Oh, The Places You'll Go!

If you've ever read any of the Dr. Seuss books, you know that this witty and thoughtful voice gives way to very good advice, whether you are 5, 50 or 100 years old. We love the Dr. Seuss book Oh the Places You'll Go for the way it eloquently, but simply says what life is all about…taking on that sense of adventure and finding life's balance. It's perfect for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah theme! So, plan a Dr. Seuss party and celebrate all the places your child will go!

Dr. Seuss Invitations
A caricature invitation of your child in a hot air balloon with title, time, date and place of the party can be included in with your formal Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitation would be a fabulous start to your party.

Or use a Hot air balloon theme invitation with fun Seuss-ese wording, like:

Oh, the Places You'll Go when you celebrate Amy's Bat Mitzvah!
Congratulations to Amy, today is her day
She's off to great places, she's off and away!
It's time to join Amy, she's riding high and be ready for anything under the sky!

(There is a great poem written on our sample invitation that you can rework for your party.)

Dr. Seuss Decorations and Party Supplies
Have a welcome sign saying, "Congratulations! Tonight is your night. You’re off to great places with [your child's name], so get ready – you’re about to take flight!" Place it near a directional sign showing all the places your child has been or wants to go!

Your event should have a fun and whimsical atmosphere. So serve your drinks for the adults during the cocktail hour in light up martini glasses. Serve drinks for the kids in fun glow cups with LED light up straws! Imprinted cocktail napkins are great for cocktails and dessert at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Why not try something like, "Use this napkin to clean your face. Wipe all the crumbs, don’t leave a trace!"

Have Party411 create a custom sign in board with your child's caricature and the words "Oh the Places You’ll Go with [your child’s name]".

Seating cards can be tickets or boarding passes for a hot air balloon ride to places the guests will be going. Each table should be named for a different place your child has been or would like to go. Have a sign at the table saying, "You have brains in your head, and feet in your shoes. Make sure the table you pick is the right one to choose!" Then be sure to add balloons to the sign in area and to your seating card table. (You'll want to draw people to these areas.)

Behind the DJ or band, hang a lit 3' x 8' sign made to look like it is being held up at either end by hot air balloons! It should read, "Oh, the places we’re going with [your child’s name] on his/her Bar/Bat Mitzvah!" Since balloons are part of this book, they should be a bit part of your party! Use balloon bouquets on the floor around the room and have balloon arches across any buffets or food stations.

It would be fun to have a scavenger hunt at this party - send people throughout the room—oh the places they’ll go!! A caricaturist there drawing guests into a page from the book for them to take home would also be great fun.

Dr. Seuss Theme Table Decorations
Your linens should match colors from the book—pink, light green, light orange, yellow and blue pastels. Alternate them on the tables and have the napkins in the same colors on opposite tables. Pastel beads in colors to match your linens make fun napkin rings and party favors.

Hot air balloon centerpieces looking much like the book with a Dr. Seuss character and child in the balloon basket make great centerpieces on your tables. These are made with one large balloon with ribbon tied to it with little baskets hanging off. You can create them yourself, but a balloon company might be your best bet! If you want a different effect, on every other table, put a tree on a wire frame that looks like a tree from a  Dr. Seuss book.

These stove pipe hats, in an assortment of bright colors, look like Dr. Seuss hats and are great for centerpieces on the kids tables. Just have balloons in your event colors coming out of the top of the hats.

And, of course, you can use a caricature of your child in the book as your centerpiece. We can turn it into a 3 sided base and you just add balloons or flowers!

Here are some other fun items you might want to consider on your tables:

• Balloon shape confetti in mixed colors to match the linens
• Pastels non pariels are the perfect candy choice for this theme because their colors match the book. Have them plated on every table.
• A listing of the "Oh the Places You’ll Go this weekend with [your child’s name]," with highlights and special articles written by family members, in characteristic "Dr. Seuss-ese." is great fun at each place.

Dr. Seuss Party Favors
You'll want to send your guests home with a wonderful favor from such a wonderful party. Start with an assortment of dance floor gifts for the DJ to pass out, like glow jewelry and glamour glitter glasses. Here are some other fun ideas for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah favors:

• Copies of Oh, The Places You'll Go - either give them to your guests or donate them to local charities in your guests' names.
• Whimsical personalized lollipops
• T-shirts imprinted with your child's caricature on the back or with a hot air balloon graphic.

And, of course, Party411 can help with t-shirts, boxer shorts or any other favor you can think of for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah party! Send us an e-mail for more information on personalized party favors.

Have fun and, Mazel Tov, from the Party Girl and the Party-ettes!