ACE Conference Center News & Events

Book your Holiday Event, Festive Cocktail Party, Yuletide Holiday Reception or Seated Seasonal Dinner with Wolfgang Puck Catering at the ACE Conference Center!  Click here for our exclusive party and event planning offers!

Tags: Celebrate the Season, Christmas Parties, Corporate Events, Holiday Parties, Philadelphia Event Venues

One of our most popular entree selections on our new dinner menus from Wolfgang Puck Catering is the Miso Glazed Black Cod.  Guests are pleasantly surprised that this simple fish can take on the Asian-spiced flavor of the miso and mirin without being overpowered by the garlic. The results are light and delicious, sure, but healthy as well!  Executive Chef Chris Stevens has received so many compliments on the dish, he thought he would share it with our guests so they can enjoy it in their own homes.  Bon appetit!

Tags: Banquet Menus, Chef Chris Stevens, Chef's Notes, Food & Beverage, philadelphia wedding venues, Recipes

Have you seen our new Lafayette Ballroom and Event Deck?  Take a peek at these two exciting new spaces available for events, parties, meetings and weddings!  The Lafayette Ballroom is a high-ceiling, rustic loft space that offers a large group and intimate warmth that’s hard to find in the Philadelphia area.  Immediately adjacent to the Ballroom is our brand new, fully enclosed Lafayette Patio that allows your guests to experience the outdoors in a fully shaded, heated or air-conditioned manner.  Located just below the Lafayette Ballroom and Patio is our new Outdoor Event Deck; yet another stunning location for an open-air party, celebration, ceremony or meeting.  For weddings, should you wish to exchange vows in an outdoor setting, the Event Deck can be set in an “in-the-round” ceremony style or with traditional auditorium-style seating which works beautifully with the rolling green hills as your backdrop!  Anyway you slice it, the Lafayette Ballroom, Patio and Event Deck are fantastic party spaces that can be used together or individually for any type of special event.

Thank you to our event partners from CinemaCake Wedding and Event Filmmakers for producing this fantastic video; Arrangements Unlimited for styling the spaces; and EventQuip for providing the custom-made awning tent.

You can experience more photographs of the Lafayette Ballroom and Outoor Event Deck here and here but there’s nothing better than seeing it in person!  Our Sales and Catering Department would love nothing better than to introduce you to these incredible event spaces.  To discuss your event in further detail and to schedule your tour of these new amazing party spaces, please contact one of our Sales Representatives by calling 610-825-8000 or 800-523-3000.

Tags: Corporate Event Locations, Main Lin, Main Line, outdoor event spaces, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia weddings, Special Event Venues

One of our most popular event spaces, the Marquis Ballroom and Dining Room, began the first exciting stages of its complete renovation this week!  Although we’ve hosted many fabulous weddings, meetings and celebrations in the Marquis over the years, it’s time for a little sprucing up!  First, the demolition of everything but the windows and ceiling!  All the current surfaces, such as the carpeting, draperies and flooring, were ripped out to make way for updated finishes and modern decor.  As teh week progresses, the catering and sales teams are excited to see the new tile flooring, modern coil drapery, chic foyer furnishings and modular buffet pieces come in one by one!  Once complete, the Marquis should be even more sought-after by wedding planners and event producers as a unique party space in the Philadelphia suburbs.  We’ll share photographs of the completed renovation soon, but by all means, we’d love to introduce you to the Marquis Ballroom and Dining Room in person at your earliest convenience!

Tags: Meeting Facilities, Philadelphia Conference Centers, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia wedding venues

Chef Chris Stevens planted his own herb and vegetable garden on the grounds here at ACE.  In fact, seeing how much he relies on that garden for the freshest ingredients he can get his hands on, it looks like Chef Stevens will be tripling the size of the garden next year!  Nothing beats homegrown, organic produce and herbs!  Luckily, there’s plenty of fresh cilantro, mint and cucumber growing in the garden right now to be used with this tasty recipe for Wild Tandoori Salmon.  Easy to make at home, our friends and guests are sure to enjoy this healthy dish long after they leave the ACE Conference Center.  Happy Cooking!

Tags: Banquet Menus, Chef Chris Stevens, Chef's Garden, Chef's Notes, Food & Beverage, philadelphia weddings, Recipes

ACE Conference Center is proud to introduce our new Executive Chef, Chris Stevens!

