EXPERT ADVICE
Best practices, tips and unique ideas for the BEST. PARTY. EVER.
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.
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!
The Importance of An Event Entertainment Team
Learn about the importance of having an event entertainment team for your mitzvah, directly from our team!
Planning a mitzvah can truly take a village. As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, there a lot of things to consider - from something as small as your logo to larger aspects like picking a venue. What you and your guests will truly remember about your event, though, is how it all came together and made you feel.
Here at Xtreme Event Group, we’ve built a team of dedicated and talented entertainment professionals, all of whom know how to do their part to bring you a remarkable experience. When you think of event entertainment, you likely think about a DJ - and while DJs are certainly important to the event experience, there are several other roles that make our team what it is. At any given event, an entertainment team could be comprised of:
Emcees
DJs
Motivators
Technicians
Photo Credits: Memory Creations Photography
Rather than tell you what each person does, we want you to hear directly from our some of our Xtreme team members about how each person brings their A-game to contribute to the BEST. PARTY. EVER.
Adam, Emcee:
“As the MC we set the tone for our events by having great energy and personality. We lead the way to everyone having an awesome time celebrating together.”
Lauren, Motivator:
“Helping to create the best party ever really starts with the team I’m working with. We are so lucky here at Xtreme Event Group; truly everyone I get to work with is an amazing energy to be around. As a Party Motivator, my job is to make sure everyone in the room is involved and having a great time, and I think part of the reason we are able to do that so successfully is because we are actually having fun! Through the years I have made some amazing friendships and I think the clients can feel the loving and open energy we have with each other - and that helps them let their hair down and party with us.”
Alyssa spoke of the importance of connecting with the guests of honor.
Alyssa, Motivator:
“My role as a Party Motivator creates the best party ever by leaving a lasting impression on the kids and personally making sure every single child has a good time. I love connecting with the kids and making amazing memories that will stick with them forever!”
There are also aspects of event preparation that begin way before the event. For instance, Gregory stressed that to perform his best for clients, he makes sure to take care of himself.
Gregory, DJ:
“My role in creating the best party ever includes a few steps - the right communication with the team, being prepared with the duties that suit my role, eating properly/getting the right sleep days before the event and lastly understanding why I took the role will determine the ‘best party ever!’”
Zach talked further about how the role of a DJ can impact a mitzvah.
Zach, DJ:
“Being able to balance song selection for many age demographics is important if every guest is going to walk out of the party impressed. To quote Celeda and Danny Tenaglia, ‘Music is the answer/ To your problems/ Keep on moving/ Then you can solve them.’ So without music, there isn’t a best party ever!”
From behind the scenes, Maggie shared how crucial her role is regarding team communication and executing a client’s vision.
Maggie, Client Care Manager:
“Although I am not at the events, I’m behind the scenes working closely with our clients to determine everything they want to do for their big day and painting the picture to meet their expectations. I’d say my role helps to create the best party ever because I work closely with each client to understand their expectations and gather all needed items to execute them perfectly. The information I gather is passed to the entire team so they have a clear picture of what has to happen.”
Finally, Nicole summed up the purpose of an event team, short and sweet:
Nicole, Motivator:
“We have unity in diversity. We are all different, but we come together for the same goal - make it the best party ever!”
You might not remember what, exactly, was said throughout the night, but you will remember the exhilaration of dancing to your favorite song with the people you’re most fond of by your side. After all, that’s what makes the BEST. PARTY. EVER.
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.
Your Perfect Bar Mitzvah Playlist: Ultimate Throwback songs
A curated list of perfect throwback songs that guests of all ages at your mitzvah will enjoy!
Since bar and bat mitzvahs typically hosts guests of all ages, a good DJ knows how to cater to their audience, whether guests are comprised of thirteen-year-olds, seventy-year-olds, or anyone in between.
While the guest of honor will likely have a large say in what music is played, we also want to make sure everyone from the youngest to the oldest has something that caters to them.
Photo credits: Bart Gorin Photography
That being said, here is our list of the BEST throwback music for your event - music that will make guests of all ages get out of their seats and sing out loud. Ironically, many of these hits have become popular again on TikTok.
1. Don't Stop Believin’ - Journey (1981)
2. Anything by ABBA, especially Dancing Queen (1976) and Mamma Mia (1975)
3. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen (1975)
4. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond (1969)
5. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC (1980)
6. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5 (1969)
7. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)
And we couldn’t forget classic songs by our favorite New Jersey natives:
8. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston (1987)
9. Livin’ On A Prayer - Bon Jovi (1986)
10. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen (1975)
These songs are guaranteed to please everyone at your mitzvah, no matter how old!
