Soccer Champ Mitzvah

Let everyone know they are invited to a game at [Your Last Name] stadium! Use a soccer theme invitation for the party, inserted with the formal Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitation. You can also send it after your formal invitation is sent.

Or use a great photo ticket invitation with your child's face or a personalized ticket invitation to invite your guests! What could be better than a ticket to the game? You can even write that they need the ticket for entry to the party and have someone standing at the door as a ticket taker.

A caricature or semi-custom caricature invitation is also a great option for such a special party. They are completely personalized for your child and are great for centerpieces, sign in boards, seating cards and other decorations at your party. Your caricature can be of the celebrant holding a soccer ball, wearing a real soccer whistle, waving a pennant, sitting on a suitcase covered with travel stickers (to places he or she has been and/or wants to go).

Soccer Decorations and Party Supplies
Start with a directional sign in the lobby, pointing to the ballroom, that reads, "World Cup Tour Registration this way!" Overhead hang flags from the different countries that play in the World Cup. Standing next to it would be a lifesize cutout of the celebrant dressed to play soccer.

Fill the welcome area with bouquets of soccer balloons mixed with black and white latex balloons. You can create the bouquets yourself or hire a balloon company to create the bouquets and balloon arches for your entryway.

For a fabulous welcome piece, hire a balloon company that can create a balloon sculpture to look like a soccer player standing in front of a balloon goal. Your guests will love taking pictures with this display. Here's an example of a soccer player balloon sculpture.

In your cocktail area, serve adults their drinks in light up pilsner glasses. Imprinted cocktail napkins are also a nice touch at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Have them imprinted to say, "[Your child's name], World Cup Bat Mitzvah Tour" and the date of the party.

Use a round soccer ball shaped soccer theme sign in board or a personalized 3D soccer theme sign in book. Both are fabulous and would make a fabulous memento from your event. Be sure to bring pens so everyone can sign them and leave good wishes for your child. You can include a sign with the book or board that says, "Score a goal with [your child's name] and tell him he's a soccer super star!

For your tables, don't just use a standard table number. Name the tables after famous soccer players or your child's famous team. Each table could also be a different position on a soccer team. For seating cards, use personalized tickets as seating cards for the adults. You can even get them with pouches and lanyards so your guests can wear them around the party. Seating cards are also great fun! Have a sign on the table that reads, "Tour Registration for [your child's name]'s World Cup Tour. Take your seat, opening ceremonies are about to begin!"

We love to draw people's attention to the dance floor. A great way to do that is by hanging a large personalized soccer party banner over the DJ. Try fun wording, like [Your Child’s Name]'s World Cup Tour!" If you're not hanging country flags in the entry, then use them over the dance floor or throughout the party room. If your tables are named for different countries, then hang the flags over the corresponding table.

If you are having a candle lighting ceremony, don't settle for a boring taper candle. Choose soccer ball candles for your ceremony. Or have a diagram of the playing field with thirteen positions. Those being honored will put a "ball" representing them on the field (attached with Velcro).

Soccer Table Decorations
Start with great linens. Alternate black and white linens and napkins around the room. Or look for a soccer theme table topper from a linen rental company.

If you created a caricature of your child for your invitation, it is great to use it as your centerpiece. Have it turned into a 3 sided centerpiece base and have balloons coming out of the center. You can also use real soccer equipment on the table for your centerpiece. Tie them together in an extra large cellophane bag with a bow and have balloons coming off the top. After the party donate these items to local schools. Be sure to include a note on the table explaining the donation so no one takes the centerpiece home!

A felt soccer hat with a small hole in the top is perfect for balloons and makes a fun centerpiece for the kids tables.

Instead of candles on the tables, choose personalized mini tabletop lanterns with a photo of your child playing soccer on all four sides. The all come with LED candles and look great surrounding a centerpiece. Instead of confetti, scatter foil-wrapped chocolate soccer balls around the table. You can get these online or at a local candy store.

Put one personalized Bar and Bat Mitzvah camera on each table for your guests to use for pictures! They can take them home if you'd like, or leave them so you can see what great pictures everyone took during the evening.

A great favor at each seat is a "tour itinerary" written to highlight your child or any special guests attending your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Have them printed and placed at the tables for everyone to read and enjoy during dinner.

Soccer Party Favors
Have a few options for the DJ to pass out during the evening like soccer ball maracas and soccer ball beads. Also have inflatable soccer balls for everyone to kick around the dance floor. Glow necklaces will always be a Bar and Bat Mitzvah staple item!

A great "thank you for coming" gift is a personalized soccer ball keychain with your child's name and Bar Mitzvah date imprinted on the side. You can have the valets put them on your guest's keychains with a note thanking them for attending. They will find it when they get home and get a great laugh!

T-shirts are fun for each kid with "[your child’s name]'s World Cup Tour" along with the list of cities/countries it visited listed underneath on the back. And, of course, Party411 can help with t-shirts, boxer shorts or any other favor you can think of for your baseball 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!