring together important people in your life for a photo op and to be recognized in front of your guests, usually with a cute poem or quip to introduce each person or group of people. People have managed to get creative over the years, finding new and unique ways to incorporate their party themes, likes, and the people closest to them into their ceremonies. You may find that you like what a candle lighting ceremony represents, but you’re ready for something completely new and different. If you’re looking for some new honorific inspiration, here are six creative ways to keep the sentiment of candle lighting without falling to the same old, same old.
Sand pouring
A candle lighting ceremony is all about unity and bringing together people from different walks of your life. One thing about candles though is that they can’t stay lit forever. In that vein, why not have each person or group called up pour colored sand into a clear jar, like in the example below. This can act as a visual representation of all the people who came together for the big day, and can last forever as a display piece in your house or your teen’s bedroom.
Weave/pick a thread
Similar to pouring sand art, colorful threads or string can be used to visualize everyone at your party becoming one collective unit there to celebrate the B Mitzvah teen. Assign each person or group you’d like to honor as a different colored thread, and have them help snip the thread when they’re called up. After the big day, the threads can be woven together into one piece, symbolizing unity while still highlighting the individuality of each person.
Place photo on a collage
If you already have photos of the B Mitzvah teen with the special people in their life, having friends and family help build a collage of important moments is a great alternative to candle lighting. With precut photos of all the people you intend to honor at the ready, have each group come and help the teen place the photos on a poster board. Once you get your party photos back, you can fill in the gaps with new photos taken that night! The collage will serve both as a way to honor people in the moment, and as a scrapbook of sorts of the big day.
Plant a seed/flower
In the theme of growing and maturing that is so central to a B Mitzvah, planting a seed or potting a flower is a perfect representation of your teen becoming a Jewish adult. With small pots and store bought flower seeds, each group can plant a few flowers that symbolize the nurturing relationship they have to you and your family. Once the seeds sprout in the days after the party, you can transfer them to your windowsill or home garden for a living reminder of the special relationships in your teen’s life.
Beads on a necklace
Just like threading something together from different yarns, beads of all shapes and sizes can represent different moments and people in your life. Not only will it create something beautiful and unique, but something wearable that can be held onto for life, too.
Handprint
This one could get a little messy, but that might be just the right thing for your teen! Have each of the guests honored make a handprint in ink or paint or even in clay, like an art project that everyone contributes a small part to. Since the goal of the ceremony is to celebrate and unify, the hands of loved ones organized into some shape or pattern can really hold a lot of meaning.
At the end of the day, a candle lighting ceremony or any alternative is about bringing together the ones that are close to you and your B Mitzvah teen. Anything you can imagine that will honor your people and meet your teen’s wants and needs will be a special and meaningful moment that will last you a lifetime. Be creative and have fun with it!
January 30th, 2023
If you have a sports themed B Mitzvah party on the horizon, you can think outside the box on how to bring your theme to life. Centerpieces are a great way to incorporate your party theme, show off your teen’s interests and talents, and keep your guests and seating arrangements organized. Here are some ideas and inspiration for sporty centerpieces that will stand out and wow your guests.
A classic sports centerpiece could incorporate balls and gear from the game…
Or get creative and play with lights and reflections.
Get more specific with your teen’s favorite teams or players, or even photos of the B Mitzvah kid themself playing their sport!
Who says sporty and floral can’t go together? Subtly tie in the theme with a gorgeous bouquet!
Try featuring something interactive or tactile so everyone can get in on the game together!
With decor on the table and your head in the game, you’re ready to party like a champion at your B Mitzvah party!
Check out our directory to find the perfect vendor to help bring your party vision to life.
January 24th, 2023
I recently went for a walk with my dad, and we started discussing my daughter’s displeasure with my desire to wrap her in bubble wrap for the week before her Bat Mitzvah.
We are living in a post(?), current(?), continuous(?) pandemic world right now, where nobody knows when the next virus variant or strain will hit us hard. Not to mention flu, RSV, LMNOP, or whatever impending weirdly named illness is next knocking at our doors. Monkeypox anyone?
However, having nothing to do with the world we are living in TODAY, my little Mitzvah girl is also recovering from a broken ankle and the rules that I’m putting in place (like not reactivating the injury so she can dance at her OWN Bat Mitzvah, and walk around on our Israel trip) are making her very unhappy.
I mean, is it unreasonable that if she wants to attend a good friend’s Mitzvah the week before hers, I insist that she’s strapped to a chair, double-masked, with a pool noodle on her head for a six-foot social distancing visual? You tell me. Perhaps I can get one of those single-person enclosed sports bubble tents and pop that on top of her as well? I guess in theory I could… but people may start talking…
So the question is – WHAT DO YOU DO? Sigh… stress level at DEFCON ten.
Well – as I’m sure you know, after a year of meticulously planning a Mitzvah, it’s so hard to weigh the odds and decide what to do the week before to keep your family healthy. To keep that little darling pubescent voice ready for all the tropes and chants of their imminent Torah portion. But then once you start, how far before your event do you go? Two weeks? A month? What’s the magic number to get you to your party? Do you apply the same rules to close friends? Camp friends? Friends from school, with the assumption they’re already sharing the same germs daily? Everyone’s nerves are swirling, and the truth is – no one knows the right answer.
