Planning for a Bar Mitzvah

Much preparation goes into planning a successful event for your special young man. Etching a lifelong smile into the heart of your youngster's Bar Mitzvah is not difficult to do if you take time to take care of the details to planning a memorable occasion.

• A first step is to work backwards from the Bar Mitzvah date. How long will you need to contact caterers, event location, and person(s) you would like to handle the ceremony? Discuss this date with your son to ensure there are no conflicts with his schedule or schedule of those he wishes to have at his Bar Mitzvah.
• Should you decide to hold the Bar Mitzvah occasion in your home, discuss with your son how many people he and you would like to invite. Look at your room space and ensure you can easily accommodate those numbers. You may consider rearranging furniture to make more room for easy passageway to food tables.
• Starting preparations early will help you enjoy the event planning side of your son's party. Leave stress behind when you make a list of vendors and suppliers you will need to contact for information and booking of their services.
• Make a notebook specifically for this occasion. Checklists are great to have to ensure details are taken care of. Check off the items as they are accomplished. Make another column with dates for follow-up phone calls to ensure food, party favors, and supplies have been ordered and are on schedule. Give yourself an additional week prior to the expected due date for the cake, and party items in the event there was a slip up and that mistake can easily be repaired without causing a major panic for the event.
• The candle lighting is typically an important ceremony for a Bar Mitzvah. 14 candles are typically the number of candles that are lit for the ceremony, however, this is your son's special occasion and creative candle lighting with more candles have been known to be done.
• Themes for Bar Mitzvahs have become a fun change for some events. Anything from sports, movie, or country themes can provide freshness and innovation to your child's party.
• Keeping the focus on your guest of honor is the importance of accomplishing a successful Bar Mitzvah. Helping your son understands the importance of such a milestone in his life and providing a fun party will help him remember his day for the rest of his life.
• Talk to others who have planned great Bar Mitzvahs. Learn from their successes and their little slip-ups. Find out vendors and suppliers that worked well for their children's events.

Celebrate the occasion with your child. It is a wonderful phase in your child's life. Enjoy the Bar Mitzvah with him and know you have done your utmost best to plan for this unforgettable event.