Christopher Stevens, Executive Chef of Wolfgang Puck Catering in Philadelphia, discovered his passion for the culinary arts while experimenting with a cast iron pan, spatula and two eggs at the age of four.  By the time he turned thirteen, Chris knew that he was destined to become a chef and immerse himself in the world of food.  As our new Executive Chef, Chef Chris oversees all culinary operations and catering services for the ACE Conference Center.

BIOGRAPHY AND CULINARY CAREER

Chris’ culinary career officially began after he completed his education at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He also accomplished special training with Certified Master Chef Ed Jano in Garde Manager, where he attained instruction in Ice Sculpting and Advanced Italian Cuisine.  In order to fulfill his culinary education, Chef Stevens accepted an internship with world-renown Chef René Mettler at the Hyatt Waikoloa in Hawaii.

With intensive training from very talented chefs, Chris flew to Aspen, Colorado where he worked at the famous Poppies Bistro Café.  Within two years the restaurant attained Four Stars.  Chef Stevens’ career has since been shaped by experiences at numerous restaurants and catering companies along the East Coast:  Executive Chef at Cherry Calley Country Club in Skillman, New Jersey; Chef and Owner of the Casabona Restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey; Chef and Owner of La Mezzlauna  Restaurant; and Executive Chef of the Paris Catering Company based in Princeton, New Jersey.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Chef Chris has received accolades for his talents, including 1998 recognition as the New Jersey Chef of the Year by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, and honors from the American Culinary Federation for participation in both the James Beard Awards
and the Governor’s Inauguration Ball.  He has written articles featured in Bloomberg News and Life of a Chef.  Chef Chris Stevens has had the opportunity to personally cook for celebrities including Cher, Chevy Chase, Bill Walton, Bill Joel and celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio.

THE WOLFGANG PUCK FAMILY

Chef Chris Stevens is now a part of the Wolfgang Puck Team.  Wolfgang Puck Catering, founded in 1998, continues to set the standard for culinary excellence, bringing our team’s legendary combination of innovative cuisine and refined service to the worlds’ most renowned and demanding corporate, cultural and entertainment settings. Delivering a restaurant-quality experience in a special event setting, Wolfgang’s experienced team caters intimate weddings, convention galas, family occasions, and such noteworthy events as the Academy Awards® Governors Ball.  In keeping with Wolfgang’s culinary passion, Wolfgang’s Eat, Love, Live ™ (WELL™) philosophy is a commitment to provide fresh, natural and organic ingredients and celebrate local farmers, sustainable seafood and humanely
treated animals.  Wolfgang Puck Catering co-founded the Seafood Savvy Program with the Georgia Aquarium, inspired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to raise awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources.  For additional
information, visit wolfgangpuckcatering.com.

Tags: Chef Chris Stevens, Food & Beverage, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings, Wolfgang Puck Catering

Please join us for a very special bridal event at the ACE Conference Center on Sunday, September 18th from noon until 3:30pm.  Featuring our new  in-house, award-winning caterer, Wolfgang Puck Catering, this bridal show will offer our existing wedding clients and potential brides and grooms the opportunity to sample delicious foods while exploring our incredible property.  This bridal show is produced by Bouché Productions who always ensures there are dozens of the Philadelphia area’s wedding professionals and vendors on hand who showcase fabulous floral displays, wedding cake tastings, prizes and giveaways, designer wedding gowns and wedding planning tips.  Additionally, bridal show attendees are able to enjoy free makeovers and hair trials from some of the areas top stylists.  Attendees will also receive discounts and incentives offered by participating vendors.

TICKETS for the September 18th Bridal Event may be purchased at the discounted price of $5 directly from the Bridal Event by clicking here or calling 610-917-9300.  If you have already booked your wedding at the ACE Conference Center, please enjoy two free tickets to this event by calling our Catering Office to be placed on our VIP Guest List.

Sponsors include:  Macys, Martha Stewart, Philadelphia Wedding, The Knot, VIP Magazine, Perfect Wedding Guide, Philadelphia Magazine, Brides.com, Shutterbooth, Crate & Barrel, Premier Bride, American Laser Center and City of Hope.