Photo Credit: Captured Event
Our experts at Xtreme Event Group can discuss your ideas and provide suggestions while going through your event details, making sure that each aspect of your event - including your playlist - is a perfect fit for you and your child.
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.
Your Perfect Bar Mitzvah Playlist: Songs for Your Honor Dance
A curated list of perfect songs for your bar or bat mitzvah’s honor dance.
A mitzvah celebration is full of ceremonies and traditions. These traditions can include a candle lighting ceremony, hora, and even an honor dance.
The honor dance - also commonly referred to as a parent-child dance - is a special moment that demonstrates the connection and bond between the guest of honor and their parent.
Much like at a wedding, the bar mitzvah child will traditionally dance with his mother while the bat mitzvah child will traditionally dance with her father. If a parent isn’t present, the guest of honor might choose to dance with a sibling, grandparent, step-parent, aunt, uncle, or any other family member that is important to them.
Photo credits: Peter Fotolux
For those families that choose to partake in this custom, it’s important to find a song that the guest of honor and their family member can comfortably dance to and signifies their relationship.
Honor dance songs are typically clean, happy songs that describe familial or parental love. While these types of songs seem difficult to find, we’ve compiled a list of popular songs that could be fitting for your and your child’s dance, including old favorites and new hits:
1. Photograph - Ed Sheeran
“You won’t ever be alone, wait for me to come home.”
2. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
“I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more, than I’ll ever know.”
3. Never Grow Up - Taylor Swift
”I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let no one break your heart.”
4. Daughters - John Mayer
“Fathers be good to your daughters, daughters will love like you do.”
5. Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
”Isn’t she lovely, isn’t she wonderful?”
6. My Girl - The Temptations
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl.”
7. God Only Knows - John Legend
“God only knows what I’d be without you.”
8. My Wish - Rascal Flatts
“My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to.”
9. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynrd
“Mama told me when I was young, come sit beside me my only son.”
10. Father and Daughter - Paul Simon
“I’m gonna watch you shine, gonna watch you grow.”
Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Davis
When choosing a song, it’s most important to pick something that you and your child enjoy, even if it might not be seen as “traditional” or “typical.” If your event’s theme, for example, is Broadway, then you could tailor your song even more and choose a song from a musical, like “No Matter What” from the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast.
While many song choices, such as the ones listed above, are sentimental, you can choose any song that has meaning to you. If the guest of honor is a dancer, you could even consider choreographing a dance routine to perform for your guests.
Our experts at Xtreme Event Group can discuss your ideas and provide suggestions while going through your event details, making sure that each aspect of your event - including your honor dance - is a perfect fit for you and your child.
Choreographing your own moves can make for a fun and unique twist on an honor dance.
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 Importance of Your Mitzvah’s Logo
Who knew something so small could mean so much?
What’s the first thing that you think of when you hear “Target”? I’d bet a red and white bullseye popped into your mind. What about “McDonalds”? I’m sure you pictured those famous golden arches.
These are examples of logos so well-known that they don’t even need the company’s name featured within the design. Logos can be a symbol of longevity and professionalism for a company. But did you know they can play an important part in your child’s mitzvah as well?
Photo credits: Photography by Jen Davis
The creation of a logo is one of the more creative and less business-oriented aspects of planning a mitzvah. It’s a chance for artistic expression, but it’s also significant for cohesion and theming. Here are three reasons why you should consider creating a logo for your mitzvah:
1. It unifies each aspect of your event.
While your logo doesn’t have to relate to your theme, a logo is a great way to display your theme even further and reinforce it. Those little images signify that each thing at your mitzvah is yours and yours alone. Like a company, once you have a logo, it becomes your brand. It can be incorporated on invitations, decor, and even within the lighting.
In this example, Logan’s logo was based on his love of baseball and the Yankees. His logo translated well on to our screens and his giveaways, such as the theme-appropriate baseball cap. Photo credits: Omar Gonzalez.
2. It sets you apart.
Chances are, you and your child are attending a bunch of mitzvahs right now. Guests will walk home with party favors, but in a blur of events, will they really remember which party each of the favors are from? Incorporating your logo with your favors, or anything else that you might give away to guests, prevents this from happening. Each time they see your logo, they’ll remember your amazing party!
