10+ Helpful Tips To Plan A Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party To Be Remembered Plus A Checklist Too! If you are getting ready to plan your son or daughter's Mitzvah Party, there are a lot of things to know - especially how to make it one that reflects your child's personality using a consistent theme.

1. Q: Please help! I want to create a unique and fun experience for my kid’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah party
for later this year ... Would you share a complete checklist I can use to plan the party?
First things first. Make a budget that includes: invitations, clothing, party venue, food, music for the party, photog-
raphy/video for party, plus decorating and Bar/Bat Mitzvah party favors. Second, make a timeline and work backwards.
Book your venue, music, photography and decorator as far out as possible (goal: 12 months in advance).
Order personalized invitations about six months in advance. There are so many ways to show your child’s personality-
find invitations that match your theme and their unique personality.
EXTRA TIP: Don’t wait till the last minute to gather all your addresses - are they all current?
Send invites out about 8 weeks in advance. Check out your local printer, they might offer mail-merge and envelope
printing to make your envelopes really stand out.
EXTRA TIP: Make sure to add a number to the back lower corner of each invitation you send in case someone returns
it without filling in their name. This is especially important for the kids invites. Many times they send in the RSVP’s
themselves and don’t think to add their name!
Block rooms at your favorite local hotel for your out of town guests to help make them feel even more welcome and
aid in a smoother visit to plan and help them potentially get a better rate during their stay. Everyone flying in to a
nearby airport? Some airlines also offer discounts for large parties.
Prepare a welcome bag with snacks and water for your guests. Add a map, and some local flavor to help your guests
get to know the fun and neat things to do while they are visiting your town.
EXTRA TIP: Take it up a notch and help to make it even more special with a picture that is meaningful to your kid on the
water bottle!
Clothing- kids can grow like crazy during the year prior to their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah so you may want to wait to
alter any clothes you selected until you get closer to the event date.
EXTRA TIP: Working with an experienced planner ensures a consistent theme, an ‘in’ to their expertise and know-how to
get the most bang for your buck, and often access to better pricing from vendors so you can get it when you need it.
Party Venue: Location, location, location! Make sure the venue’s decor and food style matches your theme and taste
and is convenient for your guests to find.
EXTRA TIP: When booking find out exactly what is included- from cocktail hour all the way through dessert, and every
detail in between -- prior to discussing add on’s . This includes discussing how the bar works. Think of your crowd when
determining exactly what you need.
Food: Be sure to have a tasting with the caterer prior to the event, even if you have dined at this venue previously.
Getting all the details ironed out prior to the day avoids unnecessesary stress for you, your family, and your guests.
Music- This is a party to celebrate your child’s becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, with celebration being the key. Be sure
to gear the music so that everyone in attendance will enjoy. Don’t forget to customize the play-list as much as possible
to show your party’s theme and kid’s personality.
Photography- Decide on a style- what is important to you? Portraits? Candid shots? Find out if you will have both
temple (prior or day of or both if allowed during the ceremony) and party pictures included in the package. There are
typically many options from albums to separate photos, so spend time determining your desired options in advance so
there are no surprises on cost at the end! Find out if you want additional items after a contract is signed (e.g. on the
day of if you decide you want an extra hour), what the additional costs would be. See if they offer video as an option or
if you have to hire a separate videographer.
Decorating- can be anything from simple balloons or flowers or creations that reflect a specific theme. When deciding
on a decorator discuss your ideas and budget and get a quote about what is included for the money you are spending.
Adding personalization to the balloons or centerpieces will certainly help you take details like these to the next level by
tying them into the party theme.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party Favors- typically we like to know if you have a specific theme for your event because continu-
ing the thread of your theme in the gift is the sign of a savvy party planner (that’s you!)! Try to pick a favor that not
only works with in your budget and theme but that will be useful for a long time to come. There are many unique
ways to commemorate this very special occasion, choosing a favor that not only carries the thread of the theme, but
also is a representation of how individual your son or daughter are, and how proud they make you is a great way to tie
it all together and help your guests rememeber this milestone and make it a Bar/Bat Mitzvah that is all the buzz!
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