Tags: Bouche Productions, Bridal Shows, Main Line Weddings, Philadelphia Bridal Events, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings

Just a couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of hosting the wedding of Christine and Sid here at the ACE Conference Center.  A sweet couple that met at a mutual friend’s party and fell in love instantly.  (read more about the couple here).

Although traditional in nature, Christine and Sid’s wedding ceremony took place in a rather unusual location.  A helicopter pad!  The ACE Conference Center boasts its own helicopter pad; which, for the most part, gets used more for weddings these days than helicopters.  Why?  Because it just happens to be situated at the top of the most scenic hill here on the property.  Once our brides and grooms see the helipad, they fall in love with the view and gorgeous natural backdrop it provides.  Christine and Sid chose to exchange their vows in the early evening and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect!  A little steamy of course, but the couple had planned for that scenario right down to the iced bottles of water they had us offer their guests to keep them cool.

Read the rest of this page »

Tags: Main Line Weddings, outdoor event spaces, Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies, philadelphia weddings, Unusual Wedding Locations, Weddings on the Helipad

What finer way to recognize Kate and William’s Royal Wedding and the Obamas’ recent visit to Britain, than to put on a traditional British Afternoon Tea for a group of local attorneys meeting at the ACE Conference Center!?

Although a favorite, many Americans don’t know that the tradition of Afternoon Tea was created in the 1840′s by Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and bosom friend of the young Queen Victoria. The British aristocracy in those days would go hunting in the morning, then eat a hearty breakfast and then wait until
8:00pm to enjoy a multi-course formal dinner. The Duchess ordered hot tea, small sandwiches and little cakes to stave off her “sinking feeling” in the middle of the afternoon. Before long, her friends were joining her in what became a delightful, social event enjoyed around a low table on couches in the ladies’ sitting rooms across England. Quickly becoming a favorite social break in an otherwise quiet afternoon, the gentlemen started joining in as well.

Afternoon Tea (or low tea) is not to be confused with High Tea, which is a hearty meal served at about 6:00pm consisting of hot tea, crusty breads, meats and other savory pies, maybe sausages, eggs, potatoes and big cakes. This meal was originally enjoyed by laborers, miners and farm workers at the end of their work day.
Living in the damp meant these hardworking men would rush home after their day and eat their meal standing up resting their plates on the mantel piece in front of the fire to get warm. Hence the term “High Tea.”

Our Afternoon Tea service includes all the expected savories and sweets from mini cucumber, salmon and watercress sandwiches, to homemade scones, clotted cream, fresh fruit and pastries. Generally a light meal that is interactive and casual, many of our bridal and baby showers enjoy Afternoon Tea as do local ladies clubs and larger corporate groups. For more information on our Afternoon Tea please contact our catering department at 800-523-8000.

Tags: Baby Showers, Breakout Stations, Bridal Showers, Corporate Events, Main Line Party Venues, Main Line Weddings, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings

Our excitement about our new partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering is off the charts!  After spending the day working on our new wedding reception menus we thought we’d share some menu planning tips and suggestions.

When it comes down to it, today’s weddings are all about hosting a fabulous party and FABULOUS begins with the basics – sensational food and a full-service bar. But contrary to popular belief, it is absolutely possible to have a well-designed menu and serve delicious food at your wedding.  Working with such famous restauranteurs-turned-caterers like Wolfgang Puck Catering only hammers that point home.  But where to start?  The first step a bride and groom should do is create their own ”foodie wish list” that details their personal food favorites, or the dreaded “ick, I hate that!” list, as well as foods that cause allergic reactions and foods that your families would expect to share at the wedding.  If you have trouble getting a handle on these items, start by writing down your favorite restaurants, cooking techniques, ethnic traditions or family recipes.  Have you discussed with each other or with your families what your guests would enjoy?  For instance, are your Italian relatives expecting to see some form of antipasto at the cocktail reception? What about your fiance’s Chinese grandparents, would they nibble on Wolfgang’s mini peking duck rolls or is a whole dim sum station a must-have?  And if your Uncle Joey only eats burgers, well, that’s certainly possible, even if they are slider-sized and oozing with melted cheese (see below and prepare to salivate).

