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The Most Unique Bar & Bat Mitzvah Venues in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia
Looking for something different but not sure where to begin? Here’s some inspiration to get you started. We've compiled a list of the most unique (and fun) Bar & Bat Mitzvah venues throughout New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
While a traditional Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration has historically taken place in a synagogue, restaurant or country club, there are so many unique options to consider today. Before you even begin exploring venues, first think about your child’s passions, interests, hobbies or even a possible theme. This will help guide your decisions and may quickly spark several ideas.
Not sure where to begin? Here’s some inspiration to get you started. Below are the most unique (and fun) Bar & Bat Mitzvah venues we’ve come across throughout New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
Search by the most popular categories:
AIRPLANE HANGERS
Princeton Airport
Princeton, NJ
CONCERT VENUES & COMEDY CLUBS
The Mann Center
Philadelphia, PA
Punch Line Philly
Philadelphia, PA
Stone Pony
Asbury Park, NJ
White Eagle Hall
Jersey City, NJ
World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA
DAY CAMPS
Black Bear Day Camp
Millstone, NJ
Frogbridge Day Camp
Millstone, NJ
Jeff Lake Day Camp
Stanhope, NJ
NIGHTCLUBS
Ascent Lounge
New York, NY (The Shops at Columbus Circle)
Birch Hoboken
Hoboken, NJ
Noto Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
SPORTS VENUES
Bowlero
Various locations across USA and Canada
Citi Field
Queens, NY
Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia, PA
High Exposure
Northvale, NJ
Ice Hockey Arenas & Skating Rinks
Various locations across USA and Canada
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Red Bull Arena
Harrison, NJ
Sky Zone
Various locations across USA and Canada
SPIN
NYC & Philadelphia
Topgolf
Various locations worldwide
THEME PARKS
Dave and Busters
Various locations across USA and Canada
Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ
YACHTS & BOATS
World Yacht Events by Steven Tanzman
New York, NY
ZOOS
Central Park Zoo
West Orange, NJ
Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia, PA
Turtle Back Zoo
West Orange, NJ
If you're looking for a more traditional Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration for your child, check out the most popular Mitzvah venues in:
Long Island
Philadelphia
7 Questions To Ask your Mitzvah DJ
The entertainment you select for your child’s upcoming bar or bat mitzvah will be the most important decision you will need to make. Here's 7 questions to ask any mitzvah DJ company you are considering to hire.
The entertainment you select for your child’s upcoming bar or bat mitzvah will be the most important decision you will need to make. It’s vital to ask smart questions while considering any DJ company to hire to ensure that they are the best fit and truly understand your vision.
Here are 7 of the most important questions to ask any mitzvah entertainment company that you are considering:
How many years of experience do you have doing Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations?
What makes your company different from other entertainment companies?
In addition to DJ entertainment, what other services can you provide?
What is your cancellation/postponement policy?
What is your backup plan (equipment and personnel)? Are you fully insured?
Do you have a list of other recommended vendors that you regularly work with?
Are you able to provide references from families who have used your services at a recent mitzvah?
A lot goes into making your child’s mitzvah a huge success. Start proactively preparing for this day with our mitzvah planning toolkit, complete with a realistic budget projector, a customized planning timeline, guidance on how to find the right vendors, venue, and so much more!
Your Perfect Bar/Bat Mitzvah Playlist: Songs for Your Grand Entrance
When planning your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, there are many things to consider, from your budget to your venue. One of the most fun our mitzvah families have when planning is choosing the soundtrack from different moments throughout their event!
When planning your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, there are many things to consider, from your budget to your venue. While these aspects of the planning process may not be the most fun, they are definitely important and vital to the success of your child’s party. One of the most fun our mitzvah families have when planning is choosing the soundtrack from different moments throughout their event!
As noted in our previous blog, “Bar & Bat Mitzvah Traditions”, certain moments have traditionally been practiced at bar and bat mitzvahs. Some to honor Jewish tradition, others to honor family or the guest of honor. All of the traditions, have one thing in common. They all add to the flow and value to the event. The grand entrance, for instance, will help set the tone for the night. It not only introduces you, but also introduces the party portion of the evening.
