Sweet 16

The timing of your party can determine how much food you need.

Example: Last Dec, we had a blast for our 13yr old. Teens were there by 6pm so we had mini pizzas, chicken strips, chocolate fountain with different dipping foods, a make your own Sundae and fountain drinks. We had that much food because they were there at dinner time.

Now: fast forward to this week for the end of the year party. We are not starting til 7pm. From experience of the Dec party, the kiddos LOVED the make your own Sundae and fountain drinks. SO, we are only doing those 2 items since the party starts after the norm dinner time.

Do you plan to have the party at home or someplace else. DJ or lots of cd's and/or karoke machine for music? Pool? A lot of other locations have a minimum charge for food and per person.

Other themes could be luau, pizzas from Little Ceasar's are cheap, pick up sodas on special at the grocery/target. Make punch with orange/lime sherbet and orange soda. Is this a surprise party? The 16 yr old can help make things for decoration, foods.

We have a DJ and we also have several disposal cameras around for the kids to take lots of pictures. Oriental Trading has a lot of stuff for decorating and ideas that are reasonable.

Bottom line is what does your 16 yr old like? What does she want in a party? Work around those ideas.

A little other advice is RSVP's. They just don't happen very often. That is the hardest to plan. I am going through that one again now. I can't believe how disrespectful some people are about RSVP's.

PS regarding the Gaylord.....Great idea!!!! We did that at the Shops of Legacy Marriott in Plano (12 yr old) and it was a blast!! I had a suite, 6 girls slept in the bedroom area, had their own shower, etc. I had the living area with a sofa bed and bathroom/shower. We had dinner at Nicola's after swimming, primping, etc and then walked around the shops area, when we got back to the room, they watched movies and then VERY late we had snack from room service. The girls left by 10am the next am after donuts, milk and juice. The suite had a small fridge so that was helpful for keeping snacks.

Another thing we did was a limo party (10 and 11) yr old party). It is not as pricey as you might think. I spent about $300 on a limo for 3 hrs. We picked each girl up at her home in the limo, went riding around Plano, through mall parking lots, cinamark and popular places. Came home to pizza, movies and snacks sleepover.

I realize some people might think these have been over the top but in the end.....it HAS been worth it to our daughter. She does not need any material things and her parties are her interest. She likes to have a party and share with all of her friends. I don't see much wrong with her wanting to SHARE the fun with her friends. The last 4 yrs worth of parties have been far worth it in the long run. I love seeing my daughter AND her friends having fun in a safe environment.

TF

You might try a murder mystery birthday party. Go to a toy store or Target and buy a murder mystery game. Go with the Theme of the game. Tell the kids to dress up as a part (assign ahead of time). The one we bought was all set as a dinner party. Since it was all girls at the party, I just had them dress in their sunday best and assigned parts when they arrived. They didn't care if they had the role of a man or woman. Get a small token for the person who solves the mystery. You might be amazed at how much the kids get into the game.

For the party I had, I decorated the table extra fancy and got out my best china. For dinner the girls had chicken strips, angel hair pasta, & garlic bread. I made the birthday cake ahead of time and put just plain white frosting on it. After they solved the murder, the girls enjoyed decorating the cake. I also made a punch instead of just sodas.

This is fairly inexpensive depending on what you do. You can get the game for about $30 and spend about $40 on food and cake. The party we had included 8 girls. It was cheap compared to some of the other birthday party's. All the kids that went to our party are still talking about it 2 years later.

Good Luck!

Remember that anything that can be bought can be made. I make my own roll ups, you take a large flour tortilla (I get the gourmet kind), garden hearb cream cheese, sliced cheese, and lunch meat (I get the cheap shredded kind), green leaf letuce. Spread the cream cheese on the tortilla, add a piece of lettuce on one half, add some meat and cheese (I break 1 piece of cheese down the middle and use 1 per tortilla). Start rolling at the end with the stuff, after it is rolled up, slice it into bite size pieces. Depending on how many people there are yo ucan make 1 pkg of tortillas and have a platter full of food. You can also see if someone has a chocolate fountain that can be borrowed, and dip marshmellows, strawberries, and grahm cracker sticks. As for decorations, get a helium tank from wal-mart it comes with balloons and buy curling ribbon.

I helped my sister plan my niece's Sweet 16 party last May. We did a fun dinner out for the girls, with limo and dinner at Jin-Beh (hibachi grill). I realize the limo is quite a splurge, but you could always do without it...just you & another mom just drive the girls yourself...or if some of the girls can drive already, they can drive themselves. And, we saved on dinner by getting Buy-One-Get-One-Free coupons from the Entertainment Coupon Book.

After dinner, we planned a scavenger hunt around their town of Flower Mound...including mostly places that mean something to the birthday girl...movie theater, Starbucks, high school, video rental place, ice cream shop, etc. We typed up clues, put them in numbered sealed envelopes, and told them they could only open the next envelope when they had finished the previous one. And, there would be a yummy treat when they finished. And, they had to get something from each place (a Starbuck's napkin, ice cream spoon, etc.) or take a picture at each place. So, then my niece had momentos and pictures of the group as keepsakes from the party. They had SO much fun!

When they were done with the scavenger hunt, they came back to the house, where we had a chocolate fountain going (you can buy them now for around $40) with strawberries, bananas, pretzels, & angel food cake to dip in the chocolate. They LOVED it! And, we had plastic "fancy glasses" like cosmo/margarita/wine glasses for them to drink their sodas in. Then, they all just had a sleepover.