3. It represents you.
Like theme of the mitzvah, your child’s logo can represent their interests, your hobbies, or passions…it really represents whatever makes you YOU. It can be as simple or as complex as you like, and inspiration can include sports teams, movies, or musicians. Your logo should be one-of-a-kind - because you are too.
Now, how to make your logo? It comes down to only a few options here: you can tap into your creative side and do it yourself - maybe your child will want to design their own logo! - or you can enlist a designer to work with you to create one. If you have the skills and a vision that you know you can bring to life, then go for it!
If you have any doubts or find that you have enough on your plate with party-planning, then it might be worth the time, money, and effort to work with a designer. Here at Xtreme Event Group, we also offer in-house professional logo design.
While a logo likely won’t make or break your event, it will add something a little extra professional and a little extra special to your child’s big day.
Photo credit: Fotolux NJ
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.
Five Things to Remember the Day of Your Event
With our suggestions of what to bring the day of your event, you’ll be prepared for anything!
This is it. You’ve done the planning, made your montage, and even put together the perfect candle lighting ceremony. There’s really nothing left to do except enjoy the day. If you’re familiar with Murphy’s Law, you know that translates to “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” If you’re familiar with life, you know that Murphy’s Law likes to kick in at the absolute worst of times.
There is good news, though. You can make sure that your child’s mitzvah isn’t one of these unfortunate instances with a few of our event day tips!
We took the time to make a list of the most important things you’ll want to have with you the day of your event to avoid any catastrophes so that you don’t have to worry about it!
The best part? They’ll all fit in that cute handbag that matches your shoes!
Photo Credits: Omar Gonzalez Photography
Without further ado, here are our suggestions for your event go-bag:
1. A MINI SEWING KIT
The last thing you need at your event is a wardrobe malfunction. Sometimes, though, they happen. With a mini sewing kit equipped with tiny scissors, a needle, and thread the same color as your outfit (or your child’s or your spouse’s), you can avoid an all-out fashion emergency. Instead, the moment can just become a funny story when you’re recounting your best party ever.
2. DEODORANT WIPES OR SPRAY
If the twenty-first century has perfected anything, it’s how to sell hygiene products. At your local Target, you’ll find wall-to-wall toiletries and about a dozen different types of deodorant. Deodorant wipes in particular are handy, as they usually come in tiny packages, making them perfect for travel. Another alternative is deodorant spray, which makes for a quick refresher in a pinch. Several retailers sell them with different fragrances, so you can pack your favorite! We know you’ll be on the dance floor all night, so you might as well be prepared for it.
Photo credit: Avant-Garde Visual Productions
3. COMFORTABLE SHOES
Okay, so maybe this one won’t fit inside your cute handbag after all. However, packing a comfortable pair of shoes or even just socks will be a game changer after a long night of dancing. You’ll thank yourself when you get to the car at the end of the night. And, hey, if you wind up changing into those comfy flats during the event, we won’t tell.
4. A SNACK
Mitzvahs are big days - and busy days! If you’re traveling from your service at your temple to your venue for the celebration portion of the evening (and taking tons of pictures), you’re going to get a little snacky during the day. Keeping some granola bars or trail mix in the car will help keep the hunger at bay for you and your family until it’s time to devour your delicious meal later on.
And finally….
5. TISSUES
Yes, mitzvahs are busy days, but they’re also very emotional days - your child has accomplished something great, and that deserves to be celebrated. A mitzvah also signifies that your child is growing up. No one would blame you for shedding some tears while they read their candle lighting dedications or while watching a montage of them grow up.
There you have it - that concludes our list of things you’ll want to remember the day of your mitzvah. Little hiccups have a tendency to demoralize us on big days, but with these little tips and tricks, you’ll be a little more prepared for what life throws at you, and you’ll be fully able to enjoy your child’s best party ever.
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 Most Popular Bar & Bat Mitzvah Event Planners in New Jersey
Need help planning the perfect Mitzvah? Here are the top-recommended New Jersey Mitzvah event planners.
Planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah can be overwhelming. Hiring an event planner who specializes in Mitzvahs can help you keep your plans on track and alleviate some of the stress of crafting the perfect celebration for your child.
Here's a comprehensive list of the best New Jersey Mitzvah event planners and why you should consider hiring a professional event planner for your event.
Why Hire a Mitzvah Event Planner?
