Atlantis Banquets & Events will help you create a celebration worthy of this important milestone
This entry into the Jewish community takes years of study, with many boys and girls spending third to seventh grade attending religious school. Several months before the big event, even more hours are required as a Torah portion and other prayers are learned.
When the big day comes, the bar mitzvah (or bat mitzvah, for girls) celebrant leads the service and transitions from a child into adult. Traditionally, a party follows this rite of passage. Atlantis Banquets + Events created this checklist to help guide you through bar or bat mitzvah preparations.
Set a Date and a Budget
A bar or bat mitzvah usually occurs on Saturday’s during the Sabbath, on or following the child’s 12th or 13th birthday. Your synagogue may assign the date, or allow you to choose one depending on availability.
Create a Guest List and Order Invitations
As you think about whom to invite to your party, start envisioning the type of affair you want. Do you prefer something intimate? If so, then just include close friends and family. Do you want a big, blowout party? That will allow you to include classmates, neighbors, congregation members and work colleagues.
Be sure to order your invitations early — and don’t forget to order a few extra invitations for souvenirs.
Pick an Event Space
Once you know the size of your party, it’s time to pick a venue. Bar/ bat mitzvah parties usually occur after the religious service. Atlantis Banquets & Events provides all types of spaces for your celebration. For example, if you want an elegant setting with a view of the Peconic River, consider the Sea Star Ballroom. If you’re looking for something more unique, the Long Island Aquarium will entertain your guests with its marine life.
“At Atlantis Banquets & Events, we specialize in magical settings,” said Craig Alexander, catering sales manager. “Our spaces are unique and beautiful, plus we offer Kosher meals for all palates — including pizza and slider stations for the kids and entrée selections of filet mignon, veal scallopini and roasted duck for the adults.”
Choose Your Theme
Many bar or bat mitzvahs like setting the tone of their celebration through a theme, such as Broadway, sports, masquerade or fashion. Find an interest that is important in your child’s life and incorporate it through the entire party experience. For example, music lovers could give out blow-up guitars and horns while everyone is on the dance floor.
For animal lovers, the Long Island Aquarium offers a perfect venue. The Shark Room, with its waterfall backdrop and giant shark hanging from that ceiling, creates the perfect atmosphere for the ultimate “Under the Sea” party. The Shark Tunnel Room even offers a view of the real thing with its Lost City of Atlantis exhibit. Guests can also fish watch in the Coliseum Room, with its colorful tanks filled with bright-colored aquatic life and coral. You can also capture the best selfies ever with Long Island Aquarium’s unique experiences. What is more memorable than posing with an African penguin or sea lion?
Hire Your Vendors
The right entertainment can make or break your party. What kind of party vibe do you want? A DJ with party motivators can get guests on the dance floor. Does the bar/bat mitzvah celebrant like a certain musical style — maybe you should consider hiring their favorite rock band to perform instead?
Think about what other experiences might add to the fun, such as a caricaturist, a temporary tattoo artist or even a photo booth. Remember to also include other vendors, such as a photographer or videographer.
Bar/bat mitzvah parties sometimes include traditional ceremonies, such as a family grand entrance; prayers over the wine, candles and challah bread; and a special dance called the Hora, in which the bar/bat mitzvah celebrant sits in a chair that is lifted overhead. Atlantis Banquets & Events includes many of these in their bar/bat mitzvah package.
Select the Menu
The best bar/bat mitzvah party appeals to the palates of adults and children. Atlantis Banquets & Events acknowledges this by offering both kid cuisine (like pizza and taco stations and a hot dog cart) along with an adult catering menus that allow guests a choice of five entrees, including a vegetarian selection. The cocktail hour features traditional specialties such as smoked salmon with capers, red onion and chopped egg; corned beef or pastrami; and braised brisket. Dessert includes a sundae bar and a Torah cake.
Coordinate All Appointments and Last-Minute Details
Once all of the ceremony and party plans are made, you’ll want to book appointments for things such as clothing fittings and hair, nail and cosmetic sessions. If you have guests from out of town, consider blocking off rooms at a local hotel for them.
Plan to drop off items such as table cards, gift bags and additional decorations to the catering hall prior to the event. Then get ready to say mazel tov and enjoy the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Find out more about celebrations at Atlantis Banquets & Events.
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