Something else to consider when conceptualizing your reception menu is the season in which you are celebrating the wedding.  A dramatic plated first course for Summer could be Wolfgang’s Roasted Beet and Herbed Goat Cheese Napolean!  (see below). Wow, what a first impression that makes on a crowd!  For Fall or Winter weddings you may want more hot hors d’oeuvres than cold, and including seasonal produce into the dinner service might be interesting.  For instance, we love mini shooters of butternut squash soup paired with grilled crostini. Wolfgang’s well-known philosophy is to design their catering menus with the freshest, organic and humanely-raised food they can get their hands on so sharing your seasonal preferences is not only welcome but crucial from the get-go.

Aside from the types of foods you hope to enjoy at your wedding, you’ll also have to decide the service style.  Specifically, whether your reception will be buffet-style (large displays with multiple selections), food stations (several mini buffets) or a sit-down plated meal (tableside service).  Buffet-style tends to be more casual, food stations can be entertaining and sit-down is certainly the most formal.  Most wedding menus are designed with a mixture of these food service styles over the course of the 5-hour event.  For instance, during your cocktail reception a combination of passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations followed by a sit-down plated dinner keeps the grazers and talkers equally happy.  After dinner, why not repeat the cocktail-style service with passed mini-desserts, a plated dessert and a sweet dessert station?  Doesn’t this Chocolate Lava Cake look divine?

Once you have some idea as to your own personal food tastes and preferred service styles, it’s time to pour through the carefully crafted sample WPC menus.  Designing your wedding menu is a process and you’ll have to study the sample menus and compare them to your “wish list” before your final menu plan is realized.  Luckily, at ACE you have a fantastic team of professionals to help guide you through what could be a challenging process!  Particularly, when each hors d’oeuvre, stationery display and plated course tastes and looks better than the last!  Remember, the golden rule is to balance the menu with a variety of foods that have different flavors, textures, colors and temperatures to keep things enjoyable for all.  Ugh, it’s overwhelming, we know! But don’t fret!  Our ACE Planning Team will be able to take your ideas and preferences and use them to design a menu that is just right for your wedding.

Tags: catering notes, Chef Notes, Food & Beverage, Main Line Wedding Venues, Main Line Weddings, menu planning, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings, weddings

It’s official! We’re thrilled to announce our exclusive catering partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering. The ACE Conference Center is collaborating with esteemed chef, Wolfgang Puck, to further enhance the ACE Conference Center’s reputation as one of the area’s premier special event locations. “We are pleased to join forces with Wolfgang Puck Catering and their legendary, innovative cuisine, to bring a unique dining experience to our customers,” says ACE General Manager, Daniel Briones. “It’s a win-win situation – this collaboration with Wolfgang Puck Catering will further extend the public’s awareness of both our brands throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.”

Wolfgang Puck’s illustrious name carries an undeniable cachet, and is synonymous with a bold, innovative style of cooking that has redefined the essence of fine dining in America and around the world. Founded in 1998, Wolfgang Puck Catering continues to set the standard for culinary excellence, bringing its team’s legendary combination of creative cuisine and refined service to the world’s most renowned and demanding corporate, cultural, and entertainment settings. Delivering a restaurant-quality experience in a special event setting, Wolfgang’s experienced team caters intimate weddings, convention galas, family occasions, and such noteworthy events as the Academy Awards® Governors Ball. His trademark dishes, coupled with his unmistakable panache and passion, have, in fact, revolutionized the culinary industry. Guests at the ACE Conference
Center can also expect Wolfgang Puck’s menus and dishes to reflect his philosophy of incorporating fresh, natural and organic ingredients in every recipe.

With more than 25 years of event planning and production experience, the ACE Conference Center regularly hosts groups and conventions for up to 500 guests. Located just a few miles from Center City Philadelphia, ACE offers distinctive, state-of-the-art facilities situated on 300 picturesque acres of inviting woodlands and rolling hills. ACE Conference Center provides a secluded, yet highly accessible venue for any type of event, indoors and out. It perfectly combines the fast pace of urban life with the serenity of the countryside in a suburban setting.

Together, ACE and Wolfgang intend to offer guests a creative culinary experience unlike any other in the Greater Philadelphia region.

