Filed Under Planning Timeline |
From PartySpot.com
12+ Months
· Begin envisioning your son or daughter’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah — formal hotel or synagogue? Casual at-home get-together?
· Decide on a budget.
· Pick your preferences for a date and time, and finalize after okaying with important guests, location, or officiant.
· Begin interviewing party planners (if you’ll have one) AND / OR start asking family AND friends for local vendor recommendations.
10 to 12 Months
· Sign your child up for Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes at your synagogue.
· Start interviewing caterers.
· Scout out Bar/Bat Mitzvah sites.
· Start looking for a rabbi who suits your family’s style and spirit, if you don’t have one already.
· Book your synagogue AND / OR site as soon as you see something you love that’s available on your date.
· Get organized! Start a notebook/file folder to house all your planning paperwork in one place.
· Begin working on a preliminary guest list and decide on your Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s approximate size.
· Hire a party planner (if you’re having one) and sign a contract.
· Choose a color scheme or your style, if you so desire, taking into account the decor of the rooms/areas you have reserved for your ceremony and reception.
· Decide on a caterer. Hash out a rough price per head and begin working on a menu.
· Brush up on Bar/Bat Mitzvah traditions you might want to incorporate into your ceremony or party.
· Finalize the guest list.
· Sign your caterer contract and send in a deposit.
· Start auditioning bands or DJs.
· Set up appointments with various florists to discuss options.
· Interview and get price lists from several photographers and videographers.
· Book reception band or DJ, sign the contract, and send a deposit.
6 to 8 Months
· Begin looking for a baker to make your cake. Your caterer is the best source for leads.
· Reserve photographer and/or videographer, decide on a package, sign contract, and send deposit.
· Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services.
· If you and your child are ordering a dress or suit (especially one that’ll require tailoring), start shopping now. Order as much in advance as possible to leave time for last-minute alterations.
· Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
· Book a baker, choose your cake design, and send a deposit.
· Finalize menu and service details with caterer.
· Order your invitations and announcements (don’t forget plenty of extra envelopes).
4 to 6 Months
· Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
· Start thinking about ways to decorate, if you haven’t already.
· Reserve tables, chairs, and/or other rental equipment you’ll need (unless caterer or site is taking care of it).
· Compile packages for out-of-town guests with hotel reservation and city information, and mail them out.
3 Months Before
· Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box).
· Pick up your invitations.
· Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you’ll need to send them out at the two-month mark).
· Arrange Bat Mitzvah-day transportation for you, your family, and guests (as needed).
· Send out invitations (be sure to add extra postage for overseas guests).
2 Months Before
· Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
· Arrange parking, if needed.· Order liquor, wine and/or champagne if they’re not included in the catering contract.
· Arrange for a special entertainment, like dancers.
· Buy a guest book (and nice pen).
1 Month Before
· Work on a list of “must-play” (and “must-not play”) songs for your DJ or band.
· If you’ve ordered a dress or suit, pick it up from the store and have your final fittings done.
· Have a follow-up meeting or phone call with rabbi to go over timing and details.
· Sit for your family portrait, if you decide to get one.
· Get a head start on those thank-you notes (it will feel great to get a batch out before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah).
2 Weeks Before
· Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
· Call location manager and make sure your vendors all have access to the site when they need it.
· Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with the baker.
· Call guests who haven’t RSVP’d. It’s okay to do this, you need a final head count!
· Start putting together the seating plan if you’re having a seated meal.
· Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards (give typed names to the calligrapher if you’re using one).
· Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangement count with florist.
· Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.
· Give seating chart to caterer, location manager, or host.
· Fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah day.
· Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.· Confirm location, date, and time with videographer.
· Confirm location, date, and time with photographer; create your “must-take” photo list.
The Day Before
· Get some much-needed sleep — if you can!
· Drop off favors, guest book, and pen at the site.
The Day of
· Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts.
· Take a moment to tell your son or daughter how much you love him/her.
· Relax, smile, and enjoy the day!
After the Bat Mitzvah
· Upload your digital photographs onto a photo-sharing website. These will probably be the first photos available since professional proofs can take weeks.
· Make sure all vendor bills have been paid in full.
· Find out when you can expect your edited video (if you used a videographer).
· Within two months of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah, set aside some evenings to help your son or daughter write that stack of thank-you notes.
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