Reading the Torah on Friday night has been a signature of the Reform Movement for since the 1920’s. While it is not necessarily widespread as a platform for celebrating b* mitzvah, it is certainly an option with much precedent! While there is plenty of precedent, there is no set ritual beyond the Reform practice for this type of Torah ceremony.
In a traditional style Friday night service, preliminary songs and Psalms precede the Shabbat evening prayers. Ask any kid who has been to and loved Jewish overnight camp of any type, and they will regularly cite the spirited Friday night Shabbat services as a key highlight of their time at camp! In most synagogue and overnight camp settings an hour is more than enough time for a standard Friday evening service. It is a reasonable amount of time for the base of a Friday b* mitzvah celebration.
The Torah aspect will be the big difference for the length of the service. One could choose to read three small readings, as on Shabbat afternoon. This would allow honors to be extended to more family members. Some families like the idea of just a single reading from the Torah, exclusive for the student celebrating b* mitzvah. They like the idea of the student being the sole focus of attention in the moment. Of course, it is always appropriate for students to share a few words of Torah, a personal prayer for the occasion, and/or a statement of what the celebrations means in their lives.
Five Considerations that Matter:
Do you want more or less opportunity to extend Torah honors?
Are there certain melodies that are important to your family that you want to use?
Do you want to offer participation to extended family members, e.g. siblings, grandparents, etc. in the service beyond the Torah reading?
Are you printing booklets or projecting the service? Make sure your venue has the technical capacity your service needs, e.g. sound reinforcement, projector and screen, etc.
Do you expect to pivot from ceremony to celebration onsite? Have a plan for your guests if a pivot requires the room to be reset.