You've spent months (if not years) planning the perfect mitzvah celebration for your son or daughter - you have the perfect venue, the best DJ (of course!), an awesome theme, and great decorations. What can possibly go wrong??!
As they say, the devil is in the details. Over the years, I've seen a few common mistakes, that won't always break your party, but can be the difference between a good party and a great one. On the surface, these missteps may not seem like a big deal, but when you see them in action, you'll certainly wish you did things differently:
1. Not Placing All the "Action" in One Space - It may seem like a good idea to have the photobooth in the lobby, the buffet in a side room, and dancing in the ballroom to give your guests lots of space. In the world of a 13-year-old, this turns into "packs" of kids moving from one space to the next and their attention being very divided. Put all the action in one space so no one misses out on anything!
2. Video Montage That's More Than 8 Minutes - It's so hard to narrow down all the great photos of your child growing up (and of course you need a picture of all the guests in the slideshow at least once), but don't allow your slideshow to get longer than 6-8 minutes. Your guests will all thank you!
3. A Party That's Too Long - Like the old saying goes, "you've got to know when to leave the party"! It's better to leave your guests wishing for more than wondering when the party will be over. I recommend a 3 hour party for afternoon celebrations and a 3 or 3 1/2 hour party for evening celebrations.
4. Putting Dessert out Before the Hora - Dessert is the best way to sidetrack your guests away from the dance floor. If you'd like to see a big hora, keep your guests waiting for dessert until after it's over!
Mazel Tov! See you Soon!
-Matt
