The Collins Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight

Samantha Collins celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving 2013 at Temple Or Elohim in Jericho, New York.

Her mom Michelle, who works at Simon Elliot Events, pulled out all the stops for her daughter’s “Sam I Am” themed Bat Mitzvah.

Simon Elliot Events was the photographer and the rest of the vendors are listed at the bottom of this spotlight.

Pictured above L-R: Dad Brian, Brother Alex, Bat Mitzvah girl Samantha and Mom Michelle

Mitzvah Invitation, Style & Venue

Young guests received a postcard leading them to a Website created by Simon Elliot Events and adult guests received an acrylic invitation created by Darlene Barzilay. Their Wednesday night celebration took place at Temple Or Elohim in Jericho, New York.

www.PartyWithSammi.com had details about the celebration, RSVPs, her Mitzvah Project, directions and more!

The red acrylic invitation featured white lettering and trim. All guests were asked to RSVP on the Website

Guests were asked to wear black attire which looked great against Mom Michelle and Sammi who wore white. Sammi's long white gown with crystals was from It's Simply For You and Michelle's custom dress was designed by Runway Couture

Simon Elliot Events created large posters of Sammi that fit over the front glass doors

Sammi posed in front of the doors before guests arrived

Mitzvah Details

Metropolitan Events By Reuven did a great job on the red, black and silver decor.

A tall tower, created by Simon Elliot Events and designed to match her theme, listed guests' names and table numbers

As guests entered, they were greeted by a glittery canopy in the center of the lobby

Party Harty Entertainment designed custom light-up cubes

Tables featured beautiful red linens from The Finishing Touch, with rose appliques and Sammi's picture for the table numbers

Each table had a different centerpiece designed by Metropolitan Events By Reuven

Tables were different shapes and sizes including this long rectangle

The menu card resembled an iPhone created by Simon Elliot Events

The large bar created a striking look. The bar was provided by Hasson Catering, the back wall by Party Harty Entertainment and the design on the bar by Simon Elliot Events

Guests wrote special messages on the custom iSign kiosk. Messages and photos from each guest were compiled into a custom hard cover keepsake book

Music & Entertainment 

Entertainment Tonite provided the music with Carl as the MC. There were many fun extra forms of entertainment provided by Simon Elliot Events.

Entertainment Tonite provided the cages and LED staging

Mom Michelle with the ET crew

For her entrance, Sammi planned a surprise performance with some of her talented friends

Sammi and her friends performed a dance

Sammi's friends enjoyed the The Selfie Booth™ which allowed them to snap pictures at their own pace in front of a custom backdrop, with a wireless remote. Then they viewed, selected, and added cool filters using the touch screen. They also enjoyed sending their "Selfie" photos via email, text, tweet and uploading them to Facebook

The Superstar Photo Booth was customized with Sammi's logo

Friends also had fun at the customizable portable speaker station. They were able to choose their color of speaker and customize it with graphics

Additionally, guests could participate in Behind The Screens creating their own silk screen garment based on a variety of designs Sammi created before her celebration

Sammi created her own t-shirt!

For her candle lighting ceremony, Hasson Caterers created her logo'd cake and provided the red candle holders

 Mitzvah Favor & Exit Treats

 Amy Richards from And That created the sweatshirt favors. As guests said good-bye, there were lots of additional surprises and treats.

There was a zip-up version for the girls (left) and one for the boys (right)

A custom-wrapped US Mailbox was by the entrance/exit with a note asking guests to place their gifts here

Hasson Catering provided a bagel and donut bar

Guests were able to grab delicious Mac & Cheese to go!

Mitzvah Project

Sammi’s Mitzvah Project raised money and awareness for texting and driving. Sammi sold the DNT TXT N DRV key chains as part of her project and the “eye” magnets were on each car as guests left her celebration

 Mom to Mom

After helping to plan hundreds of clients’ Bar Bat Mitzvahs, Michelle has this Mom-to-Mom advice:

“Although this is what I do for a living, it’s so important to stay organized and focused. My lists had lists! In the end, when all your family and friends are together, it’s worth all the work and worry.”

 Vendor Directory

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

Service/Temple: Jewish Congregation of Brookville
Caterer/Cake: Hasson Caterers at Temple Or Elohim, Shawn Farber, 516-937-1020
Music Entertainment: MC Carl, Entertainment Tonite, 516-826-6900
Photography/Videographer/Extra Entertainment/Website invite: Simon Elliot Events, 516-586-6822
Back Bar/Light Up Cubes: Party Harty Entertainment, 516-845-8585
Invitations: Darlene Barzilay, 516-681-4602, notesetc1@verizon.net
Decor: Reuven, Metropolitan Events By Reuven, 917-453-0862
Linens: The Finishing Touch, 516-827-7433
Sammi’s Dress: Rachel, It’s Simply For You, 516-921-2863
Michelle’s Dress: Kimberly, Runway Couture, 516-308-4639
Favors: Amy Richards, And That, 516-364-9222
Hair/Make-up: Salon 230 West
Mac and cheese truck: Dom, Mac Truck, 718-702-4734
Mitzvah Exit Treat: Pies in each car from Mrs. Baking/Steve Borg, 718-460-6700