How to Plan the Perfect Bar Mitzvah

Hi everyone!  To start off the week, I wanted to share with you a bar mitzvah I recently photographed at Attic Studios.  Ben turned the ripe old age of 13, and his family threw him a great party.  Far from the edge of boring, this bar mitzvah had all the key ingredients of a fantastic event: good food, lots of dance music, and plenty of space for guests to mingle. So let’s get all the details as I give you my list of tips for how to plan the perfect bar mitzvah.

Ben’s Attic Studios Bar Mitzvah

Let’s start with the food.  Passed hors d’oeuvres started the evening, followed by a paella dinner for the adults and a build-your-own taco station for the kids (and any adults who wandered by).  The paella was served to the adults family style, who were seated at banquet tables at the back of the space, while the kids were allowed to do their own thing throughout the rest of the venue.

Dessert was the grand finale of the evening with a make-your-own ice cream sundae station, as well as a candy and dessert bar.  Needless to say, once the dessert bar opened, the kids descended on it like locusts, and complete mayhem ensued.

With lots of sugar as fuel, the dance floor was never empty.  In addition to getting crazy on the dance floor, the planned evening activities included a balloon artist, face painters (who transformed the kids into zombies, à la ‘The Walking Dead’), and a photo booth with lots of fun frame options.  The ‘guest book,’ so to speak, was a giant ‘sign-in’ poster of NYC.

And can we ever forget cake at a birthday celebration?  There must be cake.

How to Host the Perfect Bar Mitzvah

A few key lessons from this event: the family photos were taken at the beginning of the evening on the roof of Attic Studios.  The view of the city was fantastic, but best of all, the photos were done and out of the way before the party began.  So all ‘obligatory’ portraits were finished, and guests and the guest of honor alike could enjoy the party without having to be pulled away for photos.

Second, there were separate considerations made for the adults in attendance.  The kids were left to do their own thing and enjoy the party on their own terms.  For the adults there was a more sophisticated menu, open bar, and lots of lounge space for them to visit away from the kids.  So everyone is happy.  And that’s the secret to a perfect event.  Enjoy the pics!

Vendors

• Venue – Attic Studios
• Caterer – Tip of the Tongue [2020 edit: closed]
• Floral design – Terracotta Home
• DJ – Rob Sicat, aka DJ Rob

Would you like to see images from other bar mitzvahs I have photographed?  Check out photos from Bryan’s bar mitzvah at the Picnic House in Prospect Park here.

Are you planning a bar mitzvah for your family?  Drop me a line and let’s talk about your photography needs.

If you would like to see more images from my portfolio, then please visit my website — KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com.