If you’ve ever planned a big celebratory event, you know it can be stressful. To alleviate that stress, you should hire a Mitzvah event planner for your child’s celebration rather than trying to do it yourself.
The biggest reason to hire an event planner is that they will save you time and energy. You won't have to spend hours of your day contacting vendors and figuring out a budget, in addition to working and supporting your family. Planners have expertise that cuts down on the time and stress that comes with the planning process and keeps you updated every step of the way.
The other reason is that hiring a planner can actually save you money. While hiring a planner is an additional cost, planners are well-connected in the events industry and know how to get their clients the best prices possible on venues, caterers, and other vendors. Those savings can add up, making the investment in a planner worth the expense.
The Most Popular NJ Mitzvah Event Planners
AH Solutions
Owned and operated by media veteran Amy Hochberg, AH Solutions is a multi-service firm that helps clients find solutions to all of life’s events, projects, and relocations. AH Solutions prides itself on researching, planning, and coordinating top-notch events by working with great vendors before and during the event. Whether you’re planning years in advance or a few weeks away, AH can help you pull off the perfect mitzvah celebration.
Bella Events & Decor
Nicole Banki has over 13 years of innovative, resourceful, and professional experience in the event planning industry. With great talent in interfacing clients, vendors, and her team, you can be assured your child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah will be pulled together flawlessly. Nicole's impeccable integrity and exemplary work performance rooted in superior customer service will ensure your vision will be transformed into a reality.
Beth Fink Events
With over a decade of experience planning hundreds of successful events Beth Fink Events will assist you in conceptualizing, planning, creating and executing an exquisite and memorable event experience. Beth and her team will reduce the stress of making venue and vendor selections, menu planning, décor, and entertainment by focusing on not only the big decisions at the beginning of the planning stage, but all of the tiny details that will personalize your event every step of the way. Beth Fink Events will be onsite the day-of your event to ensure that you are able to be a guest at your own affair.
Chandelier Events
Founder Amy Shey Jacobs works hand-in-hand with clients to conceptualize and customize a living experience. With an artistic eye, attention to detail, and knowledge of the most stylish and groundbreaking trends, Amy arrives at event planning with an equally grounded understanding of logistical production, timing, and budgeting. She works closely with her clients and a carefully curated team of trusted professionals to create a unique one-of-a-kind event that guests won't soon forget.
Events by Joni
Events By Joni is a full-service event planning and catering firm that can help you with multiple aspects of the Mitzvah planning process. This company specializes in personalized planning for any size event, from small, intimate gatherings to huge celebrations.
Events Custom Taylored
Taylor Keenan of Events Custom Taylored brings more than 15 years of event planning experience to her work. Past clients have described her as “a seasoned pro who knows how to manage vendors and keep every aspect of an event on track.” Taylor believes in a personalized, boutique approach to planning every event and works hard to make each celebration as unique and special as her clients are.
The Finer Details
The Finer Details is a full-service event planning business founded by Cheryl Reiner and Beth Lessick. With over a decade of event planning experience all over the tri-state area, Cheryl and Beth's expertise is assisting clients with a variety of special occasions, including Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. They are seasoned professionals who will plan and execute your event seamlessly from start to finish.
Full On Events
Full On Events bring a cutting-edge approach to planning events. Owned by Stacey Rothschild Nisenson, this company prides itself on sophisticated, innovative, and reliable event production for any special occasion. Full On Events’ Instagram profile (@full.on.events) showcases the company’s spectacular work on a wide range of themed mitzvah celebrations.
Lauren Perry Events
Lauren Pasternack, founder of Lauren Perry Events, LLC, brings over 16 years of event planning experience and understands the need for high quality service and customized multi-faceted events. Lauren provides start-to-finish service from event ideation to actualization, and partners with a distinctive array of vendors to produce unforgettable events.
Lisa Ivler Events
Lisa Ivler Events is an exciting and innovative styling and events company, offering inspired designs and a fresh perspective for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Born from Lisa’s desire to create original, captivating and unforgettable experiences with a touch of theatrics, Lisa Ivler Events offers a unique and refreshing approach for styling, production, and management. Lisa’s genuine passion combined with her impeccable eye and breadth of knowledge, produces occasions unrivaled in style, personality and experiential value. Her unique strength is coordinating and maintaining strong relationships with a stable of dedicated suppliers to achieve stunning results for her clients.