To learn more about events at the ACE Conference Center, please visit www.aceconferencecenter.com

Tags: Celebrity Caterer, Main Line Hotels, Main Line Party Venues, Meetings & Events, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings

We’ve found one of the most important things to remember when planning a child’s celebration is to make sure it reflects the child’s personality, hobbies or the theme of the event.  That includes the activities and games that are carefully chosen to entertain the honoree and his or her friends for the length of the party.  For the events with 75-100 children, that’s no easy feat!  For instance, a child interested in hip hop music may want to incorporate street break dancers, airbrushed graffiti t-shirts and “bling your own” cellphones into the party design.  Or, for a child interested in winter sports, perhaps a virtual reality skiing simulator, make your own snow cones, snowboarding digital photos and embroidered fleece hats are chosen.  Once the child has a particular theme or an environment in mind, it’s realitively easy to find activities, games, favors and performers to flesh out the concept.

[Photo:  Airgraphics Entertainment]

Generally, we suggest at least two but up to five different games or activities for the kids “cocktail hour” to keep the children fully engaged and entertained before the dance party begins.  The number of activities varies depending on the style of the activity, the number of children attending and the other entertainment planned.  We also suggest choosing to offer games and activities for the entire party.  Not all children are dancers; hence, why party deejays also incorporate dance floor group games and party activities into the whole evening.  Other entertainers may not want any distraction away from the dance floor after the kids come into the ballroom.  The deejay, band or emcee for the party will work on a party timeline to determine the best scenario for the party, which may or may not include times to open and close the activities throughout the evening to avoid an empty dance floor.

At the ACE Conference Center we’ve worked with countless companies, performers and entertainers who provide a wide range of activities to suit every event.  Some of our recent favorite games and activities for bar and bat mitzvahs include:

• Funky Heads:  Remember the good ‘ole Dance Heads?  Well take it up a notch to Funky Heads!  Kids get to star in a music video without having to sing or dance!  They sit and bop they’re heads to a funky 70’s song that they select which gets superimposed onto the bodies of professional dancers against an animated background.
• Nascar Racing:  This giant 20’ x 25’ track and lifelike driving experience is loved by both girls and boys.  Players stand behind steering wheel consoles and operate radio-controlled race cars on a miniature track.
• Photo Booths:  There are many versions available of the old-fashioned photo booth that you remember from the boardwalk.  Since they don’t require a large space they’re perfect to tuck into the corner of the ballroom for hours of fun!  Guests sit and pose for their four picture black & white or full-color strips. Some even print in duplicate so the host can get a copy of the photo strip as a keepsake.
• Air-Brushed Graffiti T-Shirts:  Each child gets their name or a fun design airbrush painted by an airbrush artist onto a t-shirt.  Plain white tees or tanks are readily available but hats, towels, boxers and a wholla other options can be had.  [Photo of supercool airbrush artistry above provided by Airgraphics Entertainment]
• Vintage T-Shirt Pillows:  For the crafty, take home favor activity, pillows are made using classic or vintage t-shirts!  During the party the t-shirts are cut and sewn into a trendy pillow for take home.

Tags: ace conference center, bar mitzvahs, games and activities, kids parties, party favors

What’s a cocktail party without a signature cocktail? Although the concept of a personalized beverage or cocktail isn’t a new one in the world of events, it’s still a fun way to add a personal “splash” to the party scene. Personalized or “branded” cocktails can be served as guests arrive or throughout the event in a manner that incorporated the party color, theme or location.  For instance, for an April wedding where flowering cherry branches are used as centerpieces a pink signature cocktail called a “Love Blossom” may be passed on pretty silver trays.  Or, for a tropical themed anniversary party, displays of Tequila Sunrise’s are displayed on the corners of the bar and named a “Forever Honeymoon.”

Certainly, some enthusiastic brides and grooms embrace the signature drink concept with gusto; putting various concoctions together in the hopes that one magical elixir will spring forth with their own unique twist.  However, before you don your chemistry aprons or head out to the bar to sample recipes, think about what you would want to drink at your own event.  Do you prefer martinis?  Champagne Cocktails?   Wine?   What would you be tempted to drink if you saw it coming your way on an elegant tray?   The answer might surprise you!   For many guests, they reach for a martini or champagne glass if the color itself if pleasing to the eye.  Red, pink and pale orange drinks are welcoming.  Other get excited when a simple glass of champagne is handed to them.  When in doubt, go with what you know.  Rather than deciding on a complicated, new recipe with a thousand different ingredients, you might want to consider classic cocktails you, and many others, already enjoy and are sure to identify as it passes.  Such as a pale pink Cosmopolitan Martini or a vibrant Mango Mojito.  You can serve something that is a family favorite and simply call it what it is, like a Manhattan, a Side Car or White Russian.  Or, you can put our own playful name on it and VOILA!  It’s your own, personalized signature beverage!  Corny for some, never-ending fun for others.