But it seems this push-and-pull pre-Mitzvah angst between parent and child has been going on since the dawn of Mitzvahs. While researching, I found that Abraham and Sarah in fact told Isaac the week before his Bar Mitzvah he was not allowed to – ok, I’m joking, but I bet they would have said something to him if Mitzvahs existed back then. However, while I can’t date this theory back to biblical times, I can date it back to the Mrs. Maisel era.
Thus, bringing us back to my walk with my Dad.
My dad is a man with few memories of his childhood so when he pulls one out of left field (pun intended… wait for it), it’s even more meaningful to me.
So, as we were chatting about this most recent topic for which my daughter was unhappy with me, he paused, and I felt like he was about to say “Picture it… Brooklyn, 1962…”
My father – a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn – is a lifelong Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Now, if you were a nice Jewish boy back then there was no one more important or exciting to you than Sandy Koufax. Because the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, when they returned to New York to play, it was a big deal. My Dad had tickets to this game – in fact a doubleheader – on May 30th, 1962, and to top it off Sandy Koufax was pitching.
But (you know where this is going) it was exactly one week before his Bar Mitzvah, and his parents wouldn’t let him go. They were concerned he would yell so loudly at the game that he would lose his voice and not be able to chant the Torah.
I felt my father’s pain as he told me this story – still so raw – sixty-one years later. I thought this was such an amazing story – one, because I’d never heard it before; and two, because it made me laugh that even in 1962, Jewish mothers didn’t want their kids to do anything the week before their Mitzvahs either.
L’Dor V’Dor- from generation to generation.
This story from six decades ago gave me some perspective (and let’s be honest, made me feel a little better) that the desire to get your child to their own Mitzvah is a tale as old as time. Whatever we’re currently dealing with – a pandemic, a sporting event, or even, dare I say, a Taylor Swift concert, no one wants their child to miss their Mitzvah because of something they did the week before. Furthermore, much like the Torah being a front and center part of their big day, Jewish (overbearing parent) continuity is there as well.
My takeaway message from this conversation was while yes, my daughter may still be upset with me in sixty-one years, she may also understand by then why I put her Mitzvah first. Because now my Dad is on my side and says strap her to that chair.
But even better – hopefully one day she and I will take a walk and she will tell me her child is one week out from their Mitzvah and she refuses to let them go on a flying car ride… or whatever kids will be doing in the 2050s.
Stacey Wallenstein is the founder of the parenting & lifestyle blog The Mint Chip Mama. Visit her website at themintchipmama.com and find her across all socials at @themintchipmama
January 24th, 2023
As we know, TikTok has a little bit of everything- whatever you’re looking for, you can almost definitely find an account or video that will inspire, help, or amaze you. It can also be an incredible tool for planning your dream Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah party, showing you new ideas and letting you peak behind the curtain of how these parties come together. If you’re on a party planning journey, check out these five TikTok accounts and creators that will help you plan the best Bar/Bat Mitzvah party ever!
Brielle @simply.soulful
This creator makes content centered on Jewish life, culture, and education, a perfect place to brush up on Jewish knowledge or learn a fun fact or two. In this video from September 2022, she explains the difference between a Bar Mitzvah and a Bat Mitzvah, which many non Jewish friends and family may find helpful.
Melinda Strauss @therealmelindastrauss
Melinda Strauss is arguably the biggest Jewish content-related creator on TikTok, boasting over 750,000 followers! She makes videos about her day to day life as a Jewish mother, and for the past year, she did a series on preparing for her daughter Nora’s Bat Mitzvah. If you’re looking for a real look at the nitty gritty of Bar Mitzvah planning, she has videos on nearly every aspect of the planning process.
Moses and Zippora @thatjinjyjew
Married couple Moses and Zippora share their lives as Orthodox Jews to their more than half a million followers on TikTok. In this video from November of 2022, their son shares how he practices his Torah reading in preparation for his big day.
Rivka Holzer (rivkaholzerevents)
Rivka Holzer is a New York and New Jersey based party planner specializing in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and Jewish weddings. She often shares videos behind the scenes of her lavish parties, featuring everything from dancefloor designs to cocktail menus. Check out her account for some fun party inspo!
Shelby the Gift-in-a-Box Guide (@parkspartyplanning)
Need some inspiration on centerpieces, gifts, and other DIY party elements? Check out this account that frequently shares ideas for cute, colorful, and fun gift boxes, small personalized kits that can be made and customized to any person’s individual tastes. Use her guides as a jumping off point for giveaways, presents, and more for a personalized party touch!
January 17th, 2023
Do you remember two years ago when your friend with an older kid complained about how hard it was to plan a Bat Mitzvah and you kind of quietly laughed to yourself? Do you remember thinking “I have planned every party in my life for the last twenty years, so planning a Mitzvah should be a breeze?”
