A bar or bat mitzvah is one of the most important and memorable moments for a Jewish child and their family and friends. It is an occasion where the child becomes accountable for his or her actions in the Jewish faith, and also a festive celebration. While there is nothing in the Torah stating a bar or bat mitzvah need be an elaborate affair, many families choose to celebrate this important rite of passage with a small or large gathering of family and friends. Here in Westchester, there are a number of venues which specialize in crafting an elegant and personalized bar or bat mitzvah you and your child will never forget.
The Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club
“What we try to do is create a one-of-a-kind, custom affair for the kids,” says Irene St. Onge, director of Special Events for the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club. “We incorporate any theme they’ve come up with – their vision – and build from there.”
Overlooking Long Island Sound, the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club is a stunning venue for any event. Capable of hosting parties of between 100 and 400 guests, they offer a wide range of possibilities, from an elaborate cocktail hour and sit-down dinner to something more casual. The venue can even accommodate separate areas for a more kid-themed party and adult party simultaneously.
Probably the Club’s biggest attraction, however, is the private beach. “We do a grand ending package where we do a bonfire on our beach and we do a s’mores bar for the kids, or they can have an ice cream bar,” says St. Onge. Why not celebrate your child’s bar or bat mitzvah with a Tiki Beach party?
Whitby Castle
Looking for something regal? Try Whitby Castle at Rye Golf Club. The castle features year-round water views of nearby Milton Harbor and boasts a large ballroom that can be divided into two areas to better accommodate the individual needs of your event.
Whitby Castle is happy to host the entire event, including the ceremony, and they welcome groups of up to 250 people year-round. In the warmer months, guests can take advantage of outdoor reception and cocktail areas after the ceremony, and, as night falls, why not bring in a band or DJ to set the mood or get the party started?
Whitby Castle requires that you use their excellent in-house caterer as well as allow them to supply all liquor at the event, however, they bring in an outside caterer for bar and bat mitzvahs to ensure that everything served is Kosher.
The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester
If a country club bar or bat mitzvah doesn’t interest you, you can bring the party inside at one of the top hotels in the county, the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, located in White Plains. “Our hotel is very unique compared to some of the other venues in the area because we are the only luxury hotel in the area,” says Duygu Ulupinar Magnisalis, senior sales manager for Catering. “It’s an all-inclusive experience. If you have families with a lot of out of town guests, you take care of them without having to leave the hotel. The only transportation families are concerned with is getting to and from Temple.”
The event space at the Ritz-Carlton takes up the entire second floor of the hotel, and includes not only the grand ballroom, but a number of smaller rooms that are quite versatile. Past bar and bat mitzvahs have used the extra rooms as a coat room, a fortune telling tent, a hat making workshop, a photo booth, or to house games.
“We have a couple of different standard packages that we offer for bar and bat mitzvahs,” says Ulupinar Magnisalis. “We customize as we get closer to the date, but a lot of times we start out with our standard packages because most bar and bat mitzvahs are planned far in advance and people are not ready to discuss what they would like.”
The standard packages generally consist of a five-hour event, starting with an hour-long cocktail/mocktail reception, then moving on to dinner and dancing. A family can choose to have simple cocktail stations and passed hors-d’oeuvres, have separate stations for kids and adults, or have a full sit-down, plated option.
A popular option is their “Party Like a Rock Star” package, which includes chauffeured service to the hotel, paparazzi on hand for the arrival of the guest of honor, a special room full of candy set aside just for the lucky boy or girl (called the Hospitality Sweet), and a ghost writer who will post party activities on social media.
If the Ritz-Carlton sounds like the perfect location for your family, be sure to reserve your date early. They only hold one event at a time, and bar and bat mitzvahs start reserving the venue years in advance.
David Neilsen is a regular contributor to Westchester Family.