Venue: Battleground Country Club - Manalapan, New Jersey
Photographer: Photography by Jen Davis - Princeton, New Jersey
Think of the grand entrance as your spotlight. You can make it as simple or as stunning as you and your guest of honor would like! Our professional party planners will help you figure out the details, logistics, and enhancements of your grand entrance, like adding indoor fireworks or using dry ice to create the illusion of walking through clouds.
With that comes the music aspect of your grand entrance. The best songs for your grand entrance will pump up both you and your guests, are special to you, and make you feel confident!
Venue: The Stirling Hotel - Stirling, New Jersey
Photographer: Kristine Foley Photography - South Orange, New Jersey
If you’re unsure of your song choice or need ideas, our experts at Xtreme Event Group will find creative and appropriate options for your party and personal tastes. Below are some upbeat and fitting examples of popular choices:
For the Guest of Honor:
“ME!” – Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie
“Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)” – Andy Grammer
“What Dreams Are Made Of” – Hilary Duff
“Break Free” – Ariana Grande
“Celebrate” – Pitbull
“Don’t Stop the Party” – Pitbull
“Top Of The World” – Imagine Dragons
“This Is What You Came For” – Rihanna
“Adventure of a Lifetime” – Coldplay
“My House“ – Flo Rida
“Love Myself” – Hailee Steinfeld
“The Man” – Aloe Blacc
“Can’t Stop the Feeling” - Justin Timberlake
“I Gotta Feeling” - Black Eyed Peas
“Shut Up And Dance” - Walk The Moon
“Burn The House Down” - AJR
Venue: Desmond Hotel - Malvern, PA
While our expert DJs will have you on the dance floor all night, you’ll want to hand-pick specific songs for certain portions of the night—for example, your montage, your parent-child dance, and your grand entrance songs.
Alternatively, use music to tie into your mitzvah’s event theme! Sports, for instance, is a popular theme for bar mitzvahs. Your child can choose to enter their event to their favorite stadium anthem or even ESPN’s theme music.
Venue: Middletown Ice Rink - Middletown, New Jersey
Photographer: Peter Fotolux - Princeton Junction, New Jersey
This goes far beyond sports. If you have a Star Wars-themed event, for instance, your child can feel like they rule the galaxy by using Darth Vader’s theme song. Broadway theme? Why not enter with a dramatic flair and a catchy show tune?
Your grand entrance is your chance to shine, with all your friends and family cheering you on. Your song choice can simultaneously set the tone for the party and boost your confidence—it will make all the difference.
If you’re looking to plan your child’s virtual or in-person bar or bat mitzvah, Xtreme Event Group will take care of all your event entertainment needs. Schedule a consultation with one of our mitzvah planning experts today.
Bar & Bat Mitzvah Traditions
Here we have listed a timeline of events that typically occur at a bar and bat mitzvah, the meaning they have, and how they add to the flow and value of the event.
A bar/bat mitzvah is an important tradition and a rite of passage for young boys and girls in the Jewish faith. As a mitzvah entertainment company for over the last decade and having mitzvahs ourselves, we understand the meaning of tradition and the significance of the moment, as well as the importance of being current, staying fresh, and putting your own spin on things!
Photo Credit: Peter Fotolux - Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Venue: The Boathouse at Mercer Lake - West Windsor Township, New Jersey
Over the last 20 years, we have honored practices that we feel are not only important in the Jewish faith, but also ones that, while they may not have a religious significance, have become common during the mitzvah celebration. These traditions, religious or not, create a special moment and meaning for our guests of honor and their families during this rite of passage. On top of that, they are a great way to break up different moments of the party and create natural transitions that flow seamlessly. Even though we as a team love when everyone is out on the dancefloor, we realize that not everyone can or may not want to dance the entire night. That is why it is important to have moments that break that up but still make sense to the flow of the party and add to the value of the event. While our job as entertainers is to create an entertaining atmosphere, it is also our job to make sure your child’s mitzvah runs smoothly.
Below we have listed a timeline of events that typically occur at a bar and bat mitzvah, the meaning they have, and how they add to the flow and value of the event. Although they may be common practice, ultimately your child’s event and the way it runs is solely up to you and your family and what you feel should be performed during it. No matter what you decide to do, new or old, our team has got you covered through all of it!
Introductions
As a way to start the night, each family member is introduced and makes their way into the party, followed by the guest of honor. This is a fun way to start the party and put all of the focus on the guest of honor and their family. The introductions allow for each family member to be uniquely introduced and “come out with a bang”! Whether that’s choosing the best bar or bat mitzvah entrance songs or choosing the perfect move, the better your entrance, the better start to the party!
