Bar Mitzvah Checklist (To-Do's)
12+ Months
- Begin
envisioning your son's Bar Mitzvah -- formal hotel or synagogue?
Casual at-home get-together? Need help getting started? We
got you covered.
- Decide
on a budget.
- Pick
your preferences for a Bar Mitzvah date and time, and finalize
after okaying with important guests, location, or officiant.
Read on for more planning tips and tricks.
- Begin
interviewing party planners (if you'll have one) and/or start
asking family and friends for local Bar Mitzvah vendor recommendations.
10 to 12 Months
- Sign
your son up for Bar Mitzvah classes at your synagogue.
- Start
interviewing caterers.
- Scout
out Bar 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 Bar Mitzvah 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 Bar Mitzvah-planning
paperwork in one place.
- Begin
working on a preliminary Bar Mitzvah guest list and decide
on your Bar Mitzvah's approximate size.
- Hire
a party planner (if you're having one) and sign a contract.
- Choose
a color scheme or your Bar Mitzvah's 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 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 Bar Mitzvah bands or DJs or both.
- 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 Bar Mitzvah 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
are ordering a dress (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 Bar Mitzvah cake design, and send a deposit.
- Finalize
menu and service details with caterer.
- Order
your Bar Mitzvah 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
Bar 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 for the Bar Mitzvah, 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, 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 Bar
Mitzvah 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 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 for the Bar Mitzvah. 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
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 Bar Mitzvah site.
The Day of
- Confirm
with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the Bar
Mitzvah.
- Take
a moment to tell your son how much you love him.
- Relax,
smile, and enjoy the day!
After the Bar 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 Bar Mitzvah video (if
you used a videographer).
- Within
two months of your Bar Mitzvah, set aside some evenings to
help your son write that stack of thank-you notes.
Bar Mitzvah Entertainment News
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Bar Mitzvah
Showcase's top
Bar
Mitzvah Showcase Invitations
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Bar Mitzvah MC
Demo Movies top
Freelance
Bar Mitzvah MC Positions
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MC
Phil Francavilla
(John Travolta Lookalike &
Impersonator)
Bar
Mitzvah Client Movies top
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