I agree with your practical approach to setting a theme-less party. Everybody has the obligation to live up to their personal code rather than trying to keep up with what others imagine to be correct! We applaud you!

I agree with your practical approach to setting a theme-less party. Everybody has the obligation to live up to their personal code rather than trying to keep up with what others imagine to be correct! We applaud you! Judy

Couldn't agree with you more. My son's Bar Mitzva's theme 17 years ago was His Bar Mitzva! The service that he studied very hard to lead was the focus. A little lunch after. I got such grief from everyone for how simple it was. Then after, I got such compliments on how simple it was!

Hey, I have a great idea...how about ditching the whole BM party all together and instead donating the money that you would have spent to a worthy cause? Aren't we forgetting what the real purpose of becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?

Themeless B,nai Mitzvah
You may have started a trend back to sanity MAZOL TOV !!!!!GOOD FOR YOU I am from Ct. and will pass the word there are thinking Jews alive and well

Bravo! When my daughter was a bat mitzvah we studied together with a rabbi. We picked her torah portion based on a strong woman in jewish history. She and I studied her importance and influence in the Jewish religion and then on the day of her bat mitvah, my daughter spoke to the congregation in hebrew and proceeded to explain in English. The evening party was with close family and friends.
We must bring the importance of these rituals back....not worry about "what the theme is."

For my son's Bar Mitzvah, we found stock invitations with lions on them and had plastic cups printed with lion heads and a beanie baby lion on each table with a few balloon decorations. His hebrew name is Aryeh (Lion). We got away with the whole thing for under $1000. My daughter's Bat Mitzvah was even less. Her invitations had tulips on them (her favorite) and we got away with it including reception for under $500!

I TOTALLY AGREE with you.
Not only in this economy, but in being frugal period. Charity needs to be taught to kids today.

Perhaps Tzedakah theme for the guests would encourage and focus on giving instead of getting.

I admire your going outside the box and NOT doing a theme or getting into debt.

I TOTALLY AGREE with you.
Not only in this economy, but in being frugal period. Charity needs to be taught to kids today.

Perhaps Tzedakah theme for the guests would encourage and focus on giving instead of getting.

I admire your going outside the box and NOT doing a theme or getting into debt.

Hello!
I've been working in different facets the event industry for nearly 15 years. Recently, I'ts been my job to find ways to help my clients throw great parties with very tight budgets.
Luckily, it has been easy for me. My two companies have been focused on making events affordable for everyone!
Our venue whiteSPACE has a cool modern aesthetic
that gives kids the club look that they want without having to do much more other
than show up. We allow outside catering. So, you can choose to DIY or bring in whomever you like. Which is perfect if you keep
Kosher.
We're also a family-run business. So, while the kids may want a nightclub; the parents can be reassured knowing they are in a family-friendly environment. Rental fees start at just $1,000. www.witespace.cc

Our other business UPLYTE
does lighting. Lighting is great because instead of
spending a ton of money on centerpieces and decor you can make a big impact on a small budget and customize it to include projections of family photos, the child's name. Lighting gives you alot of bang for your buck and can transform a basic backyard or banquet hall into something really special. Look at examples here: www.uplyte.com

I hope this helps guide you to some good sources for planning your celebration!

CORRECTION: www.whitespace.cc
and
www.uplyte.com

Great For Parties on a budget and THEMED or THEME-LESS CELEBRATIONS!

Personally, I believe that decorating for a party makes it special, but you do not need to go crazy to accomplish this. "Theme" is about coordination. My favorite way to create an in expensive "theme" is by using color - tablecloths, napkins, balloons, etc. I agree that the Bar/Bat Mitzvah thing has gotten out of hand. I am stunned by some of the events I have attended. My business, www.settocelebrate.com creates fully coordinated parties on-line. Unfortunately we do not do bar/bat mitzvahs at this time, just baby parties, but we are constantly asked how to create a beautiful party within a budget. May favorite idea is to use balloons for big color splashes. Pick two complimentary colors for the table centerpieces. Since a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is about milestones and family, take pictures of the bar or bat mitzvah with family & friends and alone, and have them blown up to about 10" x 10" at Kinkos or Staples and mounted on foamcore. Take 4 images, put them together and make a box. Put tissue paper inside in the colors of the balloons and put a balloon weight inside the box and attach a balloon bouquet with 3 to 5 balloons - voila - a very personal centerpiece, and lots of color for festivity. You can even make each centerpiece different! Of course, you can also go on our website www.settocelebrate.com and order one of our fabulous "Mazel Tov" photo banners - very popular for Bar/Bat Mitzvah's. We only show them in Blue, Pink & Yellow, but we can do any color combination you need, so just e-mail us! Good Luck.

Just a note to my above post, when I said "Take pictures of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah with Family and Friends"; you can use existing pictures from the time the Bar or Bat Mitzvah were babies and/or take some new pictures specifically for the event.