Venue: Desmond Hotel - Malvern, Pennsylvania
Ha-Motzi / Blessing
The Ha-Motzi, a prayer and blessing, honoring God and celebrating the guest of honor over challah bread, is a perfect transition into having everyone sit down for dinner. Not only is the Ha-Motzi one of the more meaningful Jewish traditions practiced during a mitzvah, it also allows for a member of the family to acknowledge the guest of honor and their faith, as well as create a break of events that feels natural and meaningful.
Photo Credit: DR Photography Studio - New Jersey / New York
Venue: Grand Marquis - Old Bridge, New Jersey
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting
With their family, the guest of honor performs the candle lighting ceremony. The first candle lit is typically done in honor of the family members who have passed away. Not only does this tradition honor family that is no longer here, but it shows appreciation to the family that still currently surrounds them. The guest of honor may say a few words or even read out a short poem for each member of the family that helps light a candle. This gives the guest of honor another opportunity to really show their personality and make their family feel special with how they choose to honor them.
Photo Credit: Dom Pierre Photography - New York
Venue: Rushmore Estate - Highland Mills, New York
Hora
The hora, a Jewish traditional dance that is simple, fun and gets everyone involved. With everyone still on the dance floor, it is customary to lift the guest of honor and their family up in their chairs. Not only is this fun and interactive for the family and their guests, it also makes for great photos! On top of that it holds great symbolic meaning. The hora symbolizes being brought closer to a spiritual place as well as always having the support of others.
Photo Credit: Impressions Photo & Video - Marlboro, New Jersey
Venue: Forsgate Country Club - Jamesburg, New Jersey
Toast
After the hora, a toast is made by the guest of honor’s parents. This gives the family an opportunity to thank their guests for coming to their child’s mitzvah and for taking part in the important celebration with them.
Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Davis - Princeton, New Jersey
Venue: McLoone's Pier House - Long Branch, New Jersey
Photo Montage
While this may not be a Jewish tradition, it has definitely become a mitzvah tradition. A bar/bat mitzvah montage is a great way to gather everyone around, take a break from dancing, and focus on photos highlighting your son or daughter’s childhood. This moment allows your child to honor their friends and family that have been a part of their lives, as well as show how much they've grown.
Photo Credit: Peter Fotolux - Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Guest of Honor Dance
Not only is it tradition to have a guest of honor dance with their mother or father, it also allows for a moment away from the party that creates a special memory for the guest of honor’s parents that they are sure to hold on for years to come.
Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Davis - Princeton, New Jersey
Venue: River House at Odette's - New Hope, Pennsylvania
At the end of the night, your child has officially become a man or woman of faith. This is a huge achievement and should be celebrated as such, throughout the party. This means that while it is important to honor your faith and the traditions that are commonly practiced during the event, it is also important to have fun and make the event unique to your son or daughter. This can mean choosing the best bar/bat mitzvah themes that represent your child’s interests or even arranging a surprise for them during the night. Whatever you decide for their event, our team of mitzvah entertainment experts will make sure it runs seamlessly!
A lot goes into making your child’s mitzvah a huge success. Start proactively preparing for this day with our mitzvah planning toolkit, complete with a realistic budget projector, a customized planning timeline, guidance on how to find the right vendors, venues, and so much more!
8 Questions to Ask Bar & Bat Mitzvah Venues Before You Book
Finding the right venue for your child’s mitzvah is crucial to planning a successful and enjoyable event. Be sure to ask your prospective mitzvah venues these eight questions before booking your event.
Finding the right venue to host a mitzvah celebration is crucial to planning a successful and enjoyable event. To select the perfect location, you’ll want to ask smart questions and confirm that the venue will serve as a true partner in planning and executing your child’s special day. Before searching for the perfect venue, it is important to know what you need and want for your event, and the easiest way to do that is through our Mitzvah Planning Toolkit. Here you can not only note what you need, but you can also track the progress you’ve made and the information you’ve found to help you make the best and most informed decision you can!
After you’ve customized the planning toolkit to fit your needs and are ready to start looking, be sure to ask your prospective mitzvah venues these eight questions before booking your event.
