If you plan to throw a bar/bat mitzvah, a gender-neutral b-mitzvah, or a group b’nai mitzvah, you’ll want to mark this most important milestone in your child’s Jewish identity with a memorable celebration.
Of course your child will rightly be the center of attention, but you’ll also want to provide food and entertainment for all those who have come to help them commemorate their ascension into adulthood.
Start with a theme
There are literally hundreds of ideas that can keep everyone entertained for hours. But when you throw your bar/bat mitzvah, it will be more cohesive if you begin with a theme to tie them all together.
So focus on what makes your child special. What are their interests? Their passions?
Is she a budding rocket scientist? Does he love the theater or the arts? Are they a bookworm or a history buff, or are they more into technology or app creation?
Bring it together
Once you’ve selected your theme, try to tie it to all the elements of your party: decor, entertainment, food, music, party favors, etc.
For example, if your child dreams of living the beach life on a tropical isle, that’s easy: The food will center on fresh vegetables, seafood, and tropical fruits. The music will feature lots of steel drums or Hawaiian melodies. The decor will go heavy on tiki torches, bamboo, and lush palms, and so on.
Something for everyone
Because you’ll most likely have friends and family of all ages attending, you’ll need to take all their different needs into consideration.
If you’re serving trendy or exotic foods, for example, you’ll probably want to offer something for the kiddies, like chicken fingers or pizza rolls. You may also want to provide vegetarian or vegan selections, and specialty non-alcoholic drinks.
Following the traditional hora, there’ll no doubt be other types of dancing, so be sure the music encompasses a range that will appeal to the adults as well as the younger set.
Finally, keep the kids entertained with party games, a caricaturist, or circus acts. Photo booths are on trend these days, as are glam bars, and a karaoke machine will get everyone up and singing.
And if you’re looking for a unique Miami venue for your b’nai mitzvah that guests will be talking about for years to come, check out the Historic Alfred I. duPont building in downtown Miami. There’s no other place like it, with its distinctive, luxurious 1920s Art Deco interior.