He Shoots, He Scores! Ryan’s Hat-Tricked-Out Bar Mitzvah Party

This hockey-themed bar mitzvah party had just about everything: an awe-inspiring arena, I mean venue; an indoor rink, I mean dance floor; great concessions, I mean food, and all the in-house entertainment you could shake a…well…stick at! So, comb out those mullets, put your helmets on and tighten those skate laces for Ryan’s Hat-tricked-Out Bar Mitzvah Party!

Mitzvah boy standing outside the Goodwin Hotel
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

The stately Goodwin Hotel served as our arena, providing a cavernous tableau upon which to create the perfect hockey-themed mitzvah.

Outside the Goodwin Hotel
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Guests entered the Goodwin’s massive foyer through the ‘tunnel’ created by ET Events Group, instantly establishing our hockey theme.

Logo-lined tunnel leading to reception
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Once inside, there was no question all were in for a magical evening!

Magician does card tricks
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

It was a feast for the senses, with activities galore…

mitzvah boy playing drums
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
Mitzvah boy playing DJ
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mitzvah boy dancing with friends
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mitzvah boy inside 3D photo booth
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

And gobs of glorious food and drink provided by The Goodwin’s in-house caterer, Max Hospitality Group.

sliders
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
Signature drink sign "Hat Trick" and "Slapshot"
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

While the refreshments were on point, it was the decor that really raised this party into a never-ending power play!

party tagline wrapping concrete columns
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Hockey decor was everywhere, all branded with the great party logo — pillows adorned the couches on the young adults’ lounge…

Logo'd pillows on lounge couches
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

…Projected way up high on the cavernous ceiling…

Logo on ceiling
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

…On the custom-designed hockey jersey sign-in board…

acrylic hockey jersey sign-in board
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

…On the card box…

logo'd card box
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

And as the focal point, at center ice of course, for the custom-wrapped ‘hockey rink’ that served as the dance floor.

hockey rink dance floor wrap with party logo at 'center ice'
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Even the oldest trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup, made an appearance in the form of centerpieces on the adult dinner tables!

Stanley Cup centerpieces
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
Stanley Cup centerpiece
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

There was time to pose for a few formals before picking up the NHL-team place cards and getting set to drop the puck!

family posing on light up stage in from of LED wall
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
NHL team ticket place cards
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
NHL team ticket place cards
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
NHL team table numbers
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

No mitzvah party starts without a grand introduction, led by the parents and the man of honor.

parents being introduced
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mitzvah boy's grand introduction
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mitzvah boy high-fiving friends during introduction
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

From there it was on to the traditional Hora, where all five members of the family got raised to the rafters.

mitzvah boy lifted up in hora chair
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
older brother lifted up in hora chair
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
younger brother lifted up in hora chair
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mom lifted up in hora chair
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
dad lifted up in hora chair
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

It wasn’t all bedlam, as some more sedentary formalities brought the temperature down ever so slightly. The HaMotzi blessing was conducted by the two grandfathers, while the candle-lighting was ably commanded by the mitzvah boy.

hamotzi with both grandfathers
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
hockey-themed candle-lighting piece
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
candle lighting with mom and dad
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

A touching mother-son dance got the crowd back on its feet and led a return to the dance floor.

mother-son dance
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
mitzvah boy dancing with friends
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Moving on to the 3rd period, there was a gathering at center ice to watch this great montage, produced by Reel Video Group.

mitzvah boy watching his montage
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Overtime included an amazing ice cream bar, with all the toppings, and if that wasn’t sweet enough, yours truly put together a candy bar that was so over-the-top it should’ve landed me in the penalty box!

ice cream sundae bar
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
Candy Bar
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers
Candy bar

Young adults scored big-time with this amazing logo’d sweatshirt as a memento of an epic night.

Logo'd sweatshirt swag
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Mazel Tov, Ryan! You were definitely the MVP of this epic game, I mean party!

mitzvah boy crowd surfing
Photo Courtesy: Denis Leon & Co. Photographers

Easy! Done! Enjoy!

Plan-it Vicki is the brainchild of Vicki Ross, an experienced, award-winning Event Planner located in Avon, a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut. Vicki has created wonderful celebrations all over Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. She and her staff provide services for small, intimate dinner parties as well as weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs.

For help with your next event contact Plan-it Vicki

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