Photographer: Photography by Jen Davis - Princeton, New Jersey
Venue: Battleground Country Club - Manalapan, New Jersey
1. What is your maximum capacity?
When you’re planning your mitzvah, one of the first decisions you have to make is how many guests you’re inviting. Once you’ve finalized your guest list, you can start looking into possible venues that are size appropriate. Remember to inquire about any new COVID-19 restrictions each facility may have in place regarding maximum capacity.
Photographer: Omar Gonzalez Photography - Hoboken, Westfield, Montclair, and New York City
Venue: 4Sixty6 Caterers - West Orange, New Jersey
2. What do your typical event packages cost?
Always, always, always remain firm on your budget when you’re looking at your mitzvah venue. Let each venue know the absolute maximum you’re willing to spend and only consider those venues that align with your budget. Be sure to ask venue management if there are any additional costs — such as parking, corkage fees (we’ll cover this more in the next section), WiFi, and audio/visual — that are included in your total bill.
3. Do you provide catering? If so, what kind of food/drinks do you offer?
One thing to keep in mind when you’re looking into mitzvah venues is that many event facilities require guests to use their in-house caterers and service staff, or they may provide a list of preferred caterers to choose from. If the venue provides a catering service, you can request a food tasting so you can sample possible menu items for your event.
Remember to ask if the catering staff needs to know your final headcount ahead of time and if you can make last-minute additions. Be sure to specify if you or your guests have any food allergies and ask if the venue itself has any food restrictions, such as Kosher food, Kosher wine, no nuts, etc. Some venues do require you to use their own bartending service while others will allow you to bring in your own liquor. If the venue does allow you to bring your own liquor, remember to ask if they charge corkage fees.
Photographer: Omar Gonzalez Photography - Hoboken, Westfield, Montclair, and New York City
Venue: 4Sixty6 Caterers - West Orange, New Jersey
4. Am I able to transform the space to fit my vision?
When finding the right venue, you can go one of two ways: find a venue that fits your bar/bat mitzvah theme and your vision, or find a venue that fits your budget, size and location requirements but needs to be transformed to fit your look. If you find the latter, simply ask if they provide a variety of decor options or if you and your nj party planner are allowed to bring your own decor and decorate the space as you please.
Photographer: Scott Roth Events LLC - Wharton, New Jersey
Venue: Galloping Hill Golf Course - Kenilworth, New Jersey
5. What is my allotted time frame?
When you’re looking into bar/bat mitzvah venues, ask about the allotted time frame for your party, both for preparation and for the event itself. For example, if you’re hosting your event on a Saturday, there may be another event happening in the afternoon, so the time you have to set up for your mitzvah might be tight. Also, remember to ask if the venue’s staff helps with the setup before the party and the breakdown and clean-up afterward.
6. Can you accommodate my vendors?
As you start looking into venues, think about what other vendors will be involved in your celebration. For instance, if you’re hiring a mitzvah entertainment team to provide DJ services and other enhancements like live performances, you’ll want to make sure your chosen venue can provide adequate space and audio-visual (AV) connections to suit your vendors’ needs.
Photographer: VeroLuce Photography - Montclair, New Jersey
Venue: 4Sixty6 Caterers - West Orange, New Jersey
7. What kind of parking options do you offer?
When you’re considering venues, ask about available parking for your guests, especially if you have some older relatives and friends attending. Make sure there is adequate parking for all of your guests and ask if there are any overflow parking options. If the venue does offer on-site parking, inquire as to whether or not it’s valet parking so your guests can plan accordingly.
8. Are there nearby photo opportunities?
While many of the photos will be taken during the mitzvah and afterward at the party, many families like to also take more scenic photos in a nearby location to help them remember their son or daughter’s special day. If the venue is in a scenic location or provides good photo opportunities close by, that is one less thing you have to plan, and could make the venue even more appealing when deciding. While this should not be a make-it-or-break-it question, it is definitely a good question to ask, to check all of your boxes off if possible! If there are no nearby options that the venue can suggest, check with your bar/bat mitzvah photographer, as they may have experience nearby and can recommend a few good spots.
Photographer: Peach Photography - Freehold, New Jersey
Venue: Perle - New Brunswick, New Jersey
A lot goes into making your child’s mitzvah a huge success. Start proactively preparing for this day with our mitzvah planning toolkit, complete with a realistic budget projector, a customized planning timeline, guidance on how to find the right vendors, venues, and so much more!
