Ideas for (budget-friendly) Cinderella-themed Sweet 16

[mousestruck]

We are hosting a Cinderella-themed Sweet 16 for my daughter this summer. (She is a true Disney princess since the age of 3!) We are on a budget, so we're having it in the backyard and trying our best to make it special. We'll be renting a white tent with lights, tables with light blue linens and a small dance floor. Instead of a DJ, she'll be making a playlist for music. We're serving appetizers and desserts (instead of a full meal), along with a smores bar for fire pit. We're setting up a princess-themed photo background with props for selfies. We're making Cinderella carriage chocolate lollypops for favors. I would love to hear your creative ideas! We're hoping to make the evening as special as possible for my daughter!

 

[lorijohnhill]

How about getting a Cinderella type dress for her to wear? You might be able to find something at your local thrift store that would work.

For centerpieces you could pick up globe style vases at the dollar store or WalMart for about a dollar each. You can get blue marbles or rocks at the dollar store for filler then maybe a pretty flower surrounded by wires with stars hanging from them to symbolize the dust from Fairy Godmother's wand.

This is a photo of the prototype for my wedding centerpieces. The hearts (purchased on clearance at Oriental Trading) were the wedding favors and became Christmas ornaments. Overall a VERY inexpensive centerpiece. You could do something similar adapted to your theme.



You could also sprinkle some star shaped confetti on the tables.

Party planning is so much fun!

 

[Narnia_girl]

Following along because my daughter will be 16 in the fall and I love this idea.

Check the dollar store mini clear plastic shoes (wedding favors). We got these one time for a Cinderella party but I can't remember what we did with them.
Also, fall decor should be out in July--pumpkins would be a nice touch.

 

[lesliekatya]

Do a search on Etsy for Cinderella and they have lots of stuff, including pretty glass slipper cake toppers.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I love doing this. Our eldest daughters sweet 16 was Broadway and our next was Disney World.
One thing I would do is a sweets-dessert table and everything be blue and white. If you can get a pumpkin and paint it white to look like a coach in the center of the table and put all the candy and dessert around it in miscellaneous glass jars you have around the house. You can do blue and white m&ms, jelly beans, misc candy, marshmallows dipped in white chocolate then dipped in blue sprinkles, etc. Once I filled plastic high heel shoes with jelly beans and gave them as a favor for a friends party. You can get the high heel shoes and put them around the dessert table.

You can also make her name out of wooden letters - to look like Cinderella. I did this for my daughter but Disney themed.

Here are some pictures.



You can use the last letter for Cinderella on all the letters of your daughters name.



This is the one we made for our daughter. I got the letters at Michaels and made the display out of Styrofoam and white wrapping paper. I had the boa in the house and plucked some feathers out and glued them around the base and put a string of lights that I had in the house.

Have fun - We had such a blast making everything for our daughters sweet 16. It is so much fun.

 

[mousestruck]

How about getting a Cinderella type dress for her to wear? You might be able to find something at your local thrift store that would work.

For centerpieces you could pick up globe style vases at the dollar store or WalMart for about a dollar each. You can get blue marbles or rocks at the dollar store for filler then maybe a pretty flower surrounded by wires with stars hanging from them to symbolize the dust from Fairy Godmother's wand.

This is a photo of the prototype for my wedding centerpieces. The hearts (purchased on clearance at Oriental Trading) were the wedding favors and became Christmas ornaments. Overall a VERY inexpensive centerpiece. You could do something similar adapted to your theme.

View attachment 160124


QUOTE]


Party planning is so much fun![/

Terrific idea! I love your centerpiece! Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[mousestruck]

Following along because my daughter will be 16 in the fall and I love this idea.

Check the dollar store mini clear plastic shoes (wedding favors). We got these one time for a Cinderella party but I can't remember what we did with them.
Also, fall decor should be out in July--pumpkins would be a nice touch.

My daughter actually doesn't turn 16 until November, but we're doing her party in August so we can have it outside! Love the pumpkins and glass slippers. I will add them to my list and try to incorporate them into our planning! Thank you so much for the ideas!

 

[mousestruck]

I love doing this. Our eldest daughters sweet 16 was Broadway and our next was Disney World.
One thing I would do is a sweets-dessert table and everything be blue and white. If you can get a pumpkin and paint it white to look like a coach in the center of the table and put all the candy and dessert around it in miscellaneous glass jars you have around the house. You can do blue and white m&ms, jelly beans, misc candy, marshmallows dipped in white chocolate then dipped in blue sprinkles, etc. Once I filled plastic high heel shoes with jelly beans and gave them as a favor for a friends party. You can get the high heel shoes and put them around the dessert table.

