The great thing about a graduation party or bar/bat mitzvah is that it is all about the individual who is being celebrated. Everything from their favorite foods, to their favorite colors, games, ice cream flavors are used to come up with a theme. Over the years I’ve probably catered a few hundred of these parties and the one underlying theme they all share is a sense of fun; that obscure thing that not a lot of 50 something’s think enough about in their daily life. OK, maybe just me then. All jesting aside, whether it’s a bar/bat mitzvah celebration or a high-school, college or grad school celebration, a sense of fun is a must. Centerpieces don’t have to be typical floral vases. You could collect their favorite things, (books, cd’s, movies, games, sports) and make a montage of all of these items for the buffet centerpiece or individually on guest tables.

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are my personal favorite parties to cater. I love the energy and excitement. I especially love the event planning piece. A part of me gets to let that little kid out and help choose all the fun games, music and stylistic elements of the various themes we’ve done like “rocker”, “race car driver” or “Hollywood diva”. It’s a fun creative process.

One of the bar mitzvah’s we planned AND catered, centered on rock n’roll music. We dotted the floor with life size cardboard cutouts of the hosts favorite musicians/rockers. Centerpieces were vinyl records with black, red and white balloons. We had a green screen and a rock stage backdrop and guitars. Guests played guitars to the hosts favorite music and the whole time were being viewed by guests on a large screen in the dining area. Hysterical and very memorable. Kids took home a CD of all the performances! The guests also took advantage of a “make your own T-shirt”. They chose their favorite band and we heat pressed it right to the shirt color of their choice. AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc. A help yourself candy bar offered glass bakers jars filled with the hosts favorite penny candies and all took home chocolate bars engraved with a pic of the host yielding a guitar, of course!!

Kids ate burgers, fries and milk shakes. The adults could also munch on these treats, but they were offered a slightly more sophisticated menu of Sushi and passed hors d’oeuvres. The night ended with some jams including the host and his dad, while EVERYONE danced until they shut us out!

We work in tandem with some amazing vendors who can create some fantasy backdrops and themes like “Hollywood” with Oscar centerpieces, black and gold balloons, real film. A red carpet welcome, limo service, life size cardboard cutouts of favorite actors. Or how about a “15 seconds of fame” green screen where guests enter into the stage area and are told to “Strike various poses” as hundreds of paparazzi style flashbulbs capture the moment. Each guest receives a DVD with everyone’s photo shoot. Screens can be placed around the event showing the action as it happens. A custom lounge area with red velvet couches.

Or, a more low key option might include having a few Boston food trucks come and cater your big day. Like Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, or M&M Ribs. Let Susan A. Lane Events handle all the party logistics including the food trucks, but also theme development, entertainment, games, favors, transportation, centerpieces… and anything else you need to make your event a success.

What about a DJ scratcher studio- a high tech computer scratch machine that offers state of art CD recording capabilities? The units offer beats such as hip hop, trance, rap, rock, garage, underground, drum & Bass.  Staff on-hand will show your friends how to operate it with ease. When you are done practicing a staff member will load a blank CD and start recording your live demo that you get to take home as a party favor on CD. Check it out here:

Last year, among the many fun themed parties we did, was a middle school graduates favorite food: a pasta station manned by one of our chefs. We offered Penne or Bow-ties along with a variety of sauces complimented by assorted toppings like grilled chicken, Italian sausage, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, grated cheeses, broccoli, bacon, roasted tomatoes, pancetta, arugula, spinach and grilled seasonal veggies. Of course, a ceasar salad was served along with, being the most popular salad of most teens. A baby arugula salad with EVOO, fresh lemon juice, shaved parm and fresh ground pepper was also served as an option for the grown-ups.

More sophisticated passed hors d’oeuvres satiated the adults: Rosemary Pommes Frites in bamboo cones with lemon aioli, Hoisin Meatballs and Crunchy Parmesan and Prosciutto Asparagus Straws.

We finished off the tented graduation in Concord on a beautiful June afternoon with a huge display of mini cupcakes which the girls went crazy over!

Another graduation we did last June was again the graduates favorite foods: A Taco Bar with Carne Asada (steak) and pulled chicken, along with flour tortillas, fresh salsa, verde salsa, guac, pickled onions, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, black beans and seasoned rice.
We did an ethnic take on the classic ceasar and did a “Mexican” Ceasar salad with grilled hearts of Romaine, a Chipotle Ceasar dressing and corn tortilla chips. Delicious!!!

Guests started off with simple apps like chips, salsa, guacamole and Virgin Pina Colada’s for the kids, while the adults sipped margarita’s and Mojito’s.

After feasting on a celebration cake and ice cream, the kids enjoyed a crazy pool party at dusk while the grown-ups continued their socializing poolside. Ahh, summer, will it ever return??

All in all, your graduation or bat/bar mitzvah celebration can be as simple as burgers and dogs or as complex as bringing in interactive games, photo booths, ornate centerpieces, gorgeous linens and fabulous staging. Susan Lane and Jessica Buckle will make your event truly unique and memorable.

We can do it all!! If you want to brainstorm some ideas with us, feel free to call the office anytime. Susan @ 508-783-1663.

• Ceremony Locations
• Venue Coordination
• Menu Planning and Catering Selection
• Staffing Services
• Contract Negotiations
• Budget Planning
• Event Design and Décor
• Logistics and Timelines
• Specialty Rentals and Linens
• Tenting
• Photography
• Entertainment
• Audio/Visual/Lighting
• Transportation and Valet Services
• Gifts and Favors
• Wedding Cakes
• Invitations and Placecards