Budget bar mitzvah

[Anonymous]

A relative did a BBQ in their back yard. Set up a volleyball net, used an iPhone and speakers for music, and just grilled all afternoon. Fortunately, weather was perfect - no idea what would have happened if it had rained

[Anonymous]

This would not be everyone’s pick, but a friend was just saying their plan was to do a luncheon for family and then let their kid pick 2-3 close friends to go to NYC for the weekend. They could do virtually anything they want and it would be cheaper than one of those huge parties (and less of a headache to plan).

[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)

This will cost way more than $5K. The DJ alone is $3K+ and the full catered kiddush at the temple is too.

[Anonymous]

I think one thing we can all agree on after reading this whole thread is: Do not spend the equivalent of $250,000 on a party for a teenager.

I'm trying to keep the total cost of our kid's BM under the total cost of our wedding reception (nearly 20 years ago) in non-inflation-adjusted dollars, which will still be a stupid amount of money to spend on a party for a teenager but at least feels like a reasonable goal.

[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.

Ludicrous. Your parents have more money than sense,!