Yeah, me too. And even so. I found myself crying in my car today.
There are so many stressful moments involved with planning a mitzvah it is sometimes hard to keep it all in perspective. But that is what we need to do. This too shall pass, and it is all good stress, but nonetheless – it is a lot. I think it is important for us to acknowledge that. I find myself both grateful to be planning this party and also overwhelmed because it’s a lot to manage, and that’s ok.
From tracking down people who don’t RSVP on time to making sure that everything needed (when you don’t know what’s needed) is done, to making sure that all the vendors have been hired even though you don’t know all the vendors that need to be hired, to dealing with your child’s disappointment when somebody responds no. It is a lot. It is a lot. It is a lot.
There are so many invisible things that go into planning this beautiful, wonderful occasion – much like there are many invisible parts of motherhood. But we get through them and if we are lucky, we will get a “thank you” and a nice hug from the child of honor at the end of the day.
Yes, figuring out giveaways, prizes, swag, and favors (beware of the teen! Do NOT get them mixed up) are a lot, but the joy you see on your child’s face when you get them back from the printer and they look amazing is well worth it. Yes, the nerves are there thinking you forgot something, but in reality? You probably did not. Plus even if you did, you will most likely be the only one who notices.
These are the things currently keeping me up at night – in addition to the sweatshirt sizes of preteens. At first it seemed obvious that everyone would get an adult medium, until I think about all the tall people and all the short people who don’t fit into an adult medium. So, does everyone get an adult large? But what about my six-year-old? Nope, that does not work either, so let’s go over the list again. Don’t you feel like that has become your mantra?
It’s funny to think that in other parts of the country, people just have a mitzvah luncheon. It would be easy to just plan a luncheon. Until it isn’t easy to plan a luncheon. Because I have a friend who planned one and it was equally stressful.
Sometimes I think about the man I met when I got off the boat in Morocco who was wearing a Bar Mitzvah shirt of somebody from New Jersey that he never met. It was kind of a turning point in my life where I realized that when you donate something, you don’t know where it goes. We talk to our kids about perspective, and this moment was a big one for me. So yes, it is natural to stress about logos and swag, but just remember it will end up in a bin somewhere one day, hopefully bringing happiness to someone who just needs a new shirt.
Think of this – when your kids go backpacking one day, maybe they will be met by a man on a camel wearing a sweatshirt with their logo! …Actually, that would be pretty freaking cool!
But getting back to managing your mitzvah planning stress. The truth is – the vendors you hired (off of a positive recommendation or a ton of research, I’m sure) do this all day. They are good – which is why you hired them. Your event is the world to you but just this weekend to them. They got this, just let them. This is their job. Remember that! They do not want to look bad so they’re going to do an even better job than you expect. This advice was in fact given to me by said friend above who two years ago was exactly in my spot stressing. Do you know what? Her party was incredible and surpassed all her expectations.
Similarly, your event will be perfect and gorgeous and as long as the electricity stays on to play the music and cook the food, your party will be a smashing success too.
Which is why the theme of our party is tacos and dancing.
Stacey Wallenstein is the founder of the parenting & lifestyle blog The Mint Chip Mama. Visit her website at themintchipmama.com and find her across all socials at @themintchipmama
January 10th, 2023
What happens when a serene beach club meets an action-packed sports bar? A bar mitzvah party like no other, of course!
Bar Mitzvah boy Ryan from Westchester and his family recently teamed up with Melisa Imberman from The Event of a Lifetime to plan a celebration with the vibe of a players club. Ryan was always inspired by some of his favorite athletes and their bravery, leading them to brand the evening with “FEARLESS”, featuring Ryan’s initials.
Melisa and the family were faced with the challenge of transforming the Orienta Beach Club into a party haven both teens and adults. They knew they wanted something different than just another sports party, and so got to work crafting a sports bar atmosphere to contrast the beachy vibes of the venues. While adults relaxed with cocktails on the beach, the kids partied inside, where the beach club had been converted into a fun and aesthetic sports lounge.
All of the food was stadium-inspired, from Ryan’s favorite foods being served out of concession stands and a custom jersey for guests to sign upon arrival along with a branded box for guests to put their cards in.
Even the photobooth transported guests to Yankee Stadium with its locker room backdrop, subtly branded with the RL logo for some personalized pro ball pics.
Down on the infinity dance floor, Ryan and his friends got busy dancing, playing Football Frenzy, and winning prizes from the roaming sports trivia expert who kept them on their toes all night long. The grown ups got in the sports bar spirit with some signature drinks and shots, and all the guests enjoyed some late night bar snacks.
On their way out of the party, guests grabbed their RL merch, including branded Gatorade featuring an inspiring sports quote and a branded box of Double Bubble gum- just like the pro ballers like.
When planning the perfect B Mitzvah party, you need to truly be fearless in your vision and determination to make your ideas come to life. With hard work and fun all around, Ryan’s crowd-pleasing beach club bash helped him win the most important game of his life so far- his Bar Mitzvah.
Photos by Chad David Kraus Photography
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