The Laff family celebrated daughter Haylie’s Bat Mitzvah on June 15, 2013, at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County in Richboro, Pennsylvania. There was an evening reception at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, Pennsylvania.
Haylie has been playing tennis at the Doylestown Tennis Club outside of Philadelphia, since she was five years old and there was no question that the theme of her celebration would be tennis.
Pictured L-R: Dad Josh, younger Brother Jared, Mom Amy and Bat Mitzvah girl Haylie.
HyPaul Studio Photography was the photographer. All the vendor information is at the end of the spotlight.
Haylie’s service took place at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County in Richboro, Pennsylvania.
Haylie on the Bimah for her formal portraits
A pocket-fold invitation, created by Paper Rock Scissors, set the theme of the celebration.
Paper Rock Scissors also designed the custom monogram logo
Clever wording for the RSVP included tennis phrases
Haylie and her family looked great. Haylie’s dress for her service was purchased from Party Girls. For the reception, her one shoulder platinum dress with crystal embellishments was from Rena Elle Couture.
(L-R) Ready for her service and ready for her party
Mom Amy’s black gown was from Berta Sawyer. Dad Josh and Brother Jared purchased suits from Schweon’s Clothing & Formal Wear for Boys & Men
Since the reception attire was black tie, Schweon’s suggested they replace the buttons on Jared’s suit with satin buttons, after the morning services. They rented a tuxedo shirt, vest and bow tie to complete the tuxedo look rather than renting or purchasing a tuxedo for the evening.
Party Planner Valerie Felgoise of Let’s Party with Valerie, aced the decor. Working with lime green and black as the color palette, Valerie welcomed Mom Amy’s participation in the decor. Amy made a lampshade which was covered with pictures of Haylie.
Guests enjoyed pictures of Haylie on the place card table
Tall cylinder vases with large tennis balls look modern and sophisticated
Silhouettes of Haylie playing tennis adorned some of the tables
Paper Rock Scissors created a custom “thank you” from the family to their guests that sat at each place setting instead of a menu
Floral arrangement in the shape of a tennis ball
A beautiful ice sculpture with Haylie’s name engraved
An “H” for Haylie dotted with mini tennis balls added to the bar decor
A wonderful way to honor family, these pictures included four sets of great grandparents and Haylie’s brother Matthew.
Pictures surrounding a framed poem were displayed on a piano as guests entered the cocktail hour
Haylie’s mom created the sign-in board as well as the gift box with Haylie’s custom logo.
Haylie is all smiles as she makes her way into her reception.
Entering the ballroom
Smiles and high fives for everyone
No foot fault here, a great idea to put the socks in a tennis hopper.
A Sharp Production with MC Jay Berkovitz was the amazing MC for the night!
Dancers dressed in their best tennis attire including Haylie!
Haylie had a great time with her friends
Haylie enjoying a dance with her dad.
Lochel’s Bakery aced the cake and cupcakes used for the candle lighting.
We love these cupcakes and cake
Haylie and Jared lighting the candles together
A family friend helped to coordinate the sweatshirt favors.
Each sweatshirt came in a duffle bag with Haylie’s logo
Awesome logo using their last name, “Laff”
To help celebrate Father’s Day the following day, the Laffs had the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer and coffee for their guests to take as they left. In addition, there was a surprise dessert waiting for them outside. Jimmies Cupcake Truck was parked ready to handout cupcakes named after famous tennis players (including Haylie!). Guests were welcome to grab a cupcake (or two) to enjoy on their way home.
Haylie and Jared helping to hand out cupcakes
Custom labels by Paper Rock Scissors were used on water bottles for guests to grab on their way home
Spring Mill Manor set up a “to go” coffee station at the end of the evening with Styrofoam cups with Haylie’s name, tennis racquets and tennis ball in lime green
After watching a movie entitled “Praying With Lior,” Haylie realized that not everyone is capable of going to religious school, participating in services, and ultimately becoming a B’nai Mitzvah. She wanted to help bring Jewish experiences into the lives of children with intellectual and physical disabilities. After doing some research, she found a group called The Friendship Circle in Newtown, Pennsylvania. This program aims to provide Jewish children and teenagers with special needs and their families with many of the social and recreational opportunities that are currently available to the general community. Haylie also volunteers in a program at Ohev Shalom called Celebrations! a program for individuals with varied intellectual disabilities. She just experienced the first year of the program!
Some advice from Mom Amy:
“I am a person who likes to plan ahead. It was helpful to me to keep a running list of ‘big things’ and ‘little things’ to do. I kept a binder with all my communication, estimates and receipts for each vendor. I found it helpful to cross off as many things off of my list ahead of time that I was capable of. For example, I ordered my Kippot and bought the socks for the girls ahead of time. The biggest piece of advice is to accept the fact that things will go wrong. During the process I thought that I may lose my mind….at the end of the day it all works out.”
The following vendors helped to make Haylie’s celebration special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com
Temple: Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, 215-322-9595
Venue: Spring Mill Manor, 215-675-6000
Party Planner: Valerie Felgoise, Let’s Party with Valerie, 610-213-5675
Photographer/Videography: HyPaul Studio, 215-364-4144
Music Entertainment:A Sharp Production/MC Jay Berkovitz, 215-938-7738
Invitation/Place cards: Paper, Rock, Scissors, 610-825-2130
Custom logo/labels for water bottle: Paper, Rock, Scissors
Candle lighting cake/cupcakes: Lochel’s Bakery, 215-773-9779
Logo’d Styrofoam Cups: Yours Truly By Kate, 215-340-1148
Haylie’s service dress: Party Girls, 215-579-9899
Haylie’s party dress: Rena Elle Couture, 856-482-5551
Mom’s service dress: Saks Fifth Avenue
Mom’s gown: Berta Sawyer, 215-572-8826
Dad Josh and brother Jared tuxedo’s: Schweon’s Clothing & Formal Wear for Boys & Men, 215-357-0600
Cupcake Truck: Jimmie’s Cupcake Truck, 215-699-9090
Hair/make-up: Elite Concepts Salon, 215-364-7112
Transportation: All Threes Luxury Sedan & Taxicab Service, 215-333-3333
