A Helpful Timeline to start planning your
child's Mitzvah
2-3
Years Before Your Event - Time to contact a
synagogue or temple around the ages of 10 or 11
and learn the process and timeframe required to
prepare your child for the event. Formal Mitzvah
lessons begin about a year prior to the
scheduled date.
9
months to a year before event - Find a venue /
location and work on booking it. Also research
information on photographers, videographers,
catering and decorators. Talk to your child
about ideas on a theme and/or color scheme of
the event and keep their ideas in mind.
5-6
months prior to event - Make sure to finalize
picking your entertainment and vendors for the
party portion. Ask photographer about having
portraits of child at a location of your
choice. Start to develop a guest list with
current addresses. Select and order the
stationary for invitations, napkins, or anything
that will have writing on it. Always order extra
because you may need more than you think. Decide
on centerpieces for the tables and any other
decorations for the party. Choose the party
favors for the guests and try to coordinate the
colors of everything to match for the event.
Arrange the out of town guests accommodations
and overall plans, if you are having your event
at a hotel you may be able to get deals on rooms
for your guests. Keep in contact with the tutor
helping your child through become a mitzvah boy
or girl. If they are having any difficulty try
to encourage them so that they will progress.
Decide on any events prior to the mitzvah such
as a luncheon, family get-togethers, or an
evening Shabbat dinner before the big event.
2-3
Months before event - Finalize all the party
selections such as the menu, theme, decorations,
and centerpieces. Make your appointments for
hair, make-up, manicures, etc. Order
personalized yarmulkes. Mail out your
invitations - number the back of the response
cards to correspond to your guest list to ensure
accuracy.
1-2
months prior to event - Create your candle
lighting list and ceremony lines. Work with your
child on writing the presentation and ensure
they are writing meaningful and that they are
comfortable with. Coordinate with the caterers
and entertainment to ensure the time frames
match between service providers. Develop your
timeline for the formalities such as hora,
dances, food announcements, etc. Encourage your
child to practice their service out loud.
3 weeks to 1 month prior to event - Reconfirm
times and information with your service
providers. Develop your seating plan and have
your introductions and timeline ready for the
entertainment for the party, have your music
list for the entertainment as well. Coordinate a
rehearsal / practice session with your temple or
synagogue for the service. Ask about video
taping the rehearsal in lieu of the actual
service. Arrange hospitality baskets for the
out-of-town guests, include the schedule of
events and detailed directions. Coordinate the
out-of-town guests transportation for the event.
If you are having any luncheons or dinners prior
to the Mitzvah make sure to have these
reservations set.
1
week prior to event - Confirm the final guest
count and present to caterer. Once the final
guest count is in you will be responsible for
that amount to pay for. Make the seating
arrangements chart or plan where guests will be
sitting. Get an emergency kit together with all
the quick needed items for the event, combs,
make-up, sewing kit for back up and anything you
think you will need.
Day
before Event - Put all of your things together
for the event in a place where you can find
them. Call all of the guests from out-of-town
and make sure everyone is all set to arrive.
Make any last minute adjustments if needed and
have your child read over any candle lighting
speeches or speeches for the service they may be
nervous about.
Day of Event - Gather everything you are taking
to the service and/or party and bring it with
you. Meet and greet guests over at the temple or
synagogue and prepare to start service. Have
your photographer take all the prior to photos
if you have them scheduled for this. After
service is over (usually hour to 2 hours long)
get ready to party. Head over to the event
facility and start whatever activities on the
schedule, either cocktail hour or introductions.
Have your candle lighting speech list handy as
well.
Here is a guide to how many Mitzvahs go
during the party portion
-
Beginning - cocktails or light snack foods as
guests arrive
- Guests Arriving music playing in background
- An activity or some dancing to get guests
motivated for grand entrance
- Grand entrance and announcements of Mitzvah
Boy or Girl / parents
- Hora / Chair lift with guests and family
- Dance with mother or father
- Games and Dancing for kids and friends /
family
- Motzi and/or Kiddush
- Lunch or Dinner
- A toast or 2 from anyone who wants to speak
- More Dancing and Activities / Games for kids
- Candle Lighting
- Group participation and adults music requests
- End of party last song
