Part of the fun of doing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, is that we get to work with kids. Kids love identifying their special day with some type of a theme, and our latest Bar Mitzvah was no different. When we first met with Maurice and his family, he sat across from us with little to say, almost sulking behind his black concert t-shirt. We asked about his hobbies and activities, what he loved about school, what he wanted from his Bar Mitzvah party? He just wasn't sure. Finally, I asked about the "retro" heavy metal concert t-shirt he was wearing, and his face lit up! We walked out of the meeting, looked at each other and said, Can we really pull off a heavy metal themed Bar Mitzvah??!
Pull it off, we did. Starting with the guests seating cards- concert ticket style and pinned to a "Will Call" board.
We created centerpieces that doubled as the guests' seating assignments with some of Maurice's favorite bands as the inspiration. Most were heavy metal bands, but a few classic rock bands (for the parents and family friends) were thrown in.
Our color palette of black, silver, white and electric blue dominated the scene. The lighting was all designed in blue, with a large feature lighting design that created a focal point in a place that normally is a run down and empty space within the room. We had clouds moving across Maurice's name logo, which added movement and interest to the design. A huge thanks to Spotlight Entertainment for helping this lighting vision come true!
The party itself was an absolute ball; the guests drank and danced and cheered on Maurice's efforts. It was an evening that was a beautiful blend between a kid theme that really said "Maurice" and an upscale, formal evening that commemorated this special occasion.
This event taught Karen and I that no matter how obscure the theme may seem at first, if it is rooted in who our guest of honor IS, then with a little creativity and ingenuity we can make it come to life!
Mazel Tov, Maurice and family!