Of course, for those of you who enjoy something new, original and a tad adventurous, there are many intriguing new mixes to tempt you!  Our in-house mixologists are always coming up with delicious seasonal beverages that not only look good but taste sensational!  Here are some of our favorite specialty cocktails for Spring, CHEERS!

The ”Red Cloud” is a sophisticated but simple martini using vodka, pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, honey syrup and a orange twist.  Served in a standard martini glass it’s a sure thing for everyone AND an easy pour for the bartenders.

A “Spring Fling” is made with spiced rum, fresh ginger syrup, tonic water and fresh whole raspberries.  We prefer to serve it in a rocks glass or small snifter, but it could be served in a highball piled high with ice on a hot day.  Light and refreshing with a bit of effervesence, it’s a popular drink with the ladies.

{Photos:  Evantine Design, Melissa Paul, Mallory Samson}

Tags: party planning, signature cocktails, wedding tips

As a suburban Philadelphia event venue that offers multiple spaces for social gatherings, we are privileged to host a wide variety of family celebrations including weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.  But it’s the bar and bat mitzvah parties that seem to be on the rise on our busy event calendar.  In fact, we’ve booked three bar mitzvahs alone this week and it’s only Tuesday!  We’re lucky enough to have several synagogues in the immediate neighborhood around us, such as Congregation Or Ami, Temple Beth Tikvah and Temple Brith Achim, to name a few.  Certainly, most people think of bar mitzvahs as large family celebrations but do you know the religious symbolism behind the party?

The term “Bar Mitzvah” literally means “son of the commandment.”  “Bar” actually means “son” in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people and much of the Middle East.  The term “Bat” means “daughter” in both the Hebrew and Aramaic languages.  ”Mitzvah” means “commandment” in both Hebrew and Aramaic.  Technically, the term refers to the child who is coming of age and now has the same religious rights as an adult, including being morally and ethically responsible for his or her own decisions and actions.  Oftentimes, it is correct to refer to someone as “becoming a bar (or bat) mitzvah.”  However, the term is more commonly used today to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself, and you are more likely to hear that someone is “having a bar mitzvah” or that your child is  ”invited to a bat mitzvah.”

So, really, what exactly does it mean to become a bar or bat mitzvah?  Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the Commandments in the Torah, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have to their community as adult members.  However, at the age of 13 for boys and 12 for girls, children become of age to observe the Commandments of the religion because they are now able to distinguish right from wrong and take responsibility for their actions.  Specifically, the child formally joins their community by leading the weekly religious service as their first public announcement of that obligation.  The celebrant is required to recite the weekly Torah portion, direct parts of the service and lead the congregation in prayer during the Saturday services at the synagogue.  All in Hebrew!  Quite impressive for a twelve or thirteen year old let alone an adult!   Indeed, it is common practice for the mitzvah celebrant to spend months and months (and months) in Hebrew School at their synagogue studying the Torah cover-to-cover and learning the Hebrew language specifically needed for the ceremony.  But it’s a tremendous achievement for the child and his family to become a bar or bat mitzvah.  Relatives and family friends will travel from far distances to witness and participate in these milestone celebrations as proof of their importance and social standing.

Like a wedding, if not more so, to become a bar or bat mitzvah is something to celebrate!   Generally, from what we have seen over the years, the religious morning service is followed by a kiddush luncheon at the synagogue shared with the other regular congregants.  Then, later that same day, the celebrant’s friends, camp friends and family members gather for a party that includes games and activities as well as dinner and dancing.  That’s where we come in here at the ACE Conference Center!   Mazel Tov!

[Photos courtesy of Susan Beard Design]

Tags: bar/bat mitzvahs, Jewish events, Private Parties, religious events, social events