When a client walks in the door with a cool party idea already in mind, it’s our absolute pleasure to make that concept come to life!

Such was the case with a recent Bar Mitzvah in South Jersey. Our clients are devoted steakhouse lovers and challenged Event Designer extraordinaire, Arlene Bluestein, to create that same sense of warmth and sophistication for their son’s Bar Mitzvah celebration. Working with a rich palette of reds, browns, taupes and metals, Arlene transformed the halls of Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, New Jersey into Jared K’s Steakhouse.  {Photos courtesy of Philip Gabriel Photography}

Guests were entertained on every level, from the delicious foodie-approved menu to the fire-branded chalkboard seating boards and rustic wooden tables, to the engaging soccer ball performer, energetic entertainment and dramatic red lighting. But that’s not all. Waiters from Barclay Caterers took table-side dinner orders from leather bound menus. Custom-made mahogany bars were placed in the main “dining room” complete with  leather bar stools and drink menus featured classic American cocktails.

When it came to designing the main dining room, Arlene lined the room with curved leather banquettes with round tables as well as rectangular family-sized tables. But the upscale steakhouse feel didn’t end there, red silk lamps, modern distressed wooden candle holders, contemporary glass hurricanes, lush low floral centerpieces and tall palm trees were layered into the scheme for dramatic effect.

Jared and his friends were seated at high community tables centered in the main dining room, allowing them the best (and fastest) access to the dance floor. The always rockin’ band LA Stars kept the crowd dancing all night long!  The adults’ dined on intimate tables holding low centerpieces filled with flowers in deep red tones, such as amaryllis, tulips, roses, hydrangea, orchids and hypericum berry. Even the party favors were branded right on theme, and included short sleeved t-shirts for the boys and burnout hoodies for the girls, all rolled into “fire branded” tubes that also included tins of  mints.

No detail was left to the imagination and the collaboration between Arlene and her client couldn’t have been better! … and then there was the fabulous sports-themed cake from Classic Cake Co. to bring it all home. Mazel Tov Jared!

{Photographs courtesy of the ever-talented Gabe Fredericks of Philip Gabriel Photography}