Garden of Eden Mitzvah

If your Bar or Bat Mitzvah portion celebrates the Garden of Eden, or if your party is in the spring or you simply love being outside, a Garden of Eden theme Bar or Bat Mitzvah party is the perfect choice. This also works well as a generic garden or spring theme party Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Invitations
Great parties start with great invitations! After you've sent your formal Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitation, send a fun invitation for your party. Or include it in the envelope with your formal invitation.

Here's an idea we love - the Jewish National Fund has a variety of invitations that each represent a tree that has been planted in Israel or a donation to water resource development in Israel in honor of your guests. What could be better than planting a tree in Israel before your garden theme Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration? Go to JNF's website for more details.

Or choose a garden theme personalized invitation for your Garden of Eden party. Or there is a cute bug theme invitation that is more masculine for a Bar Mitzvah.

A caricature or semi-custom caricature invitation is also a great option for such a special party. They are completely personalized for your child and are great for centerpieces, sign in boards, seating cards and other decorations at your party. Have your child drawn standing in the Garden of Eden surrounded by trees, flowers, animals (include a snake) and holding an apple.

Welcome and Cocktail Area
Have a large personalized garden theme banner that says, "Adults to the Garden of Eden (directing the adults to the cocktail area), Kids to Adam & Eve's Playground" or simply have it say, "Welcome to [your child's name] Garden of Eden."

Consider renting fake trees from a party supply or event store, if you don't feel like buying them. Against the walls, place tree silhouettes to give the appearance of being outdoors. Scatter classic garden benches around the cocktail (and party) area for your guests to sit on and for great photo ops.

Have a sign in board created with your child's caricature in the Garden of Eden, or use a floral covered board to have people write their congratulations.

Have your seating table topped and skirted, floral or solid. Use candied apples, wrapped in cellophane and closed off with ribbon matching the tablecloth colors. Have seating cards attached to the apples with the guest's name and table number. Remember to have a bouquet of balloons in the cloth colors next to the seating cards and sign in book or board!

As people enter the room, have them walk under a garden trellis. Next to the gate, have lifesize cutouts of Adam and Eve on cell phones to give people a laugh. Adam can have a tattoo that says, "I love Eve!" At the other end of the cell phone line is Eve, among snakes, birds, tree, etc. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah boy or girl's face can be substituted for either Adam or Eve. (Send us an email, we've already got the art!)

Around the stage or band/DJ area, frame it to look like a garden/jungle (use tree trim (branches, leaves) in forest green, eggplant, and gold. Or ask your balloon company to create a great display of trees made out of balloons. These trees can be used throughout the party room.

It would be fun to hire a caricaturist artist to depict each guest in a setting with Adam, Eve, and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah boy/girl. (These are also a great party favor!)

Garden of Eden Table Decorations
Choose beautiful linens for your tables. Greens and pastels work well, or look for a floral overlay. For the adult tables use baskets of apples, prettily tied off with ribbons, tulle, fancy balloons. Plastic greenery balls are also fun and inexpensive centerpieces. Florals are also perfect for a garden theme party. Have a local florist design a beautiful floral centerpiece that matches the colors for your event.

For the kids, use an assortment of plush snakes with balloons attached to them for your centerpieces. These can be donated to local charities at the end of the evening. Just be sure to include a note on the table about the donation so no one takes them home.

Garden of Eden Party Favors
Memories of a wonderful evening are always the best souvenir but it’s fun to have a great party favor too. Start with gifts for the DJ to pass out like glow necklaces and jewelry, hats and beads. Be sure to give out a favor that's a bit more special as well. Here are some other fun ideas:

• A small flower pot filled with Hershey's kisses
• Personalized flower lolipops
• Packets of flower or plant seed

Of course, Party411 can help with t-shirts, boxer shorts or any other favor you can think of for your garden theme party! Send us an e-mail for more information on personalized party favors.

Have fun, and Mazel Tov, from the Party Girl and the Party-ettes!