A Modern Theme Bat Mitzvah Celebration

The Steinberg family celebrated their daughter Andie’s Bat Mitzvah on December 15, 2012, at Life…the place to be, in Ardsley, New York.

This was a modern celebration with many fun elements.

Pictured L-R: Dad Michael, Bat Mitzvah girl Andie, Sister Molly, Brother Cooper and Mom Lainee

 Max Aureli Photography was the photographer and the rest of the vendors are listed below.

Bat Mitzvah Service & Style

 Andie’s Bat Mitzvah service was performed within the event space, Life…the place to be. 

The modern invitation, which was a mirror with fuchsia and white lettering, was created by Jessica Riesel with supplies from Jam Paper NYC

Bat Mitzvah girl Andie looked beautiful in her crystal fuchsia gown from All Dressed Up

Bat Mitzvah girl, Andie, holding the Torah

Extended family surround Andie by holding the Chuppah

The whole family was involved, even Andie's little brother Cooper!

Sister, Molly, holding little brother Cooper during the service. When Andie’s dress was being altered, there were swatches of beaded fabric left over for a pocket square for Cooper's suit jacket

The Havdallah candle lighting included 13 candles and 13 kids. Above Andie is pictured with her cousins and siblings

These colorful kippot were from Mayaworks.org, a nonprofit organization that promotes the economic development of Mayan women in Guatemala

 Mitzvah Details

Abigail Kirsch Catering provided the food and Angela Giannopoulos of Studio3, an event design firm, created a contemporary lounge setting that both adults and kids enjoyed.  “Dream Big with Andie” was the theme. Once the logo was designed by Samantha Karofsky the collaboration between décor, entertainment, catering and venue began! All the moving parts contributed to “an uncommon and rare experience of the senses,” according to Mom Lainee.

Taking advantage of the big screens they created moving gobos, to create a dreamy effect. Clouds were projected on the walls with Andie's logo

Bat Mitzvah girl, Andie, wearing her shirt favor

Dream Big with Andie was the logo for this celebration

There were silver and purple pens for guests to leave their special messages for Andie

Music & Entertainment

Max Event Design worked it all night!  The family decided on a non-traditional candle lighting ceremony.

Bat Mitzvah girl Andie made a spectacular entrance with the help of the Max Event Design dancers!

Confetti fell from the ceiling to mark her arrival

The Steinberg's having a great time!

Lots of dancing!

Talented performance artists wowed the crowd

There was live music as well

A picture perfect night!

Bubbles came down from the ceiling

Dad, Michael, making a toast

The family decided on a non-traditional candle lighting ceremony. They chose to have large glow sticks distributed to each guest. Crystal vases were set center stage and immediate family came to drop their glow sticks in the vases

Then the entire guest list was invited to drop their glow sticks into the vases. "Ultimately, everyone surrounding our family lit up our world in some aspect throughout our lives," said Mom Lainee

Mitzvah Video

For Andie’s montage, the Steinbergs found photos of just about every single person on the guest list! Additionally, there was footage of Andie growing up, a quick interview with her siblings, her school principal, and pop culture infusion of video clips of her favorite movies, TV and  shows! They also found old home videos from 1999, and with the help of Jodie Cohen, (they found her on Mitzvah Market), at Movie & Montage Magic, they transferred old school tapes into readable CDs.

Watch the montage, created by Tanta Marla’s Studio here

Mitzvah Favors & Exit Treats

The favors and giveaways were designed by Samantha Karofsky.

There were yoga pants for the girls and Dri-Fit t-shirts for the boys, plus water bottles, zip sweatshirts and tube socks

Custom tube socks

They were a big hit!

Cubbies held the favors that featured the logo, "Dream Big with Andie"

Waffle Cabin from Stratton Mountain in Vermont, was on hand along with a roaming ice cream cart and a candy table for guests to enjoy at the end of the night

After Andie's celebration, she and her camp friends went back to her house in style!

Mitzvah Project

For her Mitzvah Project, Andie was drawn to the concept of conducting and presenting an oral history film. She chose a 99-year-old woman to interview, set-up her DVD laptop and video camera, and asked her questions. The interviewee was a remarkable orator, very funny and had incredible recollection of her past. Andie then edited the footage to the woman’s favorite music, images, and presented it to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Now this woman, who recently passed away, has a story that will live forever.

 Mom to Mom

Advice from Mom Lainee:

“Create a list or format on the computer that works for you, try and keep all your information on a spreadsheet. Include your contacts, pricing, deposits paid out, invitations and thank you cards sent and gifts received. Items to bring on the day of include a timeline and envelopes labeled with tips for vendors. Some vendors we actually tipped just as the party “began”… so they’d hopefully feel motivated & appreciated early on to put their best foot forward. At some point during the process, stop second guessing yourself and trust your instincts, your convictions and enjoy the ride. The celebration is a 3-5 hour event give or take, but the time you begin planning up until the time you send out thank you notes, is a long journey, one that should be enjoyed and appreciated from start to finish. Try and have one wingman/point person that spends 5 minutes helping you and your kids enjoy everything at the event. Look at the sign-in board, photo booth, that little detail you put in the far right corner, anything creative, because time goes by so quickly and although you get a great overview of the entire feeling of love and family and friends, the true priority of this occasion, some of the details you pained over initially, you might not get to appreciate on the actual day of your event.”

Vendor Directory

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

Venue: Steven and Sharon Zukerman, Life…the place to be, 914-591-4400
Décor: Angela Giannopoulous, Studio 3, 212-367-7950
Photographer: Max Aureli Photography, 203 517 4252
Videographer: Eric Model, Reel Moments, 845-623-1000
DJ and Lounge Decor: Max Event Design, 914-533-7245
Extra Entertainment: Electric violinist, percussionist, aerialists, Max Entertainment
Catering: Ed Steinberg, Abigail Kirsch Catering, 914-631-3030
Logo Design/Favors: Samantha Karofsky, 914-419-9166
Invitation Design/Cocktail napkins: Jessica Riesel, jessriesel@gmail.com
Invitation Mirror and Specialty Envelopes: Jam Paper & Envelope, 212-473-6666
Sign-In Board: Stephanie Geezees, Geezees.com, 610-438-0162
Desserts: Peter, Waffle Cabin, 802-775-0058
Montage Creator: Marla Schneider, Tantamarlastudio, 914-215-2102
Video Transfer: Jodie Cohen, Movie & Montage Magic, 516-383-0634
Friday night catering: Silvia Toth Fincsi Catering, 203-569-5859
Sunday Brunch catering: Christa Tomasulo, En Vious Events, 914-804-4785
Hotel for Out of Town Guests: Renaissance Westchester Hotel, 914-694-5400
Stamps: Zazzle.com
Yarmulkes: Mayaworks, 312-243-8050
Dresses for Bat Mitzvah girl Andie and sister Molly: All Dressed Up, 914-690-1593
Mom Lainee: Neiman Marcus
Suits for family members: Brother Cooper, Lester’s; Dad Michael, Bloomingdales
Hair: Denise Goldstein, 914-584-0622 
Makeup: Kim Root, 914-588-7854
Transportation: Hummer Limo, M. Gucci Limos, 914-948-9099