Mitzvah Planning While The Kids Are At Camp
Summer is here and for a lot of families that means signing your kids up for summer camps! But that doesn’t mean that the mitzvah planning should stop, if anything, it gives you more time to plan the things they may not need or want to help with!
Summer is here and for a lot of families that means signing your kids up for summer camps! But that doesn’t mean that the mitzvah planning should stop, if anything, it gives you more time to plan the things they may not need or want to help with! While a bar/bat mitzvah is about your child and we encourage them to be as involved as they’d like during the planning process, we know there are things that they don’t need to be involved with, and now is a great time to get those things done while you can!
Photo Credit: Chad David Kraus Photography
Venue: Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Morristown, NJ
Order Save-the-Dates
Save the dates are a must for your guests. While invitations can be a bit more creative and personalized with the help of your son/daughter and their chosen bar/bat mitzvah themes, the save the dates can be much simpler and may be something you can do without their help!
Photo Credit: StudioGNP
Venue: The Loft at 350 - West Orange, NJ
Choose Montage Photos & Write Toast
A bar/bat mitzvah is more than just a party, it’s a celebration. A celebration of your child’s growth not just personally, but within their community and faith. Choosing montage photos and writing toasts are a great way to take a step back from making plans, and instead, allow yourself a moment to remember what their big day is all about and to reminisce on all that they’ve accomplished thus far, while still getting
Make sure you give yourself enough time for this, as you will be looking through a lot of photos to find the best ones for your montage!
Photo Credit: Jen Davis Photography
Venue: Battleground Country Club - Manalapan, NJ
Book Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vendors
It is important when researching and reaching out to vendors that you have your child be involved in the ones that are most important to them, like DJs and caterers. Get a good sense of the ones they’d like to help pick, that way you can make sure to do it while they're around and save the others for while they’re away.
Venue: Wave Resort - Long Branch, NJ
Shop for Your Outfits / Focus on You
All of the focus while planning your event has been on your son or daughter, but while they’re gone at camp, you have the time to focus on your part in all of it. Don’t forget that even though it is their special day, you can feel special too! Take this time to shop for an outfit you’ll love, pick a walk-out song, or think about a mother-son / father-daughter song for your dance.
Photo Credit: Ris Productions
Venue: Industry Event Space - Huntingdon Valley, PA
Set Up a Surprise
If your child has been very involved in the planning process thus far, they’ll know most of the details of their party, and that’s fine! But wouldn’t you like to suprise them a bit on their special day? The surprise can be big or small, that’s up to you, but just something that is unexpected enough to make their big day even more memorable! Need some ideas? We can help you think of a few!
If you’re looking to plan your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, Xtreme Event Group will take care of all your mitzvah entertainment needs. Schedule a consultation with one of our bar/bat mitzvah planning experts today.
A Few of the Most Popular Bar/Bat Mitzvah Themes
In our almost two decades of providing entertainment for mitzvah families at their event, we’ve seen a wide variety of themes, but a few stick out as what have been the most popular over the years and the most widely used.
Deciding your child’s mitzvah theme is an important part of the planning process. Not only is it a way for them to express themselves and feel that their party is fully customized to their interests, it’s also the first thing your guests will see when they walk through the door and what you can plan the rest of the night around! In our almost two decades of providing entertainment for mitzvah families at their event, we’ve seen a wide variety of bar/bat mitzvah theme ideas, but a few stick out as what have been the most popular over the years and the most widely used.
Here are just a few of the best bar/bat mitzvah themes we’ve seen:
1. Sports
Sports is maybe one of the most popular themes we see, especially for bar mitzvahs. While you may think it could be overplayed, it’s the level of customization you can have with it and the variety of sports and teams, that allows it to be unique for each event! With this theme, we’ve seen everything from team centerpieces to jerseys for the guests and entertainers to dancefloors decorated to look like football fields, hockey arenas used as venues, and much more! This theme can easily influence other aspects of your event, like invitations, party favors, food, props, and decorations throughout the party. It also gives you a great reason to bring in “arcade” type games like air hockey or foosball, which not only goes along with the theme but provides more entertainment for the kids!