Michael Marielli Events
Schooled in the arts and raised on attention to detail, Michael pours his creative imagination into each event he designs, producing flawless and innovative experiences that leave lasting memories. Calling on his experience in art and entertainment, Michael brings unique life to each event, enabling his clients to showcase their personal taste and style. With contagious enthusiasm, Michael expertly guides his clients through the event design process, provides attentive planning and support during event preparation, and produces the day’s event from beginning to end.
Rubel Event Management
Directed by Amy Rubel, with over 25 years of experience, Rubel Event Management, LLC is a full-service event management and consulting company that will help you create your dream event. From concept to budget to day-of logistics, they handle and oversee all aspects and details of your special event, working with the most exceptional vendors in the marketplace, so you can relax and celebrate.
Smiling Through Chaos
As the creator of Smiling Through Chaos, LLC, Amanda Hudes dedicates her time to helping women and families smile more and stress less. When working with Amanda, you can rely on seamless and organized event planning, honed through a decade of experience in event planning. And with Amanda's fashion background as a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, you can also rely on perfectly designed events.
If you need more Mitzvah planning expertise, book a consultation with Xtreme Event Group. Whether you hire a professional Mitzvah planner or not, we will work with you and all your vendors to help you create an unforgettable event.
The Best Music to Use for Your Mitzvah Photo Montage
If you’re planning a mitzvah photo montage for your child’s celebration, here are our planning tips and top-recommended music choices.
Many families planning a mitzvah celebration want to incorporate a photo montage into the evening’s event timeline. A montage 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.
The music you choose for your child’s mitzvah montage is just as important as the photos you include in it. While a soundtrack for your montage is optional, it can showcase another aspect of your child’s personality and set the mood and ambiance for viewing the montage. However, it can be difficult to narrow down just one or two special songs to play during this special part of the celebration.
Image credit: Tada Images / Adobe Stock
To help, here are our best tips for planning your photo montage, along with our recommendations for the best mitzvah montage songs to use.
How to plan your mitzvah montage
If you’re hiring an entertainment team for your child’s mitzvah, they will be able to help you create, edit, and play the photo montage during the event. Here are some of the elements you’ll need to consider when preparing your montage materials:
Photo selection. We recommend selecting a total of 100 horizontally-oriented, high-resolution pictures for your montage. This number of photos typically produces a montage that is approximately seven minutes long and is accompanied by two songs. Include as many pictures of your family and friends as possible — everyone loves seeing themselves represented on screen!
Photo order. The photos you choose for the montage can be displayed either chronologically or random. A random order can be a fun surprise on the day of the mitzvah, but choosing a specific order allows you to tell a special story about your child’s life. To organize the pictures chronologically, you’ll want to change the file name of each picture to reflect the corresponding order (i.e. 001.jpg through 100.jpg) before you share them with your entertainment team.
Montage theme. Some families select a visual theme for their mitzvah montage, which can make it a little more interesting and engaging to watch than a series of photos scrolling by. Some popular montage themes we help our clients create include traditional ones like Infinite Collage, Light Panes, and Keepsake, or specific ones like Life’s A Beach, A Wonderland of Snow, and Bon Voyage.
Music. Montage songs can be slow and sentimental, or upbeat and lively, depending on the photos you choose. Whichever songs you select, make sure your child likes and approves of them!
Our top-recommended mitzvah montage songs
Slow Music
When showcasing moments of growing up or reflection, here are some of our favorite songs to play.
1. Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift
2. Beautiful Boy by John Lennon
3. Better Place by Rachel Platten
4. A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman
5. 100 Years by Five for Fighting
6. Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
7. Have It All by Jason Mraz
8. My Wish by Rascal Flatts
9. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
Upbeat Music
Not every moment of the montage is going to be sentimental. Here are our picks for fun and upbeat music to show the more playful side of your family and friends.
1. On Top Of The World by Imagine Dragons
2. I Lived by One Republic
3. Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah) by Andy Grammer
4. Best Day Of My Life by American Authors
5. Wake Me Up by Avicii
6. Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake
7. Firework by Katy Perry
8. Roar by Katy Perry
9. Story Of My Life by One Direction
Creating a photo montage? Get help from the mitzvah planning experts.
Music tastes are constantly changing, and you want to play music that is unique and special to your child. If you need help picking songs or putting together your photo montage, contact the experts at Xtreme Event Group for a consultation call.
How Much Does the Average New Jersey Bar or Bat Mitzvah Cost?
Here’s what the average bar or bat mitzvah celebration will cost a family in New Jersey.
Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is an important milestone for any Jewish family. Having a big celebration with all your child's loved ones is customary, but how much does the average New Jersey bar or bat mitzvah cost?
Image credit: Fotolux
Much like weddings, mitzvah celebrations can range from simple to lavish, and many families want to go all out to commemorate this important occasion. According to The Knot, New Jersey weddings are among the most expensive in the nation (roughly $62,000 on average in the North and Central regions of the state, and about $40,000 in South Jersey), and New Jersey mitzvahs often follow suit.
If you're planning to have a traditional in-person mitzvah celebration in the Garden State, here's a breakdown of vendor costs, as well as some tips for staying on budget.
Average New Jersey mitzvah vendor costs
Much of what goes into the price of a mitzvah depends on where you live, how many attendees there will be, and the type of venue you choose. For instance, if you live close to a major city like New York or Philadelphia and host your event at a formal venue, your celebration may be more costly than one hosted at a private residence in the suburbs. The time of day and venue can greatly impact the cost as well. Typically, mitzvahs held during the afternoon are less costly than those held in the evening.
Assuming a total budget of around $40,000 for your New Jersey mitzvah, here are some of the most common types of mitzvah vendors and their average costs:
Venue and catering: Venue costs are typically the largest part of a mitzvah budget, especially if catering services are included. Catering and venue costs can account for 40% or more of your total budget, and your costs will increase as you add more people to your guest list.
Entertainment: Entertainment can make or break any party, so this is one area you don’t want to skimp on. Basic bat or bar mitzvah DJ services can account for 15 to 25% of your mitzvah costs, but if you want an unforgettable event with entertainment enhancements like multimedia screens, custom logos, uplighting, live performances, photo booths, and more, be prepared to allot more of your budget to entertainment.
Photography/videography: Every great event needs to be remembered, and what better way to do that than hiring an experienced professional? Mitzvah photographers and videographer pricing can range depending on the length of time you hire them for (e.g. just for the ceremony or for the entire day’s events) and the number of photographers/videographers working your event, but you can expect to spend about 10 to 15% of your budget for a package that includes both photo and video.
Flowers/decorations: Depending on the size of your venue and your child’s chosen theme, the cost for custom floral arrangements and/or decor can add up. While the typical cost for mitzvah decorations may account for 5 to 10% of your budget, you may be able to save some money here by DIYing your decorations (plus, it’s a great way to get your child involved in planning their mitzvah!).
Mitzvah party planner: If your budget allows, hiring a bar or bat mitzvah planner can be a great way to alleviate the stress of planning and coordinating all the details of your child’s day. Depending on the services offered, a party planner can range from 2 to 6% of your budget.
Other mitzvah costs
Additional costs like invitations, attire for your child and immediate family, guest favors, custom party swag, gifts for the guest of honor, cash tips for vendors, and more should also be accounted for in your budget.
Costs can vary greatly here, especially if you compare prices and shop online, so do your research and prioritize what’s most important to you and your family. Here is an average cost breakdown for some of these items:
Party invitations: Depending on the number of guests you’re inviting, formal printed invitations with inserts, RSVP cards, and postage will likely account for 2 to 3% of your budget.
Mitzvah attire: Aside from attire for the guest of honor, the immediate family will need formal outfits for the event, which may end up being 5% or more of your total costs.
Guest favors and customized party swag: The price point for favors and custom giveaway items like apparel or tote bags will depend on how many guests you’re having, the types of items you’re ordering, and the level of customization. Basic favors with a small printed tag may cost around $5 per favor, while screen-printed tees, tank tops, or hoodies can run $15 to $25+ per item (but keep in mind many printers offer a bulk discount for larger orders). Plan to dedicate 1 to 3% of your budget to this area.
Save on mitzvah costs by throwing a virtual or hybrid mitzvah
A bar or bat mitzvah budget can quickly increase, and with the current pandemic, families may be hesitant to spend money on a large, traditional in-person event.
By hosting a virtual or hybrid mitzvah, you can save on costs like catering and event venue fees while still being able to throw an event for all your child’s family and friends. These events are just as memorable and exciting as an in-person event, at a fraction of the cost. And without having to spend as much on physical items, you can devote more to making it your child’s perfect day.
Hosting the perfect mitzvah celebration should be joyous and stress-free. Our team at Xtreme Event Group can create a personalized and special Zoom mitzvah for your child and their guests. Contact us today to schedule a consultation call.