The Berger family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrated daughter Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah on September 8, 2012. The service and reception were held at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This family knows how to pick great venues. We did a Mitzvah Inspire story on Brother Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah held at the National Constitution Center, also in Philadelphia.
Sydney is a “techy” girl so her “iBerger” theme was perfect for an evening of fun.
Pictured L-R: Dad Eric, Bat Mitzvah girl Sydney, Mom Lynda and brother Jacob
Ann Marie Casey Photography was the photographer and the rest of the vendors are listed at the bottom of this spotlight.
Sydney’s iBerger theme started with the Save the Date sent out 6 months before her Bat Mitzvah. In the shape of an iPhone, it requested guests to go online to a Website which had all the information about her Bat Mitzvah and Mitzvah Project. The invitation was a laptop computer with removable discs.
Sydney’s Website included info about her Bat Mitzvah Project, movies that she made with friends, venue directions and out of town information
Sydney’s invitation was modeled after a laptop computer! The discs served as the RSVP and direction cards
Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah service was held in the Grand Lobby of the Please Touch Museum.
60 foot ceilings with a beautiful and majestic dome
Sydney reading from the Torah
Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah dress and service dress were custom designs by Boston dressmaker, Sondra Celli.
After the service, guests made their way to the Carousel House for the adult cocktail hour and the East Gallery for the kids’ cocktail hour. The East Gallery houses some of the coolest exhibits such as the Alice in Wonderland exhibit where Sydney and her friends had a blast hanging with the Mad Hatter and exploring the many different exhibits.
Sydney and her brother in the Wonderland exhibit filled with optical illusions
At the Carousel House guests could take a ride on the indoor carousel
Sydney’s guests enjoying the super-sized musical keyboards
The iBerger theme was easy to achieve as this creative family owns Color Reflections, a graphics and digital printing company. All the great details were produced in-house.
Guests matched their iPhone seating cards with the corresponding texting acronym centerpiece on each table
Sydney’s sign-in was a beautiful photo book.
Photographer Ann Marie Casey created the sign-in book for Sydney’s guests.The book included pictures of Sydney’s pre-shoot taken at The Please Touch Museum weeks before
Mom Lynda collaborated with Judith Campbell of Campbell Studios on the theme and decor.
The beautiful ballroom all lit up
A texting dictionary on each table
Photofetti of Sydney adorned each table
Centerpiece names were texting lingo
The kids were seated at long tables with names like LOL and BFF
Sydney’s humorous entrance video was created by Cinema Cake. The video cleverly incorporates Sydney’s iBerger theme with the whole family getting in on the action.
Check it out here
Dance Adelphia provided the music with Jason Douglas as the MC.
Sydney with her friends
The girls taking over the microphone
Sydney’s friends wrote messages to her on the iPhone chair.
Bredenbeck’s Bakery created this beautiful cake.
The cake was decorated with all of the popular texting icons
Mirrored candle lighting display
The favors were purple sweatshirts with Sydney’s iBerger logo on it.
Sydney sneaks in the picture with her friends wearing their iBerger sweatshirts
Guests were treated to Rita’s Italian ice and custards.
Guests receiving their Rita’s
Custom water bottles with a personalized “thank you”
Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah project was with Operation Ava and the Bryn Mawr Veterinary. She loves animals and thought it would be a great idea helping those who did not have a home. Operation Ava saves animals from shelters nationwide. They receive the care and medical treatment they need prior to adoption. At the Bryn Mawr Veterinary Sydney spent time with the cats, teaching them to socialize, making it easier to get adopted.
A sign at Sydney’s service explaining her two wonderful Mitzvah projects
Mom Lynda had some advice to share:
“I tried to keep it about Sydney and what she’s into. She loves the technology thing. That’s why I tied everything in together with the Website, computer invitations, Save the dates and place cards and Entrance video with the Magic Dance Application. Even the Centerpieces were about texting. It was a very cool and very different theme. It was made for the kids not the adults .. I think that’s how it should be.”
The following vendors helped to make Sydney’s celebration special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Please Touch Museum, 215-581-3181
Party Planner: Mom Lynda Berger, Color-Reflections, 215-627-4686
Catering: Brulee Catering, 215-923-6000
Décor/florist: Campbell Studios, 610-517-4483
Photographer: Ann Marie Casey Photography, 610-519-1980
Music Entertainment/MC: Danceadelphia, Jason Douglas, 215-467-9551
Invitation/Save the date/Website: Clayton Slook, CHS Designs, 215-272-3613
Favors: Color-Reflections
Graphic Design: Color-Reflections
Cake: Bredenbeck’s Bakery, 215-247-7374
Sign-In book: Ann Marie Casey Photography
Cardboard Cut Outs: Color Reflections
Entrance Reveal: Cinema Cake, 610-989-0158
Mitzvah Exit: Rita’s Ices
Sydney’s Custom Service and Bat Mitzvah dress: Sondra Celli
