The Ultimate Football Bar Mitzvah at MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium is home to two of the most storied football franchises in NFL history, but for Jackson Weinstein, who has attended NY Jets games for as long as he can remember, it’s also a special place to spend family time. Mom Dani tells Mitzvah Market that the stadium is Jax’s “happy place, where we love spending time together.” When it came time to plan Jax’s Bar Mitzvah, everyone agreed that MetLife was also the perfect place to share their joy with friends and family.

After a service at Temple Sholom in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Weinsteins gathered Jax’s friends for a pre-game tailgate, complete with a slider truck, before boarding buses to the stadium in New Jersey. Upon arrival at MetLife, the kids and adults played activities on the field, while there was also an abundant cocktail hour in the Met 50 Lounge. From the astro turf and leather invitations and tailgate party, to the reception in the EY Coaches Club and Bar Mitzvah montage on the jumbotron, this celebration was all about family… and football!

(Above L-R: dad Dan, sister Reese, Bar Mitzvah boy Jackson and mom Dani)

The photographer for this event was Tripp Street Studios. A complete vendor list follows at the end of this story.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Jackson's service at Temple Sholom

The Bar Mitzvah boy was all smiles

Jackson's friends enjoyed a pregame tailgate before being bused to the stadium

Kids filled up on sliders at the tailgate; when they arrived at the stadium they were ready to hit the field

The Seaside Sliders truck was a huge hit and kicked off the party on the right note

All Access Pass to MetLife

Jackson's big entrance onto the field, accompanied by close family friends

Mom and dad make a joyous entrance

The kids (and adults!) had a blast playing on the turf

Jackson made a nice play...

... with his friends, who were divided into teams wearing different color pinnies

Jackson's logo was featured prominently on the jumbotron behind his family

Jackson posed in front of a piece of Jets history

The Bar Mitzvah logo was projected onto screens and NFL team logos were printed on vinyl to cover the floor

Another shot of the custom vinyl floors at the reception

The reception was held in the EY Coaches Club which is set directly in between the two team locker rooms and in view of the 50 yard line

Lounge seating, with custom logo pillows by Pretty in Paper, LLC

A striking shot of the cocktail hour from the place card table

Non-Stop Fun

Jackson enjoyed the hora at his reception

Special guest DJ Kool kept the dance floor rockin'

The family posed with DJ Kool

Sister Reese having fun!

Jackson body surfed over his friends

Jackson in the Coaches Club...

... before the lights were shut off and it was transformed into a "Glow" room filled with candy

This space is normally used to hold player interviews with the media

The jumbotron played the montage video and captured special moments on the field

Special Touches

The custom invitation, made of football textured paper, wrapped around a board with silk screen acrylic and faux astro turf under the acrylic, was made by Pretty in Paper, LLC. The outer envelopes featured a famous football play, Monday Night Miracle, printed on the liner, and two inserts for tailgate and celebration were made of metal. The invitation was mailed in a plastic sleeve to out of town guests and hand delivered to locals

The Bar Mitzvah boy in front of his photo on the giant LED screen outside MetLife Stadium

Jackson and Reese met quarterback Drew Breese of the New Orleans Saints

Inside the locker room, guests were delighted to find...

... custom jerseys and rally towels

Each jersey featured the guest's name and the number "13" making for an amazing keepsake of Jax's big birthday

Referee jerseys were made for close friends who led Jackson through the players tunnel and onto the field for his big entrance

Pretty in Paper, LLC created tons of football swag including rally towels, coolers, pillows, glow in the dark socks, t-shirts and trucker hats wtih logo patches

The Weinstein family, surrounded by family and friends

Mitzvah Project

Jackson is very passionate about dogs. His Mitzvah Project was donating his time to various rescue shelters. He will be donating more time and funds to Big Dog Rescue Project – where the Weinstein family adopted their dog Otis.

Mitzvah Advice

“Try and be as organized as possible going into the last few weeks before the event,” says mom Dani. “It helps to have a party planner that gives you a timeline down to the minute! And start organizing those baby photos NOW – the montage is overwhelming – you want so many pictures but also don’t want a 20 minute video!”

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Jackson’s Bar Mitzvah a night to remember.  If you contact any of them about their services, please let them know you read about their company on MitzvahMarket.com.

Venue: MetLife Stadium, 201-559-1710
Pre-Game Tailgate: Seaside Sliders, 203-857-9918
Event Planner: Jackie Bressler Events, 561-922-5776
Music & Entertainment: ESP Productions, David Milowitz, 631-777-4377
Special Performance: DJ Kool, Walt Reeder Jr, 215-517-7881
Photographer: Tripp Street Studio, Steve Krongard, 914-242-9801  
Videographer: Prime Focus Media, Ben Schwartz, 973-452-5647
Favors/Invitations/Logos/Giveaways: Pretty in Paper, LLC, Stephanie Engler, 561-998-3777
Event Decor/Flowers: Dalsimer Spitz and Peck,  516-569-2100
Dresses: Monique Lhuillier (mom), Jovani (sister), purchased at All Dressed Up, 914-690-1593
Suits: Rothman’s in Scarsdale (dad) and Lubin’s (Jackson), 914-713-0300
Hair & Makeup: Laura Melissa Makeup/Hair By Val