04 Sep Bar Mitzvah Planning Checklist
Bar and bat mitzvah planning can be overwhelming! We know how much goes into it, so we’ve designed a bar mitzvah planning checklist to help you get organized. Additionally, we will explore bar mitzvah entertainment ideas to help you plan your celebration more effectively.
What Should My Bar Mitzvah Planning Checklist Look Like?
When it comes to bar and bat mitzvah planning, there are a few significant things to include on your list before the big event. The most important things to consider are your logistics, vendor bookings, guest management, and preparations for the ceremony and reception.
Logistics
- Set the date: Some synagogues may be booked up to a year or more in advance, so it’s important to pick a date that works well for your family, synagogue, and also aligns with your child’s Hebrew birthday.
- Determine your budget: Bar Mitzvahs can end up costing a lot of money, so setting a realistic budget will help you avoid overspending.
- Choose a venue: If your service and reception are at two different places, you’ll need to determine where to host the celebration. This should be done as early as possible, as places can book far in advance.
- Create a guest list: Make a list of the people you are going to invite.
- Choose a theme/decor: A theme can help coordinate foods, decorations, balloons, flowers, and any other aspect of the celebration.
- Hire a rabbi: One of the first things you need to do to plan a bar mitzvah is to hire your officiant.
- Start tutoring: Depending on your tradition, you should prepare your child to learn to read Hebrew and the Torah cantillation.
- Food and drinks: You should select the types of food and drinks to serve, ensuring you include kid-friendly and dietary options like vegan and gluten-free..
- Start a gift registry: A gift registry helps people decide what to buy as a gift.
Vendor Bookings
- Photography/Videographer: You’ll want to choose professionals to take photos so you can participate in the celebration instead of taking pictures or videos.
- Entertainment: Live music, DJs, magicians, comedians, and other forms of entertainment need to be booked in advance.
- Catering: Food is an essential element in a bar mitzvah celebration, and some venues may offer in-house catering, or you can hire your own, depending on your budget.
Guest Management
- Send out “Save the Dates” and invitations
- Manage RSVPs: After you set your RSVP date, you’ll want to give yourself a reasonable estimate of who will be there, as some may not RSVP but will show up and vice versa, so give yourself some wiggle room.
- Design a seating chart: A seating chart helps your guests find their place easily.
- Accommodations: Reserve a hotel or Airbnb for out-of-town family and guests.
- Transportation: Out-of-town guests may need flights booked.
Ceremony and Reception Preparations
- Synagogue rehearsal: This is a crucial step to help boost your child’s confidence by practicing the ceremony beforehand.
- Purchase attire: You can get the formal dress outfit, which can include a kippah and a tallit. If you have other family members who will be participating in the ceremony, you can coordinate their attire with the child’s.
- Choose party favors: You’ll want to have party favors for guests that match your chosen theme.
- Plan the flow of the ceremony: Decide what order you want to perform the speech, the torah reading, and any other elements that you want to add to the synagogue ceremony.
- Plan the entertainment for reception: Of course, you can have a DJ or live music, but you should also consider additional entertainment options such as a comedian or a caricaturist, or some fun arcade games based around your theme.
Entertainment Ideas for a Bar Mitzvah
A Jewish Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony includes traditional religious rituals and often features fun entertainment during the reception. Let’s look at some of the top entertainment ideas for a Bar Mitzvah.
Emcee
If you want the Bar Mitzvah to run as smoothly as possible with the least of your involvement, then it’s a great choice to hire an Emcee for this religious celebration. An emcee can make sure that the guest of honor has a good time while also ensuring a great time for guests.
Magician
A magician can be a great addition to a Bar Mitzvah celebration. Children can enjoy the suspense and fun of a magic show. Guests who may not want to get out on the dance floor can also appreciate a magician at a Bar Mitzvah.
Comedian
Another fun entertainment idea for a bar mitzvah is to hire a comedian. Since a bar mitzvah celebrates a child’s deeper responsibility in their faith, it makes sense to provide entertainment that both kids and adults can enjoy.
This is why having a Jewish comedian, or a clean comedian, perform at your Bar Mitzvah reception is such a good choice, because it’s family-friendly fun for all ages. Laughter is a great way to ensure that your son or daughter’s celebration is a night to remember for the rest of their lives.
Kids’ Arcade Games or Trivia
One of the best Bar Mitzvah party ideas is to have arcade games or trivia for the kids. There could be a section where kids can play arcade games. You could also hold a family feud-style trivia game.The trivia host can ask questions about the guest of honor to see who knows them the best and provide entertainment for everyone involved in the celebration.
Choose the Comedian Company for Your Bar Mitzvah Entertainment
Bar Mitzvah planning can be overwhelming, but with the proper checklist, it can be a much easier process. If you’re looking for entertainment ideas for a Bar Mitzvah, you should consider working with The Comedian Company. We have Jewish comedians, clean comedians, emcees, magicians, and game show hosts available to help your child’s Bar Mitzvah be one of the greatest nights of their young adult life. Contact The Comedian Company today for your child’s bar mitzvah entertainment.