2. Color
Everyone has a favorite color and what better way to showcase that than at your mitzvah! This theme may seem simple, and while it can be, it can still be just as fun as the others! Having a simpler theme may mean the more you’re able to do with it. For instance you can easily incorporate it into almost any aspect of the party. Invites, party favors, outfits, logo design, and party decorations.
3. Name/Word Play
This theme really allows you to get creative and personalize the event to the guest of honor. The theme is typically a common phrase but is given a special touch with your child’s first name, last name, or initals. Below are just a few of our favorites and some of the most clever ones we’ve seen!
The best part of planning your child’s mitzvah and choosing a theme is that there are no rules and no limits to what you can do! If they can’t decide on just one theme and want a mixture of a few, go for it! If they decide on just one idea, really focus on it and make it the best it can be.
Just because these three themes are some of the most popular does not mean they are the only ones you can choose from. Ask your child what they’d like and go from there. After all, this day is truly about them, and what better way to celebrate than to include all of their favorite things. If you ever need any help with bar/bat mitzvah theme ideas or on how to begin, we’d be happy to talk it over with you. Our team has a lot of experience that we’d love to share!
If you’re looking to plan your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, Xtreme Event Group will take care of all your event entertainment needs. Schedule a consultation with one of our mitzvah planning experts today.
The Best Buffet Options For Your Child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah
We see every aspect of a mitzvah as an opportunity to express your child’s personality and interests, and we don’t think food should be an exception! When it comes to food, you want to make sure you can offer something everyone will like, but most importantly, something your child will love!
We see every aspect of a mitzvah as an opportunity to express your child’s personality and interests, and we don’t think food should be an exception! When it comes to food, you want to make sure you can offer something everyone will like, but most importantly, something your child will love!
With buffets, you can offer a variety of food that’ll be sure to have something for everyone, while also focusing on some of your child’s favorite foods and getting creative with the different flavors that are offered! Here are just a few of our favorite buffets we’ve had in the past and ones we think you should consider for their future mitzvah!
Appetizer:
Sushi
Charcuterie (Cheese Boards)
Dinner:
Pizza
Sandwiches / Subs
(MORE!) Sushi
Pasta
Dessert:
(Make Your Own) Ice Cream
Donuts
Cookies
Candy
Milk Shakes / Smoothies
If you put as much thought into planning the food options as you do with everything else at your child’s mitzvah, you and your guests will be able to enjoy every aspect of the event, and make that just as memorable as many of the other moments of the night!
If you’re looking to plan your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, Xtreme Event Group will take care of all your event entertainment needs. Schedule a consultation with one of our mitzvah planning experts today.
Photo Credit: Omar Gonzalez Photography / Sean Sime Photography / Joy Yagid Photography / Photography by Jen Davis
The 5 Things You Should Ask Any Vendor or Venue
We believe keeping these five things in mind during the search process, will prioritize your needs, your budget, your child’s interests, and the vision you have for their mitzvah, and make finding the perfect fit easier than before!
When contacted by future mitzvah families, we do our best to make the process easy and make sure to personalize the event to fit their needs and their child’s interests! Below are a few of the things that we are always happy to go over when chatting with our families, and five of the most important topics we believe you should go over when talking to any vendor or venue!
Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Davis
1. Value
As we’ve suggested in the past, we believe it is important to create a budget that you can stick to. To make that easier, it is best to allot a certain amount to each aspect of the planning process and your event needs. While we do suggest creating a strict budget, we realize that’s easier said than done. Sometimes it helps to be flexible especially when you consider the value of what you are getting. When choosing a venue or vendor, you may find options that fit within your set budget but they don’t offer exactly what you’re looking for or match the quality you envisioned. It’s important to look at a variety of venues and vendors to see what they offer and which will give you the best value for what you pay and what you need.
Photo Credit: Peter Fotolux
2. Availability
Nothing is worse than finding the perfect venue and then realizing they’re all booked up! If you know your preferred date, make sure to ask about that before getting into too many details. Most likely if venues or vendors are not available on that date, they will have other options available for you, and at that point, it’s up to you if you’re able to be flexible and switch that date around! Make sure to keep in mind when your family would be available, if you had any trips planned or previous plans made, or if there is anything that would conflict with the other options available.
3. Flexibility
Speaking of flexibility, typically venues and vendors offer multiple packages to accommodate a wide range of needs and preferences. See what packages they offer based on your budget, needs, and your child’s preferences. If they don’t already offer packages that fit this, see if they are able to be flexible to help create the perfect party for you!