We also decorated the house with basic Sweet 16 decorations & balloons from Party City in a purple, pink, & silver theme. All the girls had SUCH a good time, and still talk about it being one of the most fun parties they've ever attended.

Good luck...and have fun with it!

Maybe an Amierican Idol themed party, with kareoke?

Go to www.marthastewart.com or Ladies Home Journal website.

C.-
Not sure when her b-day is but there is a lot of different themes to go with and sometimes the season can play in your favor. I think that creating an atmosphere that screams fun makes all the difference. If it's summertime and you have a pool or live in a development where you can rent out the pool and can then create a sundown cabana theme and do tiki huts, cool drinks that look like cocktails, cute hanging lighting, floating disco lights (new at Home Depot or Lowes), music, maybe simple foods (Sandra Lee was a great idea), and some palm trees (lighted ones from Big Lots or real ones still in pots that you can take home and plant later).....these kinds of things get away from having it feel like such a kid party and upgrade her to feeling adult without having to spend lots of $$. I could keep going but I think you get the idea. Ask your daughter for her thoughts, I'm sure she has plenty at this age. :) good luck.

C.,
I've been suffering for 3 months now planning my daughter's sweet 16... suffering because we do not agree. I don't even think she should have a party, but MTV says different... so....

I got a room at the Gaylord for $220/night includes breakfast and all fees. Me, her and her girlfriends will sleep over. They're arriving at 3 pm.... so they plan on hanging by the pool till I bring sushi (from Target, $20 gets quite a bit there), and little open face sandwiches that I'm making. That's "dinner". And cupcakes for the "cake".

Then I'm stocking the room with snacks so whenever someone gets hungry, they'll have something to eat.

If you're having it at home, just go for lots of appetizers... Asian - sushi, potstickers, teriyaki chicken sticks, with Chinese chicken salad.

If you're doing BBQ - then you could do crockpot sausage with BBQ sauce, hot dogs, hamburgers etc.

I am sooooo hoping that I only need 1 room at the Gaylord. I have 2 booked just in case, but I'm hoping only a handful of friends will come and I can use just one room. Or that some will choose not to spend the night. The party is more than I wanted to spend, but she bugged me so much about it I just didn't want to live with her complaining that I didn't give her a big enough party.

This is surely a preview to wedding planning in the future....

Finger foods always work.

Sandwiches, hot wings, pizza cut in squares, strawberries, watermelons, and grapes. Even hot dogs, little meatballs and smoked sausage with barbecue sauce. Look online for a cake idea, maybe her picture on the cake from Sam's or a three tiered cake with flowers or things she like.

Also, a nice theme I have seen is the girls first inital
A "M" party. Gift can start with the letter M. (Money, M&M, M pillow, M stationery, etc,

Also, everyone can bring her 16 things- 16 dollars, 16 pair of socks, 16 flip flops, 16 roses, 16 gift cards to the movies,

Just make it fun and memorable.

Chocolate fountain,

Hey you.

My son will be 16 on June 25. We are going to give him a ride in a Limosine with 9 of his friends. The cost is $200. He is going to the movies in the mall, and his friends have to pay their way into the movie. The limo ride is 4 hours and that's his b-day gift and party. Best wishes on your plans.

Wow......all I can say about these parties related here........I AM on a limited budget.....just did a 16 for my son.....at home, pizza from Little Cesars ($5/each) chips, dip, drinks that I had purchased on sale......they played video games and basketball....from 3-6.......my daughter turns 16 next year and we will do something similiar....but with music more of the focus.......my daughter is well aware that the MTV parties are fantasy for most people but I did tell her she could try for one from them.......she has been to parties with limos, pedis, dances at restaurants......no hotels in her future except on trips.......good luck on a party that they can afford without going into debt.....

go to FoodNetwork.com and look under Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee. She has done some of the coolest girl parties and she is all about the budget!

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable party.

Check out this website for some memorable things to do for a 16th birthday that will set this party apart from her other birthdays. Then click on the link for Teen Parties to look at some themes. Something like black light party would be fun, different, and no more expensive that buying the black light lightbulbs!

http://www.easy-party-ideas-and-games.com/sweet-sixteen-p...

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!

Google this!!! There are lots of themes for lots of parties online, pages and pages of results. Go to one, you'll flip! Then click on the theme you're wondering about, there are so many ideas.... They list alot of things you can do for little or no money at all! For sweet 16 parties and any other party you're thinking of throwing. I love the internet!

sweet 16...how about sweets. Cupcakes and candy for treats. I do candy buffet's for weddings and other events. They really are not too expensive, but if the budget is too tight I would be happy to give some ideas on doing your own candy buffet. Email me for details if interested in either going through me or if you just want some ideas.
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Retro may be a lot of fun. I would ask your kid what she is interested in. Chicken salad sandwiches may be fun. I know people who love anything that Sam's Club sells.

Have fun.

Little Caesar's Pizza - Large Pepperoni and Large Cheese pizza are only $5 each.......I've never met a kid who didn't like pizza. Cut up a head of lettuce for some salad to go with it, and make some brownies and a birthday cake. Easy! Just decorate in crepe paper and ballons. The kids don't care how the decorations look, they just want to get together and party and eat! Don't waste your money on DJ's and hotel rooms; it's not worth it in the end. Instead, save the money and get her a special gift instead.

If it's a summer party, how about a luau (expecially if you have a pool, or are able to rent a community pool)? I think it is all about picking a fun theme, and going all out with it. Have the guests dress up, and I'm sure marthastewart.com would have plenty of idea to make decorations or maybe even tropical themed food.

Good luck!