Wynnewood’s Ethan Mazer had a modest bar mitzvah in 2011, held at a synagogue hall with a DJ and dance motivators, writes Erin McCarthy for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Today, as the owner of Empower Event Group, Mazer orchestrates lavish celebrations featuring high-tech entertainment, custom branding, and immersive experiences. With smoke cannons, confetti, and interactive photo booths, he helps families create extravagant parties that reflect the evolving trends in bar and bat mitzvah celebrations.
“Technology around photo booths and big screens and special effects are now being brought into some of these events to make really magical moments,” said Mazer, who plans about 80 mitzvahs annually in the Philadelphia area. He has designed events inspired by social media trends, including Sephora-themed makeup stations and gaming lounges with “Control-Alt-Delete” decor.
While some families embrace these high-budget productions, others opt for simpler celebrations. Valerie Felgoise, owner of Let’s Party With Valerie in Lafayette Hill, notes that while some of her clients have “infinity” budgets, others keep costs to just a few thousand dollars.
Felgoise encourages her clients not to get sucked into the ‘mitzvah machine’ and to focus on celebrating the child being called to the Torah.
Whether extravagant or understated, the focus remains on making the milestone meaningful.
Read more about the extravagant bar mitzvahs around the Philadelphia area in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