Photo Credit: Peter Fotolux
4. Reviews
With company reviews being so easy to find nowadays, there should be no reason you don’t look at them before booking with someone! Whether it’s on Facebook, Google, or their direct website, being able to get a good understanding of how their customers felt before, during, and after working with them, should be easy and so important before saying yes to using them for your son or daughter’s mitzvah! Looking at reviews can put your mind at ease if you had any doubts before or can save you from an unpleasant experience if you notice previous customers have had many in the past.
Photo Credit: Omar Gonzalez Photography
5. Previous Work
Similar to finding reviews, a vendor’s previous work is typically very easy to find and is a great way to see what they’ve done in the past and if it fits the vision you have for your event! Most companies know the importance of this and will showcase their work on their website or social media pages. When looking, be sure to take your time and look through more than just a few examples, as that may not showcase all that they can do! Although these vendors may be able to be flexible and offer you more than what they show, looking at their social media beforehand is a great way to get a general idea of what they’ve done and what they are used to doing. If you cannot find any previous work, make sure to ask them when having your initial meeting and before signing with them.
We believe keeping these five things in mind during the search process, will prioritize your needs, your child’s interests, and the vision you have for their mitzvah, and make finding the perfect fit easier than before!
Mitzvah Games (That Are Actually Fun!) - Cocktail Hour
We believe that cocktail hour is a great opportunity for our team to not only get to know our guests but to also allow them to get to know each other through games. Here are a few of our favorite cocktail games, that we think do this best!
At a bar/bat mitzvah, the party may seem like the best part of the night. And don’t get us wrong, as a mitzvah entertainment company, we love the dancing, dinner, and party games, but cocktail hour is where family and friends come together, get to know each other, and that's truly where the fun begins.
Photo Credit: Jen Davis Photography
Not everyone at a bar/bat mitzvah may know each other and that’s okay! That is what we’re there for! We believe that cocktail hour is a great opportunity for our team to not only get to know our guests but to also allow them to get to know each other through games. Below are a few of our favorite cocktail games, that we think do this best!
1. Poster Drop
You may be able to guess what you have to do in this game, just from the name itself! In poster drop, a member of our team holds a rolled-up poster in both hands and as they drop it, the kids try to catch the poster before it touches the ground. It may sound easy but it’s harder than it looks and is a great way to get the kids laughing, active, and ready for what’s in store for the rest of the night! This is a favorite of ours to start the night with, because it allows our team to go from group to group, engaging with our guests one at a time, getting to know each of them a bit better.
Photo Credit: Jen Davis Photography
2. Human Knot
Once a popular Tik Tok, this game involves teamwork, communication, and is guaranteed to create laughter and a few silly moments along the way. The rules are simple, a rope is tied and interlocked to you and your partner’s hands, untangle yourselves without removing your hands from the rope. We believe this game is best when played with someone that the kids may not know so that they can bond through working together and carry that with them through the rest of the night!
3. Levitation
This one may sound a little silly, but trust us, it’s one of our favorites for that reason! Everyone playing sits in a chair, turns to their side, and leans back onto the person next to them. As they are doing this, our team goes around and starts removing chairs until there are none left and the kids are all “levitating”. It’s a fun one to play but it may be even more fun to watch, as eventually one of the kids falls after their chair is removed, creating a domino effect that has everyone falling over and begging to try again!
4. Trivia
This interactive trivia game is a great way to get everyone involved and let the kids use their phones one last time before the party starts, getting it out of their system! With so many kids, trivia is still easy to manage through Kahoot, a site that allows us to ask questions about the guest of honor, have all the kids answer at once, and display the correct answer on the big screen for everyone to see. Trivia is a fun way to find out “who knows the guest of honor best”, allowing the kids to compete and get back to the focus of the night - the guest of honor!
Photo Credit: John Carlos Borja Productions
At Xtreme Event Group, we believe having a fun and engaging cocktail hour where everyone can get involved is so important if you want to start the night off right! And as we’ve shown here, a great way to do that is through playing bar/bat mitzvah games.
If you’d like to learn more about the games, bar mitzvah activities, and other entertainment that we can offer at your child’s event, schedule a call with one of our experts today!