You can also make her name out of wooden letters - to look like Cinderella. I did this for my daughter but Disney themed.

Here are some pictures.



You can use the last letter for Cinderella on all the letters of your daughters name.



This is the one we made for our daughter. I got the letters at Michaels and made the display out of Styrofoam and white wrapping paper. I had the boa in the house and plucked some feathers out and glued them around the base and put a string of lights that I had in the house.

Have fun - We had such a blast making everything for our daughters sweet 16. It is so much fun.

Wow... you are so talented! Those letters are amazing!!! I'm not sure ours would come out quite as beautiful, but we may try something similar... like painting and glittering some letters and attaching them to the candle holder we're crafting. And I absolutely love your idea for the blue and white treats table! We will definitely do that. We may even try to carve a watermelon into a coach and fill with fruit salad. Thank you so much for sharing with me!

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm sure if you go on Pinterest, you could find a whole bunch of things that could go well. Basically, anything with a blue and white theme (or that could be made in blue and white, like the candy idea), could fit in well. And you have plenty of time to plan. Oriental Trading Co. is a great source for bulk items.

You might be able to get faux flowers on summer clearance at that time, from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Once July Fourth rolls around, they're trying to get rid of the summer stuff--great time to pick up blue and white flowers for centerpieces.

Since you have time, scope out Hobby Lobby for anything you might need. Don't forget your 40% off coupon! That way, if you want, say 6 glass slipper vases, just pick one up each time you pass by.

 

[Iowajes]

Can you suggest guests come dressed for a ball?
In high school I loved an excuse to break out a formal gown. (Guests could wear old homecoming dresses, she should encourage them not to buy something new!)

 

[cedricandsophie]

We had a Cinderella ball for our daughters 30th birthday. She has down syndrome and may never have a wedding so money was no object. But I did find some great carriage centetpieces on shindigz web site for about 15 each. We had our party planner put small bouquet in the middle and surrounded by candles for the tables
Also we had a cake made that looked like a carriage. We had her dress made. Everyone dressed up in formal attire and tux. And the cake table was lit from the bottom with a chandelier. I'm sure you could make all of this on your own

We had 120 people to s sit down dinner with a DJ and we also had a video made to music of photos which was a highlight of the evening. The video was only a few hundred dollars and you will have it for a lifetime. A friend with some tech skills could probably do it for you

And we had actors dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming that only came during cocktails. You could probably ask some friends to get costumes and do that. One of my friends wore a fairy godmother costume.

 

[mousestruck]

I'm sure if you go on Pinterest, you could find a whole bunch of things that could go well. Basically, anything with a blue and white theme (or that could be made in blue and white, like the candy idea), could fit in well. And you have plenty of time to plan. Oriental Trading Co. is a great source for bulk items.

You might be able to get faux flowers on summer clearance at that time, from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Once July Fourth rolls around, they're trying to get rid of the summer stuff--great time to pick up blue and white flowers for centerpieces.

Since you have time, scope out Hobby Lobby for anything you might need. Don't forget your 40% off coupon! That way, if you want, say 6 glass slipper vases, just pick one up each time you pass by.

Yes, I will check out Oriental Trading Company for supplies and decorations. We don't have a Hobby Lobby nearby, but we do have Michael's and they have the 40% off coupons, too. Thank you!

 

[mousestruck]

Can you suggest guests come dressed for a ball?
In high school I loved an excuse to break out a formal gown. (Guests could wear old homecoming dresses, she should encourage them not to buy something new!)

I loved an excuse to dress up, too! While I'm sure the girls would enjoy dressing to the nines, I'm afraid it might not be practical. We will have a small dance floor, but other than that the "floor" will be our lawn, which wouldn't be great for heels or long dresses. We found an adorable Cinderella-like short dress for my daughter and we'll try to find some sparkly flats to go with them. I really love your idea, though. We'll definitely give it some though. Thank you!!!

