Give guests
leis at your beach-themed bat mitzvah.
The bat mitzvah marks the time when a Jewish girl becomes responsible for observing the commandments, according to Judaism 101. Usually taking place when the girl is 12, the bat mitzvah concludes with a party that celebrates this coming-of-age tradition. If you choose to host a bat mitzvah with a beach party theme, there are a number of ways to produce the feel of sand, surf and sun.
Decorations
Whether you're hosting your beach-themed bat mitzvah at a hotel ballroom or your own backyard, you can decorate the event to reflect your theme. Light-up palm trees add a tropical touch. You can hang beach balls from the ceiling or scatter sand across your dance floor. Table centerpieces can be fish bowls or beach buckets filled with colored sand and finished off with tropical flowers. Use beach towels as tablecloths for an authentic "beach" look. Give guests leis when they arrive, and top their sodas with colorful umbrellas for a tropical motif.
Menu
A tropical menu brings the beach party theme to the dinner table of your bat mitzvah. Seafood is a classic beach dish, but it might not appeal to all your preteen guests. Popcorn shrimp or fish sticks might be more age-appropriate. Try steak or chicken kebabs with pineapple, green peppers or onions. If you're hosting the event at your house, throw these kebabs on the grill. Steamed rice and vegetables complement this island fare. The cake can serve as a decorative centerpiece and reflect the beach theme---choose a cake in the shape of a palm tree or a tiered cake with fondant fish and crabs all over it.
Music and Activities
Whether you're hiring a DJ for the bat mitzvah or using your own MP3 player for the event, choose tropical music to set the mood and welcome your guests to paradise. Classic singers like Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley help create an island vibe--- add steel drum music to the mix for a Jamaican tone. Let your guests do the limbo, an activity synonymous with beach parties of the 1960s. If your event is outdoors, let guests toss around a beach ball and bring a beach activity to your party such as volleyball.
Tags: beach party, beach party theme, beach-themed mitzvah, Give guests, Give guests leis