Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas
Celebrate Your Daughter's Big Day with Style
When your daughter turns sixteen, it is time to plan a special birthday party. Here are some great ideas for celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime "Sweet 16."
Here are some great (and fun) ideas for celebrating your daughter’s "Sweet 16" birthday party. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great time.
Invitations
Print a fashion dress clipart image onto pink or white card stock paper. Print below the clipart, "You are invited to _________'s "Sweet 16" birthday party," and add the party details. Add a real bow to the dress waistline. You can find tiny bow embellishments at most craft stores. This is intended to be a postcard invite, not a three-quarter fold.
Decorations
You can use your daughter’s favorite colors when decorating for her "Sweet 16," but traditionally, pinks and purples are used for decorating. Whatever colors you choose, make sure you get plenty of streamers, and balloons to fill the space. Sixteen is an age when girls like to hang out with their friends, so give them a table for eating, but provide plenty of space for just hanging out. Make the tables look spectacular by covering them in shimmering pink fabric and adding a balloon centerpiece. Tie several helium balloons tighter, tie them onto some kind of weight and place the weight in a pretty box or bag full of tissue paper. Another cute idea is to frame pictures of your daughter and her friends and decorate the frames with rhinestones and bows. Place on the tables. These can also double as take home gifts for the party guests.
Activities
If you are have an all-girl party, then you can plan lots of “girly” activities, such as a makeover slumber party or a limo ride to dinner or a movie. Invite several adults over to help give the girls a complete makeover right at home. Or, you can take them to a spa and let them indulge. If you want to stay at home for the activities, then why not have a movie night? If boys are involved, then you will need to plan a little differently. Karaoke is always fun for this age, for boys and girls. Provide plenty of music choices. You can even stage a talent show and have each teen come with an act to perform for everyone. If you are thinking “fancy”, then give the guests a chance to dress up, and plan a catered dinner party, formal wear required. Make sure you take plenty of pictures and send them to the guests in the thank you cards.
Cake and Snacks
You need a spectacular cake to top the night off. A "Sweet 16" party only comes around once in a lifetime, so find a special cake. One option is to have a layered cake made in her favorite colors, or have the cake made in the shape of a car or purse. If you want a decorated sheet cake, then have an image of your daughter transferred onto the cake.
As far as snacks, you need to remember that kids this age do love to eat. You will need to have two or three sodas per kid at the minimum. Make finger foods that are easy to eat, such as a variety of finger sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and a fruit and vegetable tray. Also think about using a fondue pot full of chocolate.
Goodie Bags
Girls never outgrow the goodie bags at a party. Even at 16, you can find a lot of neat things to give them. Consider a small stuffed “Sweet 16” bear, a photo album or a mini-scrapbook. You can even fill a small, inexpensive purse (check the dollar store) with lip gloss, nail polish and fingernail files.
