The Grubman family celebrated daughter Lilah’s Bat Mitzvah service on November 5, 2016, at L’Dor V’Dor in Oyster Bay, New York. There was a reception in her honor immediately following at Temple Or Elohim in Jericho, New York.
Lilah loves animals and one of her aspirations is to be a veterinarian, so an animal theme was the perfect choice. From the invitations to the favors, everything had a zebra, leopard, and/or giraffe print. Mom Susan created the amazing decor along with many of the party’s special details.
Pictured L-R: Dad Robert, Bat Mitzvah girl Lilah and Mom Susan.
The photographer was PM Photo and Video Productions and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
Bat Mitzvah Invitation and Service
Mitzvah Style
This family went wild with the animal theme by dressing the part!
Party Decor
Mom Susan is the former Decorating Editor of Good Housekeeping and did most of the decor herself. Almost everything was DIY including the place cards, animal inflatable decor, sign-in board, centerpieces, napkin rings and signage.
Special Party Details
Mitzvah Entrance and Music
Mom Susan also came up with the idea for Lilah’s entrance. The team from Party Harty Entertainment wore wolf masks that coordinated with their T-shirts. Her “wolf pack” brought the animal theme to life!
Cake and Candle Lighting
Mitzvah Dessert and Exit Treats
Guests went “ape” for the candy table created and displayed by Mom Susan.
Mitzvah Favors
Lilah’s Mitzvah Project
While attending Mitzvah Market Celebrate Showcase Lilah found the perfect fit with HorseAbility. Last August, Lilah had a rewarding experience volunteering at Camp HorseAbility, a week-long riding camp for individuals with special needs. Besides taking care of the horses, she was also a side-walker. Lilah donated her personal savings/Tzedakah to HorseAbility too.
Mom Advice from Mom Susan
“If you are having an older kids table, know that the prices for the (non-drinking) young adults cost a lot less than 21+age adults. Make sure to negotiate that with the caterer. Have a “Stand-by” couple that you invite to the cocktail hour, so that when someone last minute does not show, they can fill the spot. Since guests are already paid for, it’s worthwhile to not have empty seats at the party. If you are inviting out-of-town guests/family back to the house immediately after your daytime event, call it for an hour after the party ends so that you have time to regroup, settle up costs, and be home in time to change into comfy clothing. If you are thinking about doing it all DIY, it’s important to hire a day before/day-of planner. They will be available to assist in set up, are around to make sure things run smoothly during the party, and most importantly, they must be there to break down and deliver/return all your decorations back to you. There was a party immediately after ours and it was a huge relief to know that they were there to take care of emptying out the room. Request that your caterer offers a personal attendant in their package. It was great to have someone take care of us throughout the day making sure we had a sampling of all the buffet options, helped with unforeseeable issues, and collected and secured gifts/envelopes.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Lilah’s Bat Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Temple Service: L’Dor V’Dor, Oyster Bay, Long Island
Venue/Caterer: Hasson Caterers at Or Elohim, 516-937-0120
MC Entertainment: Party Harty Entertainment, 516-845-8585
Arcade Games: That’s Entertainment Concepts (division of Party Harty Entertainment), 516-845-8585
Kippot: Randi, That One Special Touch, 516-496-1025
Photography/Videography: PM Photo & Video Productions, 631-495-6181
Invitations: Invitations by Lisa, 516-398-4785
Day of Party Planner: Ellen Fielding, Field of Dream, 516-232-1552
Favors: Mom Susan found in a department store
Hair: Beauty and Elegance, 631-800-1212
Lilah’s gown: It’s Simply For You, 516-921-2863
Dad’s Suit: Nordstom, Hugo Boss, Tie: Ferragamo
