Yesterday’s feature was on the Friday night dinner party leading up to Simon’s bar mitzvah and today we get to focus on the bar mitzvah itself! This was the first bar mitzvah I had ever photographed, but I’ve worked with Kristin Newman Designs long enough to know that any event they produce is worth shooting. They regularly team up with Gathering Events + Floral Design and the level of detail and thought that went into planning this event at The Dunes Club was extraordinary.
As guests arrived, they were given the red carpet treatment, literally. After being photographed in front of the custom “step and repeat“, the kids were escorted to their VIP party room and the adults enjoyed an outdoor cocktail party on an elevated platform with a view of the ocean. The kids’ VIP room was better than any arcade or pavilion you’ve ever seen. In addition to various Wii stations, there was also lots of candy, kid friendly cocktail food and drinks and best of all, an electronic bronking bull. Yes, you read that right, a bronking bull.
I had gone to see Simon and his family late last year to take photos of them, some which we planned would be used for the invitations, website and such. Custom design studio, Oscar and Emma took the “Simon Rocks” concept and carried it through everything, from the ticket style invitations to the Playbill of events.
One of the most entertaining and engaging MC’s I’ve ever scene is Sir Andrew. He flew in from DC and had this great ability to simultaneously engage the kids and the adults. To get the party started, Simon made a grand entrance into the ballroom on a rickshaw and the crowd went wild. His arrival was followed by a performance by Daniel D., an electric violinist who plays “jazz, hip-hop, R&B and everything in-between”.
The kids sat at long picnic-style tables and loaded up on delicacies such as french fries, pasta and funnel cakes, all served out of vendor stalls, like you see at a concert. The adults enjoyed fine dining. Throughout dinner, the entertainment continued. After Daniel D. and his electric violin came the break dancers and Sir Andrew had the kids out on the LED dance floor doing Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
It wasn’t all high energy entertainment though, there were some really sweet words spoken by Simon’s dad and he danced with his mom. I can assure you that no one had a dry eye and it was one of the sweetest things I’ve seen. Simon and his mom have a very special relationship. Dan Levison of Moxie Pictures is a close friend of Simon’s dad and created the most creative video slide show I’ve ever seen. It was based on the ever popular Facebook and included clips of video, photos and some funny status updates.
The night absolutely flew by and besides all of the entertainment and decor to photograph, these kids’ faces were priceless. Most of them had never been to a bar mitzvah and I’m sure they all went home asking for one. At the end of the night, who else but Elivs arrived to lead Simon and his family out for their golf cart escape. It went by all too fast and I am ready to photograph my next bar or bat mitzvah! A huge thanks to Jebb Graff who helped me photograph this event!
Oscar and Emma custom designed all the printed materials
The adults enjoy their cocktail hour at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Vendors stalls like you’d see at a concert were set up for the kids, who sat at long VIP tables
Daniel D. on electric violin
Getting crazy on the LED dancefloor
I love this one. Youth.
Simon leads the way!
There are a lot of hilarious bronking bull shots. This girl was a champ, I htink she stayed on longer than anyone.
A little zombie action
What party is complete without a cake?!
