On Saturday, April 9, 2010 the Robinson Family from Chappaqua, New York held their son’s Zachary’s Bar Mitzvah service at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester.
The reception was held on Sunday at Travelers Rest, a restaurant and catering facility located in Ossining, New York and a place the family loves since they celebrated older brother Joel’s Bar Mitzvah there a few years earlier.
This family had some very creative DIY ideas incorporating Zach’s Harry Potter theme.
Pictured above (L-R): Bar Mitzvah Boy Zach (notice his Gryffindor tie), Dad Greg, Mom Lori, and older brother Joel
All party photography was done by Susan Helblock.
The rest of the Mitzvah vendors are listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
Mom Lori said that Travelers Rest owner Dave Paganelli really got into the Harry Potter mood, adding special touches as you will see below. Travelers Rest also provided special menus with Zach’s photo on them.
Venue: Travelers Rest
Beautiful gardens were enjoyed on this special day
Butter Beer for the young guests to enjoy which was made from cream soda, whipped cream and butterscotch topping
Lightening bolt dip – of course!
Menu with Zach’s picture
The World of Hogwarts came alive in Westchester and was incorporated right from the start. Guests picked up their London to Hogwarts train place cards made by the creative Robinson family.
The Sorting Hat (made by the Robinson Family) at the center of the place card table magically roared, “You are Gryffindor!” and other phrases, thanks to an ipod underneath the brim. So clever!
Place card tickets from London to Hogwarts!
EK Productions, who also provided the music entertainment designed Zach’s crest exactly like Harry’s!
The decor was Harry Potter inspired. Each of the four kids tables represented a different House at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. They were dressed in their individual house colors and each had a different centerpiece (owl, crystal ball, potions or Mandrake Plant). Trans-trade Promotions made a gigantic House banner for each kids’ table. The centerpieces for the adults and teens were beautiful flowers from Forever in Bloom.
The room awaits guests!
Trans-Trade Promotions did all the Hogwarts School House banners that were hung around the room
and the potions that were the kids centerpieces
The Robinsons made chocolate frogs, and tagged each one with a homemade Great Wizards Trading Card featuring photos of each of the young guests. They sprinkled these around the centerpieces on the kids’ tables.
Mandrake Plant
The crystal ball
Mom Lori read a Dad’s review about EK Productions and MC Evan on Mitzvah Market and immediately hired them! She thought they were great and said Evan entertained and wowed this crowd whether he was doing games with the kids or playing great music.
Zach enjoying!
Evan from EK Productions entertaining the kids
MC Evan and his dancers had everyone dancing the whole time
Some guests enjoying video games during the cocktail hour
Trans -Trade Promotions also did the T-shirt favors with Zach’s logo. They looked exactly like the Hogwarts School Crest.
The front
And the back
Mitzvah Mom Lori has this advice for our readers, “Don’t panic during the home stretch. Remember that you are dealing with professionals and that no one is going to let anything fall through the cracks.”
Check out some highlights from Zach’s Bar Mitzvah below.
Click here to watch this video from shootingstarspro.com
The Robinson family posing with Zachary after he lit all his candles.
For his Bar Mitzvah Project Zach volunteered with the 3 and 4 year olds at the Mt. Kisco Day Care Center. The center provides affordable day care to the Westchester Community.
The following Mitzvah vendors made Zachary’s celebration special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue/Caterer: Traveler’s Rest 914-941-7744
Florist: Forever in Bloom 914-241-1963
DJ/MC: Evan of EK Productions 718-982-6000
Photographer: Susan Helblock 914- 282-3042
Videographer: Jessica Star www.shootingstarspro.com 631-514-4026
Favors: Trans-Trade Promotions dkramer64@charter.net 203-449-9512/800-509-0038
Party Entertainment/Invitations: Mitzvah Mom Lori
Cake: Traveler’s Rest
Dress for Mom Lori:Nordstrom’s
Suit for boys: Sym’s
Suit for Dad: Ermenegildo Zegna
Hair: The Studio, NYC
Make-Up: Mom Lori did her own!
