Sweet 16s?

[castmember19]

Did any of you have big sweet 16 parties for your DDs? By big I don't exactly mean MTV worthy, but you know what I mean.

My mother and I were talking today about how I never had a quinceanera or a sweet 16 like most of the girls I went to school with and how she felt a little guilty about it. I was just telling her that I didn't mind not having a huge party and that I don't think I would want a quinceanera for my own future daughter (I think they're a Catholic thing as well as cultural, but I could be wrong) but wouldn't be opposed to a sweet 16 party.

So, did any of you have any "big" coming-of-age parties?

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dd is turning 16 this year and instead of a party, we are bring 3 of her friends to WDW for 5 days. She decided to have 5 days of fun with her 3 bffs instead of a 5 hour party with all her friends. They didn't throw big 16 parties when I was younger..I had a bunch of friends over for dinner and hanging out in the family "rompus" room lol.

 

[indimom]

I have no plans for a big 16th party for my kids and know of no one else who has them. We do have BIG graduation parties though. Between family and friends, I probably had 100+ at mine in 1991. All my friends had similar events. But these were still nothing like those parties you are talking about. We did all the cooking ourselves, filled coolers with pop and beer and wine coolers, set up the volleyball net and aired up the basketball, etc., decorations were limited to a sheet cake and maybe some balloons or streamers. That's about it.

 

[agnes!]

We had a lovely 16th party for DD that was ruined by some snotty girls.
She's not having any type of grad party, we're going to WDW instead.

agnes!

 

[Longsx3]

DD will have a sweet 16 next year, with a DJ, Buffet, Photo booth and Candy Buffet. We will probably have 75-100 people.

It will not have any alcohol, even for adults, and unlike her cousins there will nothing that resembles a wedding...ie dollar dance, or a "first" dance with her Boyfriend.

 

[mjkacmom]

I was surprised when dd14 asked if she could have a group on with a couple of other girls (one who's dad owns a popular catering hall nearby). I'm going to talk her out of it. It's not a Catholic thing, at all. I do think it's a NYC area thing, because it's very common here.

 

[pyrxtc]

I want to have a sweet 16 for my DD. I have 2 years to save. If she wanted to go somewhere with friends instead, that would work as long as she didn't want to be there for her birthday since it's only a couple days before Christmas.

 

[golfgal]

Big Sweet 16 parties are not at all common here. I had one friend in high school that had one-and she whined because she didn't like the color of the brand new car she got for a gift . None of the kids' friends have had one either. Usually you see a surprise party or a back yard bonfire type party with lots of kids but that is about it. DS18 had a bonfire party, the twins didn't have anything. Their birthday was right after spring break and they both got to go on trips for their 16th birthday presents.

 

[luvmy3]

No, I didn't have one, and nobody I know did either. I went to a Catholic school so it definitely isn't a Catholic thing.

My dd is not going to have one, even if she asks for one and I won't feel the least bit guilty about it. I'd rather do something like give her a large sum of money towards her first car than spend it on a party for her. (Not that I have any plans to do that either, but who knows what will happen in 3 years).

 

[Rora]

My Sweet 16 was a surprise party that I secretly planned with my mom. She threw it but I knew about it because she had to ask me who to invite!

We just had about 20 people at a fun restaurant. It was nice!

 

[LBAK]

Instead of a Sweet Sixteen my daughter and 8 of her friends decided they want to go to the Bahamas together with their mom's. So 18 of us will leave in 4 weeks!

 

[Erin1700]

We had a lovely 16th party for DD that was ruined by some snotty girls.
She's not having any type of grad party, we're going to WDW instead.

agnes!

Sorry to hear that. Why didnt you send them home?

Sweet 16 parties are getting crazy here!

 

[design_mom]

I did not have a sweet 16 party. On my 16th birthday, we had lunch in Cinderella's Castle. (The restaurant was called King Stephan's Banquet Hall at the time.)

Several of my friends had parties, but nobody had a *big* Sweet 16 (no special clothes, no DJ/band, etc.)

 

[taximomfor4]

For my oldest, I did what I do for EVERY birthday. I offer a party OR a gift. I spend about $125 total, either way, so nothing huge. Just a cookout gathering or something. DD chose "gift." She ended up getting a used laptop. She was thrilled to not have to share the only other computer in the house with the other 5 people in the family, lol.

 

[ElizK]

DD15 will turn 16 next week! I think she would have liked a Sweet 16 party, since she has gone to several of her friends' parties, but that's not something we do. DD19 didn't have one, DDnearly16 won't be having one. It'll be a normal party for her: a few close friends for a sleepover, and I will take them to see the movie of DD's choosing, and then they'll do some shopping.

 

[Robmom]

I never had one, but I did have one for my DD. It was sort of a big party with DJ, photographer/videographer, buffet, lighting of the candles, etc. Not over the top, like on MTV. It was a great time. In my area, it is the norm. I was so happy when my DD's last friend turned 16 last year, because it seemed like every weekend she was going to one!

 

[4nana]

Back in the 80's day , when things seemed simpler , ours had Sweet 16 parties at home or a restaurant w/16 friends . Got gift of their driver's license and a school 'Lettermen' jacket for all their accomplishments 'lettered' in for honors, sports, clubs, activites - anyone remember those? Loved and enjoyed those days!!

Sweet 16 parties are still big here, specially for girls, DGS just attended one where they rented hall w/DJ, etc. . Our DGS's have been easy to please, when our oldest turned 16, he wanted a picnic party at a park and all his guy friends had a fun soccer match against Dad's and really enjoyed themselves. Another DGS chose dinner at local buffett w/family/few friends and a laptop as gift, instead of a party. Next year GS's 16th will be in summer and have a boating/jet ski/tubing party, since they live on water. Can only imagine the fun party planning when our 4 DGD's turn 16!

With our big family, each BD is special, so lots of parties....
matter of fact, we're in process of packing up 3 car loads, headed out to sweet DGS's 5th BD in N.C. for holiday!

 

[castmember19]

Interesting.

I ask because while sweet 16s aren't a big deal here, quinceaneras are a HUGE deal and it was almost criminal not to have one back when I went to school at an all-Hispanic elementary. I remember I had no idea what they were when I was in the fifth grade and already (at ten years old!) the girls were talking about "when I have MY quinceanera..." and so on and so forth.

Once I switched schools and everyone was mixed, I didn't hear about them quite as much as I did before. I still saw a lot though.

It's a big deal in the Hispanic community, I guess. Again, I never had one because my mom swore it was a "catholic" thing and my sister never had one either. But I don't really mind. Quinceaneras are much more extravagant than the "sweet 16" parties that I did attend in high school.

 

[Zandy595]

As far as I know, Quinceaneras are a hispanic thing, not a Catholic thing. I had never heard of them until I was an adult. We didn't have any hispanic kids in our school.

I had a slumber party with 5 of my closest friends when I turned 16. That's what all my friends did back in the mid 80's.

I can't say what I would do if I had a 16 year old DD, but I know it wouldn't be an expensive, extravagent event.

I do have a DS who will be 16 in December. I wonder if boys think it's unfair that they don't get a big party.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

DD, who will be 25 on Monday, did not have any sweet 16 party. I think she and 3 or 4 friends went to TGIFridays without us there, except to drive and pay of course.

Quinceaneras are a hispanic thing This is what I thought also. I think I know one girl here who had one.