Evan Fleisig celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on May 12, 2012 at The Racquets Club of Short Hills in New Jersey.
Evan’s Mom, Sharon Klesse, is an interior designer, so she did not hire a party planner to help with his tropical theme.
Instead, she served as the party planner and put herself in charge of decorations, and together with her family created an island party to remember, complete with a luau, hammocks, and leis.
All photography was done by John Marelli Photography and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
Pictured above L-R: Step Dad Tim, Bar Mitzvah boy Evan, Mom Sharon, Brother Harrison and big step Brother Timmy
The custom designed letter press invitation was created by Olive Branch Papery and utilized tropical colors: blue, aqua, orange, and yellow.
The invitation had an embossed palm tree next to the text and specified “Island Attire”
The stamps, from Zazzle, featured tropical parrots to go with the island theme, and the stamps Evan used for his thank you cards featured a monkey’s face and the words “thank you”
Evan’s Bar Mitzvah service was at Temple B’Nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, New Jersey.
Brother Harrison, Mom Sharon, and Bar Mitzvah boy Evan wearing a tallis from CBL Fine Art in West Orange, New Jersey
The Racquets Club of Short Hills was transformed for their tropical theme. The club was decorated with palm trees, and the centerpieces were palm fronds and other tropical leaves in vases filled with sea shells. For their cocktail hour, held downstairs in “the pub,” Sharon opted for hammocks with tropical colored throw pillows.
One hammock was placed near the tiki bar during the cocktail hour, and the other was placed near the dance floor
Even the tables were covered in island-inspired table skirts
A large stretched canvas displayed a painting of tropical flowers over the fireplace near the adult seating (and framed photographs depicting other island scenes were displayed on one wall)
Evan’s friends were greeted with LED leis and real coconut cups for their “cocktails,” distributed from the tiki bar Evan’s Mom and step Dad built and decorated.
Coconut cups with festive flowers
Colorful leis
The drinks menu
Evan chose a variety of kids entertainment including skee ball, domed hockey, and ping pong, as well as a magician and a green screen photo station
Pictures of Evan on different island vacations decorated tables and bars throughout the club.
Bijan from Unique Musique provided the musical entertainment for Evan’s tropical bash.
The men dancing the Horah
It looks like Evan enjoyed his party
Evan’s cake came from The Pink Cake Box and perfectly embodied his tropical island theme.
The cake was decorated to look like an island in the ocean, complete with waves and seashells
Wolf Head Athletic created the comfy hoodies that Evan gave his young guests as favors.
“It’s All Good”
The front of the hoodie included Evan’s name and the date of his celebration
Evan was all smiles for the evening, and no wonder. The party was filled with Kodak moments.
Evan and his friends pose around the cake
Evan and his Dad, Steven, share a big hug
Mom Sharon has some advice for all of us:
“I am an interior designer so the decorations were not only important to me, but fun for me to do! I did not use a party planner because being an interior designer and planning a Bar Mitzvah go hand in hand. My advice? Stay organized and create (and follow!) a project schedule. Specify what needs to be accomplished by what date and stick to it! You will avoid last minute headaches this way, and possible panic attacks!”
Mom Sharon, Evan, and Step Dad Tim
For Evan’s Mitzvah Project, he played his sax for the elderly in an assisted living facility nearby. He continues to do this now even though his Bar Mitzvah is over because it makes him happy to bring music and joy to people, some of whom don’t even leave the building any longer.
The following vendors helped to make Evan’s celebration special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: The Racquets Club of Short Hills, 973-379-6080
Party Planner: Mom Sharon Klesse, Sharon Klesse Interiors, sharon@sharoninteriors.com
Music Entertainment: Larry Gold, Unique Musique, 732-431-4082
Favors: David Stern, Wolf Head Athletic, 973-376-1112
Games: The Main Event, 800-839-0918
Invitation: Christine Kosakowski, Olive Branch Papery, 973-722-2848
Cake: Anne Heap, The Pink Cake Box, 973-998-4445
Florist and Draped Fabric: Steve Novich, Jersey Street Furniture, 973-779-7444
Mom’s Dress: Roberto Cavalli gown from Neiman Marcus
Suits: Nordstrom, Express
Hair: Laura Sue Turano, 973-885-8767
Transportation: Pocono Progressive, 973-416-6800
Photography: John Marelli Photography, 862-204-9385
Video: Seth Elgart Professional Video, 973-292-6300
Bulk Candy: A Candy Store
Stamps: Zazzle
Kippot: Yarmulkes.com
Tallis: CBL Fine Art
Candles: CreativeCandles.com
Tropical Theme & Coconut Cups: Luau Express
LED Leis: CoolGlow.com
