As an event planner, I often hear parents express a common goal when organizing bar and bat mitzvahs: to create a joyful, love-filled day that their child will always remember. Leading up to my daughter’s bat mitzvah, I got to witness her excitement and happiness grow, which brought me immense fulfillment, both as a planner and a mom.
We chose to host the event in my sister’s backyard, a space that holds special meaning for our family. It’s where we’ve shared countless moments together, so having friends and family there felt just right. Backyard celebrations offer a unique charm that ensures no one else will have quite the same setting, making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Initially, I hadn’t planned to splurge on linens, but I fought that urge, and I’m so glad I did. The stunning linens from BJJ Latova and MTB Event Rentals significantly enhanced the overall warmth of the event. We also invested in lush florals, collaborating with Twigz Floral Design, one of our trusted partners.
One day, my daughter saw a Greek head sculpture vase in a store and she said that was the vibe she wanted, so we embraced that theme and ran with it. She is also an avid reader, so we incorporated decorative books into the décor, along with a variety of sculptures (affiliate link), which highlighted her love of art as well.
I was careful to select vendors who aligned with our vision because I believe the energy of those around us is crucial – so having long-time collaborator Rachael B as our photographer made the night all the more special, as did the gorgeous kippot from Lux Kippot.
My daughter loves boba, so hiring The Boba Truck was a must. Additionally, my brother-in-law, known for his fantastic cocktails, inspired us to create a stellar bar menu featuring specialty drinks like a Blackberry Mojito, the ConfEtti Sparkler, and LemonEtti Fizz; all expertly crafted by Liquid Catering.
To celebrate my daughter’s love for art, we commissioned Cat and Tiger Designs to create a 5-foot custom coloring board that captured the essence of Etti’s life so far—family vacations, favorite toys, musicians, beloved TV shows, movies, and our family dog, Max. Seeing the completed piece brought our guests so much joy, as it truly reflected her unique personality.
My daughter doesn’t fit the typical teenage mold; she prefers more relaxed gatherings over thumping music and big dance floors. I wanted her special day to reflect her unique personality, and given her love for singing, I decided that hiring The Killer Dueling Pianos would resonate more with her than a traditional DJ.
For the cocktail hour, we brought in Yooshi Sushi for a delicious spread and we also created a massive charcuterie board for snacking. The main food station was catered by The Gastro Garage who, with their penchant for molecular gastronomy, served inventive savory donuts filled with flavorful foams and topped with options like vegan burger patties, pizza toppings, and peach-glazed tofu. Their use of large torches to fire salmon and veggie skewers added a smoky touch and a visual spectacle that wowed our guests.
Entertainment was key, so in addition to the lively sing-alongs led by the dueling pianos, we were happy to have magician and mentalist Austin Janik, who left everyone in awe with his roaming performances. To keep the kids entertained, we set up activities like basketball pop-a-shot, foosball, ping pong, and cornhole. To make the event interactive, we created a crafting station (affiliate link) where kids could design their own beanies and pencil bags using iron-on patches, pins, and markers.
As the sun set, the enchanting lighting setup by Malibu Event Lighting transformed my sister’s backyard into a truly magical space.
Ultimately, this bat mitzvah was more than just a celebration; it was a heartfelt reflection of who my daughter is. Filled with warmth, creativity, and joy, the planning process was a labor of love, and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out. And I know she feels the same.
Here is a full video recap of how we transformed Marni’s house for the event.