Bar Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah planning

A bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah is a major event in a young Jewish person’s life, and has become an occasion for elaborate celebration.

The most important bar mitzvah planning is done by the child being honored and the tutor helping him or her prepare. The accompanying party planning, however, will take more extensive work and should be planned well in advance. Here are some tips and guidelines for planning a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah:

• Decide on the kind of party you will have. A crucial step in the process is establishing your budget. From there, decide if you will have a formal dinner party, a gathering mainly for the child’s friends, two gatherings (one for the child’s group and one for the adults and family) or a simple family gathering.
• Ask friends and family for advice on caterers, entertainment and entertainers. You may decide to use a professional party planner if your bat mitzvah celebration is a large one.
• Select a theme. For example, a color scheme could be fun when you are planning your bar mitzvah decorations. This is a time to get your child involved with input on his or her likes and dislikes.
• Book any professionals early on. If you’re planning to hire florists, caterers, decorators or photographers, it’s wise to book services a year in advance. Vendors may require a non-refundable deposit, so be sure to get good references.
• Do a good deed. Consider incorporating a community service project or tzedakah into the celebration. This can be an event outside the youth party, but could certainly involve the extended family.
• Order or make the bar mitzvah invitations. If you will have out-of-town guests, be sure to include direction cards. If the invitations are being printed, it’s a good idea to order reply cards and thank you cards at the same time.
• Choose a party favor. It’s traditional to hand out a small gift to the young guests at the celebration. The favor usually follows the theme or color scheme you and your child have chosen.
• Book accommodations. If you have out-of-town guests coming in, help make arrangements for their stay. Many hotels offer discounted rates for group bookings and it will be helpful to the guests to be staying in the same location.
• Decide if you will have a Shabbat dinner with family on Friday evening – many families enjoy this quiet celebration before the more boisterous activities on Saturday evening.

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