 

[mousestruck]

View attachment 160157 We had a Cinderella ball for our daughters 30th birthday. She has down syndrome and may never have a wedding so money was no object. But I did find some great carriage centetpieces on shindigz web site for about 15 each. We had our party planner put small bouquet in the middle and surrounded by candles for the tables
Also we had a cake made that looked like a carriage. We had her dress made. Everyone dressed up in formal attire and tux. And the cake table was lit from the bottom with a chandelier. I'm sure you could make all of this on your own

We had 120 people to s sit down dinner with a DJ and we also had a video made to music of photos which was a highlight of the evening. The video was only a few hundred dollars and you will have it for a lifetime. A friend with some tech skills could probably do it for you

And we had actors dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming that only came during cocktails. You could probably ask some friends to get costumes and do that. One of my friends wore a fairy godmother costume.

Oh how beautiful!!! It looks like your party was magnificent! I love those centerpieces. We found something similar on-line - very inexpensive. We're thinking about painting them silver, like yours, and putting flameless candles or flowers in them. Now I can use your photo for inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Wow... you are so talented! Those letters are amazing!!! I'm not sure ours would come out quite as beautiful, but we may try something similar... like painting and glittering some letters and attaching them to the candle holder we're crafting. And I absolutely love your idea for the blue and white treats table! We will definitely do that. We may even try to carve a watermelon into a coach and fill with fruit salad. Thank you so much for sharing with me!

I am sure they will look great. I am not very artistic yet was able to do it. Please remember to post pictures after. Enjoy the planning.

 

[chris31997]

I loved an excuse to dress up, too! While I'm sure the girls would enjoy dressing to the nines, I'm afraid it might not be practical. We will have a small dance floor, but other than that the "floor" will be our lawn, which wouldn't be great for heels or long dresses. We found an adorable Cinderella-like short dress for my daughter and we'll try to find some sparkly flats to go with them. I really love your idea, though. We'll definitely give it some though. Thank you!!!

An option to wearing heels would be to bling up some cheap flip flops or canvas tennis shoes. Might even want to have girlfriends come over the day before and they could all decorate the flip flops. Some hot glue and "gems" or the self sticking ones would go far. Ribbons and left over fabric. Might even want to have a "prince" to judge who made the most creative

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Such fun!

Maybe the guests would like to cosplay? They could be festive without the ball gowns and heels.

Another centerpiece idea would be a clear cylinder glass vase with jewel-like or glass rocks at the bottom then place blue or white or blue and white silk flowers then on top place a small globe candle holder with a tea light inside. These could be reused for other events or holidays, just switch out the flowers.

I second the candy bar, but those can get pricey. A dessert bar is more prep, but way cheaper. Especially if you are having dessert in addition to.

You could make mini cupcakes iced in blue or white, mini brownies, sugar cookies, pretzels dipped in white chocolate and blue sprinkles, dipped marshmallows, white chocolate covered strawberries drizzled with blue candy coating and you can get mini tart shells and fill with cool whip mixed with blue jello, just pipe it in.

You could have prizes for best costume, you could do a waltz competition and some kind of fit the shoe or guess the size game.

 

[mousestruck]

An option to wearing heels would be to bling up some cheap flip flops or canvas tennis shoes. Might even want to have girlfriends come over the day before and they could all decorate the flip flops. Some hot glue and "gems" or the self sticking ones would go far. Ribbons and left over fabric. Might even want to have a "prince" to judge who made the most creative

LOVE the flip flops idea! I think DD and her friends might really enjoy that!

 

[mousestruck]

Such fun!

Maybe the guests would like to cosplay? They could be festive without the ball gowns and heels.

Another centerpiece idea would be a clear cylinder glass vase with jewel-like or glass rocks at the bottom then place blue or white or blue and white silk flowers then on top place a small globe candle holder with a tea light inside. These could be reused for other events or holidays, just switch out the flowers.

I second the candy bar, but those can get pricey. A dessert bar is more prep, but way cheaper. Especially if you are having dessert in addition to.

You could make mini cupcakes iced in blue or white, mini brownies, sugar cookies, pretzels dipped in white chocolate and blue sprinkles, dipped marshmallows, white chocolate covered strawberries drizzled with blue candy coating and you can get mini tart shells and fill with cool whip mixed with blue jello, just pipe it in.

You could have prizes for best costume, you could do a waltz competition and some kind of fit the shoe or guess the size game.

Thank you for all the suggestions! Yes, I think we'll create a dessert/candy bar with blue-and-white treats. You provided many great ideas that I hadn't thought of!