A Bat Mitzvah Celebration At Sea

The Gruber family from Dix Hills, New York, celebrated their daughter Bari’s Bat Mitzvah aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. This “BoatMitzvah“ was celebrated by 50 family and friends including their Rabbi and twelve of Bari’s camp and school friends from February 13-20, 2016, during a school break. Cocktail parties and shore excursions brought everyone together to celebrate.

Pictured: L-R: Bat Mitzvah girl Bari, Mom Ruth, Dad Craig and Sister Charlie.

The vendor information is listed at the bottom of the spotlight.

BoatMitzvah Save-the Date and Invitations

Mom Ruth, along with friend Tracy Kleinberg, created a laminated itinerary book with daily party information and had them printed at Staples.

Guests received this package before the trip including a "Sea you soon" card designed by Bat Mitzvah girl Bari. Other items included luggage tags and grippers from TheCoolestGiveaways.com

We love this idea! Guests received a laminated "Bari's boatmitzvah" booklet with the daily party information

Bari's Bat Mitzvah invitation

The information card included in the packet of info

"Meet And Greet" - a great way for everyone to get to know each other!

Bari was born on Valentine's Day

Welcome to Jamaica!

A cocktail party before dinner

A fun excursion!

Friday night services

The BoatMitzvah Service

The Bat Mitzvah service was on the ship followed by a fabulous day at the beach.

Rabbi Wiesenberg from the family's synagogue, Temple Beth Torah and Bat Mitzvah girl Bari led a beautiful traditional service

It was a warm and intimate service with the people Bari loves most

Bat Mitzvah Style

Bari needed many different outfits since this was a 7-night cruise with a celebration every night! Bari and her younger sister Charlie’s dresses were bought at 2 Be Seen.

The entire Gruber family looked great

Bari is a fashionista showing off one of her many dresses standing next to her sign-in "B" by That One Special Touch

Her sophisticated black cocktail dress

This pink gown was the dress she chose to wear on February 14th, her birthday and Valentine's Day!

Bari surrounded by her friends in a beautiful pink shimmer gown

 Decor, Favors & Fun Excursions

Everything was coordinated with the help of travel agent Joan Hyman at Lynx International. Party favors and giveaways by The Coolest Giveaways and Sign-In letter “B” by That One Special Touch.

Some of the party giveaways and favors by The Coolest Giveaways included: Pjs, beach bags, string bags, sunglasses and cocktail napkins

The Coolest Giveaways also created this awesome custom comfy sweatshirt

Created by That One Special Touch, the sign-in was a 3-D letter "B" in white acrylic with a stand. Her logo was added in silver sparkle with rhinestones down the side

Entrance decor for Bari's celebration included pictures from her pre-shoot taken by Hi Tech Events

Bright pink flower ball centerpieces

A beautiful pink cake to celebrate her Valentine birthday

Bari getting a kiss from her parents

A stop in Jamaica

And Cozumel, Mexico too!

 
Bari’s Mitzvah Project

Bari participated and donated on a weekly basis to multiple charities including the Israel Tennis Centers which forms bonds between Jewish and Arab children. Additionally, she was involved with Blessings in a Backpack an organization that provides food for children in Bari’s school who are at risk of hunger. Bari also donates to Camp Sunshine which provides an opportunity for children with terminal illnesses to experience sleep away camp in Maine. There are so many worthwhile charities that Bat Mitzvah girl Bari could not just pick one to support!

Mom to Mom Advice from Mom Ruth

“Bari’s Bat Mitzvah on the Oasis of the Seas was a huge success. People said we were crazy for doing this but we and our extended family can’t wait to do it again for our younger daughter, Charlie!”

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Bari’s celebration special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their products/services on MitzvahMarket.com.

Venue: Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Rabbi: Rabbi Rachel Wiesenberg, Temple Beth Torah, 631-643-1200
Travel Agent: Joan Hyman, Lynx International, 305-308-6254
Invitations: Created by Mom Ruth and friend Tracy Kleinberg, printed at Staples
Step-N-Repeat/Pjs/beach bags/string bags/sunglasses/cocktail napkins/pillows/luggage tags: TheCoolestGiveaways.com, 516-466-5728
Sign-in Letter: Randi, That One Special Touch, 516-496-1025
Candle Lighting: Claudia, It Could Be Verse, 732-679-8093
Pre-Shoot photography: Hi-Tech Events, 631 923 2260
Bat Mitzvah girl Bari and Sister Charlie’s dresses: 2 Be Seen, 516-921-5777