Planning DD's Sweet 16!

[Feralpeg]

DD will be 16 in March. I spent the day planning her party. I rented the community center for the Saturday night prior to her birthday. She is inviting 40 friends. She loves 80's music, so I've spent hours burning CDs to play at the party. She wanted it to be colorful, so I bought crape paper streamers, tablecloths, paper plates, napkins and forks in purple, hot pink and bright yellow. Half of the napkins say "Sweet 16". The other half say "Diva".

I bought a banner that says "Sweet 16". That's where I picked up the colors I'm using. I've taken photos of DD from over the years and made copies to paste on the walls.

The centerpiece for each table will be an old fashioned ice cream soda glass. In each glass, I will layer different color mables alternating with white marbles to look like ice cream. I've purple, pink and yellow curled ribbon to bubble out of each glass. Three helium baloons will float above each glass.

I hope that I'm not going over the edge on this. She hasn't had a birthday party in several years and this one is special. I hope she likes it. You just never know how kids will react.

In addition, this is sort of a going away party as well. We are moving to Orlando in June and this is the last party she will have with these friends.

Is there anything I'm doing that you guys think is a mistake? Any suggestions for things I'm not doing? I'd apprecate your feedback!!!

 

[IloveDMB]

Sounds good to me! And you sound like a really great mother. I never got to have a Sweet 16, the place burned down 2 weeks before my birthday!

But the party you are planning for your daughter sounds wonderful. Hope everything goes okay and everyone has a good time.

 

[Keli]

That sounds like great decorations for the party. It will look wonderful.

We gave our dd a big birthday bash when she turned 16 too (a luai theme, it was great, we still talk about how much fun that party was three years later) and one thing I learned was that food is important to teenagers (at least to the boys, lol). What did you intend to serve? Also you might want to have some fun games or something planned for them. We organized a scavenger hunt that took about 45 minutes or so to do and the kids came back so excited about it and then ate like they were starving to death, lol.

Remember to take lots of pictures, especially since you guys are moving. Those pics of old friends might mean a lot to your dd after you've moved.

 

[KarenC]

Your plans sound a lot like the party we gave our DD when she turned 16. She was the last of her friends to be 16 so we had a bash. We used a room at the community center. It came with a dance floor. We had a DJ. He was pretty budget-priced but for the most part did the trick (DD turned 16 in Nov. 2001; DJ played that song with the line "I'll be your hero, baby" with audio clips from 9/11, it was kind of a downer, what was he thinking?)

We had sandwich trays and salads and cake. All food that the kids like but they hardly touched it. We definitely had too much food. I hate to waste food

Good luck with your planning! Makes me remember DS will be 16 this Spring. Wonder if he wants a party?

 

[vald1977]

Sounds like a great party. If you can afford to, you may want to think about having disposable cameras on the tables so the guests can capture some memories for your daughter.

 

[Feralpeg]

Vlad1977, the disposable camera things is a great idea! I will definately do that!

I am planning on having chips, dip, a vegtable tray, a meat and cheese tray and, of course, a birthday cake. I'm not sure whether to mess with ice cream. We will provide lots of soft drinks.

DD is very much into drama. She attends a master's comedy class and is inviting her entire class (including her instructor). They do all kings of improve type exercises. I'm sure they will be happy to entertain.

The place is large enough for dancing and we will have a DJ. I made the CDs so that we could have some control over the music. He has agreed to play what I give him. DD is always disappointed at the music the DJs play at her school dances. She says that they mainly play RAP. I don't think I could take 3 hours of that!

Thanks for all the great ideas and support!

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
Vlad1977, the disposable camera things is a great idea! I will definately do that!

I am planning on having chips, dip, a vegtable tray, a meat and cheese tray and, of course, a birthday cake. I'm not sure whether to mess with ice cream. We will provide lots of soft drinks.

Not all DDs friends like cake. For her graduation party the caterer talked me into miniature dove bars in a punch bowl of ice. Those went over pretty well and those which weren't eaten could be put back in the freezer. I wouldn't mess with scooping ice cream.

 

[Cruisin]

If you are going to have that many teenagers in one place make sure you have good chaperones.
By good, I mean ones that will watch what they are doing and also ones that actually enjoy being around teenagers and are used to them. So they will keep things in line but cut them enough slack so that they will have fun.
Sounds like a fun time for all. Enjoy.
I would love to chaperone something like that cause I think teenagers are great fun.