Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitation Etiquette

A bar or bat mitzvah is the stepping stone in the young child's life, as they become an adult member of the congregation. As I'm sure you already know, this happens at age 13. And if your son or daughter is approaching their birthday you are getting ready for their mitzvah ceremony. Here are some guidelines to help you with the invitation process!

Time Frame

We recommend ordering your invitations about 3 months before your event. You want to make sure your guests receive the invitation at least one month in advance. We recommend to send the invitations 4-6 weeks before the date of the event. Standard etiquette is to request a response (RSVP) for the party 3 weeks in advance. No RSVP is needed for the ceremony, as it is open to the entire congregation. It is common for the family to host a private party or luncheon after the service, this is where the RSVP comes into play! It is also customary to leave the party details off the general invitation and include an insert card for those invited to the private celebration.