How to Choose a Bar or Bat Mitzvah Theme

If I’ve learned anything from my time planning Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, it’s that 12 year old’s don’t necessarily like the same thing for two years. So how on earth should we pick a theme? We’re here to share some of our planning expertise.

There are a few different tips I can give you to help jumpstart ideas for a theme. The first and most obvious one is their hobbies and interests. For a lot of kids, they play sports and that is their #1 interest, making it an easy theme to carry throughout an event. Whether it’s baseball, football, swimming, horseback riding, or hockey- we’ve done it all. Sports isn’t your kids thing?

Do they like reading, art, broadway or acting? We can turn any interest into a theme.

If that type of theme feels too specific, thank about any recent trips you’ve taken or an experience they loved. It could even be less specific and just be more travel in general.

My kid doesn’t like any of my suggestions so far”… my next suggestion is more about design. Is there a specific article of clothing or brand they love (think Aviator Nation), a pattern they like or even just their favorite color or two. Another great way to spark an idea is to start with a logo search. I always recommend the logo being the jumping off point for décor.

Start going through different mitzvah logos and seeing if they find something they like, maybe it will spark an idea they hadn’t thought of.

Think outside the box. You don’t necessarily have to include a themed centerpiece or invitation to relay that, it could be a smaller detail with just a nod to the interest. For this Bat Mitzvah, one of the favors were cookies, which had a few different equestrian details on them.

For Cora, while she loved volleyball we didn’t want to put volleyballs on every single inch of the room. We had volleyball pillows and a few other nods to volleyball throughout the room, without it being overwhelming.

There are so many places to get inspiration for a theme, sports, hobbies, recent trips, colors, favorite brands, the list is endless. We are always here to make your child’s mitzvah dreams come true, so drop us a line if you need more mitzvah inspo!