Budget bar mitzvah

[Anonymous]

Hello,
We're looking for ideas for a bar mitzvah that costs $5k or less. We're thinking low-key lunch/brunch for out of town guests after the ceremony and then a kids party somewhere but are open to other ideas. Appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Community center room with DJ and pizza?

[Anonymous]

Bowlero?

[Anonymous]

Cater a full luncheon at the temple, then party at the temple with a kids food buffet and a DJ.

The biggest savings come from

* fewer guests (helps to have small family and no friends)
* no band
* no plated food service for adults
* no alcohol if you dare
* minimal rental games/booths
* no professional videographer or photographer. (No one cares about those videos, guests have their smartphones)

[Anonymous]

I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cater a full luncheon at the temple, then party at the temple with a kids food buffet and a DJ.

The biggest savings come from

* fewer guests (helps to have small family and no friends)
* no band
* no plated food service for adults
* no alcohol if you dare
* minimal rental games/booths
* no professional videographer or photographer. (No one cares about those videos, guests have their smartphones)

+1. I've also attended receptions like this with the kids/teens -- in other words, not little kid cousins but only the bat mitzvah and her friends -- having a separate party in the family's backyard. DIY music and maybe a food truck or a photobooth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

NP. Sadly yes. We are currently planning a mitzvah and the costs are crazy. You couldn’t even get a DJ for less than 3-4k.

OP, my kids go to a Jewish school and have been to a ton of mitzvahs which ran the gamut in terms of budget. Lots of traditional parties of course, but also things like bowling, ropes course, escape room/murder mystery, pizza and games and/or arts and crafts…There were a number of luncheons after the service (with or without music). One invite for later this June is a pool party. So lots of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

In 1988, my sister's bat mitzvah cost $70,000. There were 200 people.

[Anonymous]

How about just doing the religious ceremony then heading out to lunch with immediate family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

In 1988, my sister's bat mitzvah cost $70,000. There were 200 people.

And hopefully you realize that was way out of the range of normal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

NP. Sadly yes. We are currently planning a mitzvah and the costs are crazy. You couldn’t even get a DJ for less than 3-4k.

OP, my kids go to a Jewish school and have been to a ton of mitzvahs which ran the gamut in terms of budget. Lots of traditional parties of course, but also things like bowling, ropes course, escape room/murder mystery, pizza and games and/or arts and crafts…There were a number of luncheons after the service (with or without music). One invite for later this June is a pool party. So lots of options.

If you don’t want a full service DJ with all the motivators/dancers, you can absolutely find one that just plays music with lights for a few hundred dollars. Look on thumbtack- we paid $1k total for a DJ/photographer/photo booth with Good Vibrations and they were perfectly fine. The whole event still ended up costing $10k though.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has attended 3 bat mitzvahs - all budget. Two were held at the temple late morning with trays of sandwiches, bagels, fruit, veggie tray, candy, etc. Neither had dancing or a dj. The larger of those which had had maybe 100 guests total had a sleepover later for close friends. The third was a pool party.

[Anonymous]

We’re doing a family-only bar mitzvah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

In 1988, my sister's bat mitzvah cost $70,000. There were 200 people.

How much did yours cost?

In 1998, mine cost $30,000. It was black tie optional. I don't want to spend even 30k on a party for a 12 year old today.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so out of loop I guess. 5K for a bar mitzvah is considered budget ?

In 1988, my sister's bat mitzvah cost $70,000. There were 200 people.

And hopefully you realize that was way out of the range of normal!

It was actually completely normal and in line with all the bar and bat mitzvah's I'd been going to my entire life up to that point, and all the ones I've been to since. NY, NJ, CT, MA and LA do these on a different level.