The Scarselli family of New York City celebrated daughter Sofia’s Bat Mitzvah on October 31, 2015. The morning service was held at Central Synagogue and later that evening was a reception in Sofia’s honor at the W Hotel, both in New York City.
Sofia’s favorite holiday has always been Halloween and when the Temple gave her a choice of a few dates she immediately chose October 31st. Since it fell on a Saturday, she decided it would be a costume themed Bat Mitzvah party.
It had a mix of all of the essential Halloween elements with a touch of NYC glamour!
Pictured L-R: Dad Bruno, Bat Mitzvah girl Sofia, Sister Isabella and Mom Lysa.
Michael Priest Photography was the photographer and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
Invitation
The invitations, by Sara Schwartz Mitzvah Paper Company, were carefully designed not to distract from the seriousness of what the Bat Mitzvah service means.
Halloween Style!
Talk about Halloween Glam! Sofia and her family were made up by Face Art by Melissa who used skeleton makeup on one side of their face and bodies. Sofia was made up in pink. All the guests had fun in their costumes as well.
Party Decor
Mom Lysa is a jewelry designer and loves styling parties. She worked with Nancy of Shimmer NYC to create a sophisticated and spooky ambiance. Everything at the W Hotel was decorated with items Lysa started purchasing the year before. As the assortment grew, the family found themselves sharing a NYC apartment with 20 skeletons, zombies and monsters!
Celebration Details
Spooky Sign-In
The sign-in was a dressed up skull headed mannequin. Sofia has always wanted her own mannequin, so now it stands in her room with her friends’ notes and wishes.
Creepy Food!
There were creepy crawling spiders and scary hands on all displays at the delicious food stations.
Mitzvah Entrance
Sofia entered the room in a cage by illusionist Eric Wilzig and afterward he performed a show. He was amazing and even the adults couldn’t figure out how he was able to do some of his tricks.
Party Entertainment
MC Shiran Nicholson of Nicholson Events was amazing. There were many great giveaways including LED skull masks and LED devil horns.
Special Mitzvah Moments
Extra Mitzvah Fun!
Boom Event Source provided interactive activities such as live mummies, wax zombie hands, roller coaster fun and a graffiti wall photo booth.
Favors
There were many great giveaways and favors at this party. The girls were excited to receive a Lolo brand coin key chain and ID cases and the boys received black skull t-shirts. Mom Lysa told her guests if they liked something on a skeleton in a particular outfit or a sign that was part of the decor, they could take it home with them.
Mitzvah Dessert
At the end of the night there were many dessert options to enjoy. Max Brenner chocolate syringes, Wafels and Dinges candy apples and of course, a trick or treat candy table by Mom Lysa.
Mitzvah Project
Sofia was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes recently and has put her energy into JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Their strength lies in their exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D. Sofia is working towards starting an organization where children would be visited in hospitals by other T1D children to make them feel at ease with their new diagnosis.
Mom To Mom Advice
Some advice from Mom Lysa:
“Instead of taking this so seriously, enjoy and have fun and put your own creativity to use,,,,your child will love that you are involved.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Sofia’s Bat Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Tina Birch, W Hotel, 212-755-1200
Party Planner: Nancy, Shimmer NYC, 646-524-6491
Creative Decor/Sign-In Mannequin: Mom Lysa Scarselli
Photographer: Michael Priest Photography, 212-462-2250
Invitation: Sarah Schwartz Mitzvah Paper Company, 844-446-2935
Entertainment Company: MC Shiran Nicholson, Nicholson Events, 212-534-6868
Extra Entertainment/dance floor/furniture: Jeff, Boom Event Source, 800-862-7805
Magic/Illusionist: Eric Wilzig, The Extreme Magic of Eric Wilzig, 516-374-6186
Party supplies/Halloween Decor: Dawn Sherman, Party Fair, 973- 366-5909
Candy Table: Mom Lysa Scarselli
Chocolate Syringe Dessert: Max Brenner, 646-467-8803
Skeleton makeup: Face Art by Melissa, Head in a jar: Little Jars of Horror
