Anonymous wrote:Was like 350 people at one I attended. Had a red carpet to walk, a celeb did a custom video introduction, goodie bags like Oscar’s, photo booths, custom sweat shirts, live band, DJ, gourmet food. Cost like $300 a hard.

But they were getting $500 to $5,000 a couple. $500 on very low end mostly higher

$500 as a bat mitzvah gift from one couple? I've never heard of that before. We give somewhere between $72-$108 depending on how well we know the kid/family.

Anonymous wrote:Non Jews need the most information. What
time does the service end? We drop them off for the service, and now what? I told DD to call me. That was not the right thing to do.

We are all Jews deep down, embrace it

Non Jews need the most information. What time does the service end? We drop them off for the service, and now what? I told DD to call me. That was not the right thing to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was like 350 people at one I attended. Had a red carpet to walk, a celeb did a custom video introduction, goodie bags like Oscar’s, photo booths, custom sweat shirts, live band, DJ, gourmet food. Cost like $300 a hard.

But they were getting $500 to $5,000 a couple. $500 on very low end mostly higher

Is this in reference to the gifts the bat mitzvah child received?

Yep. I gave $1,000 on the low end. Easily $350-$450k in gifts.

My HS kids paid for college plus downpayment on a condo post graduation with the money. I am old but I recall in 1975 a kid in HS got $40k in cash at his party. Dad put it in bonds and 1988 he bought a condo in Manhattan with money. Interest rates were crazy high 1975 to 1988. Today more like $300k he would have got

Anonymous wrote:Was like 350 people at one I attended. Had a red carpet to walk, a celeb did a custom video introduction, goodie bags like Oscar’s, photo booths, custom sweat shirts, live band, DJ, gourmet food. Cost like $300 a hard.

But they were getting $500 to $5,000 a couple. $500 on very low end mostly higher

Is this in reference to the gifts the bat mitzvah child received?

Was like 350 people at one I attended. Had a red carpet to walk, a celeb did a custom video introduction, goodie bags like Oscar’s, photo booths, custom sweat shirts, live band, DJ, gourmet food. Cost like $300 a hard.

But they were getting $500 to $5,000 a couple. $500 on very low end mostly higher

Anonymous wrote:A few we have been invited to recently. This is for a mix of kids in public school and private school who live in NW DC or close in MD
Sat service with lunch / desserts
Sun party with friends at pinstripes

Was looking at Bowlero in Tysons. Anyone been to a party there? That's the kind of thing I think we'd like but I don't quite get how you organize things (bowling, and a slideshow, and speeches...does it come together well?)

Most of the ones we've been to have been mini weddings. The most low-key one was held in a rented community center room (a large one) and included a magician and catered food.

A few we have been invited to recently. This is for a mix of kids in public school and private school who live in NW DC or close in MD
Sat service with lunch / desserts
Sun party with friends at pinstripes

Destination bat mitzvah with close family. Pizza party upon return with friends.

One of the best we went to was catered by chipotle. Yummy.

Things are different now than before the pandemic. Really anything goes. Do want you. I tried not to do over the top for my oldest son’s - but of course it’s still fairly expensive to feed 90 people. Start talking to people at your synagogue and hear where people are planning. Ask your daughter what she’s into. I knew my oldest son wasn’t going to be into dancing but he likes card games so we did casino tables that were a hit.

Lots of different options these days! It could be a ballroom and DJ kind of affair. But there's such a wide range. Something like Pinstripes has a ballroom but also "fancy" bowling. A private section of Top Golf or a Batting cage or that kind of activity. Maybe for the family, just a nice restaurant dinner and a separate kid activity like a bigger version of a regular bday party (a concert with a few friends, or a big backyard party...). Go to Israel instead. Take another special family vacation instead. Do an extra nice kiddush at shul and leave it at that.

What's your budget and a ballpark number of people? What does your kid like? Are they into a fancy party with the attention on them, or do they like to chill with just a few besties?

Anonymous wrote:We're starting to plan one for late next year and don't have a clue what to think about. I had mine in my backyard years (decades ago). I know we don't want a mini-wedding. I also know we want to do "something" -- we'll likely have about 30 out of town guests/family members.
But...we don't have a huge social circle, we don't know what our daughter's social circle will look like 2 years from now but I feel like we should start doing something.

All the ones I've been to have been like mini-weddings. Over the top. Looked like the kids were having fun, though.

We're starting to plan one for late next year and don't have a clue what to think about. I had mine in my backyard years (decades ago). I know we don't want a mini-wedding. I also know we want to do "something" -- we'll likely have about 30 out of town guests/family members.
But...we don't have a huge social circle, we don't know what our daughter's social circle will look like 2 years from now but I feel like we should start doing something.