Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party

[maggiew]

My DD is turning 16 in January. I want to have a Sweet 16 birthday party for her. Any ideas on what to do?

I have heard from people around here and it sounds like a fairly big party. They buy the girls fancy dresses, etc. I have NO clue since this is our first child and I never had a Sweet 16 party when I was that age.

I do NOT want it to be like the Sweet 16 whiny, brats that you see on TV!! But that is my only frame of reference right now. I have no idea where to begin. I teach at a college and some of my students have bands. I was thinking of maybe hiring one of them to play at the party??? I don't know

ALSO, my DH's 40th birthday is the following week. I was thinking of having a surprise party for him at the same time. That way our out of town relatives (from Florida and Ohio) can do both at one time. Do you think I could make that work? I'm thinking of hiring a hall for the party. Although there are a few restaurants around here that have big party rooms that might also work.

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I think it is a good thought on wanting to combine the parties because you want out of town relatives to be there for both. BUT, do you think that your 16 year old might feel like her dad is stealing a little bit of her thunder?? I am sure she is not so much into princesses, but what about getting her a tiara to wear??? It's just fun to feel like the "princess" for the day. I think the band idea is also good!!

I had a sweet 16 party, but my bday is in June, so my mom had a BBQ, my friends and I swam in our pool and played volleyball and then we all camped out--probably not possible in January!!

 

[ZPT1022]

When I turned 16 my mom and step father had 10 of my friends and a reserved room at a local restaurant. They brought a stereo for us to listen to and some balloons & decorations. I thought I was going out with my mom and step father and I was trying to get out of going, but when we got there all my closest friends were there. It was a nice night and I would do something like that for DDs when they turn 16. No experience with anything big or fancy, sorry

 

[maggiew]

I think it is a good thought on wanting to combine the parties because you want out of town relatives to be there for both. BUT, do you think that your 16 year old might feel like her dad is stealing a little bit of her thunder??

Yes. I am a little worried about this. I will, of course, discuss this with DD before I decide anything. I think she would be OK with it. His birthday would only be a small part of the affair.

There is one restaurant here that has a big party room that has a sort of divider in the middle. So they can have either 2 small parties or one big party depending on whether or not they have the divider up. I'm going to go there to check that out. Also I was thinking we could set up a buffet line down the middle of a big room and have Sweet 16 on one side and Over the Hill on the other!!

My only reservation with combining the parties is how I can merge them without taking away from each!

Maggie

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Also I was thinking we could set up a buffet line down the middle of a big room and have Sweet 16 on one side and Over the Hill on the other!!

My only reservation with combining the parties is how I can merge them without taking away from each!

Maggie

Okay, so your DD's party isn't a surprise?? Oh, then I would just talk it over with her and see what she says. I think that the buffet line is a VERY cute idea!!! I am sure that your DD will be understanding. The seperater is also a good idea, as the adults can be on one side and the teens can be on the other. That way the teens don't have to *GASP* hang out with "old" people!!

 

[Callie]

My mom is getting us a hotel room that has a waterpark and we're gonna hang out and have an *Nsync theme and talk about all the memories we've had in the past. Im having 2 friends and my sister and we've all known each other forever

 

[Kat77]

My only thought is maybe serving just desserts/snacks rather than actual food items on the buffet line unless you think the teens will actually eat the food. Teens are so into the social aspect the food will likely be picked at unless it is snackish. Your child will know her friends habits best though.
Maybe you could do fondue or chocolate fountains?
Pick your theme and go from there. Hey, you could take the 'sweet' part literally and use candyland as the theme. The castle could make quite an impressive cake when you think about it. Ofcourse, I really want to have a mad tea party just so I can dress up as Alice.... Serving up long island tea to adults is acceptable though.

 

[disneychrista]

A sweet 16 can be anything you (and your daughter) want it to be. It doesn't have to be a big fancy party. It can be as small or as big as you want and can afford.

Personally i would have the "sweet 16" with her friends and then a seperate family affair for both.

 

[maggiew]

Personally i would have the "sweet 16" with her friends and then a seperate family affair for both.

That's a good idea. I could have a surprise party for DH at home on a Friday night or Saturday. Then have DD's Sweet 16 on Sunday afternoon. Or something like that. That way only DH's friends (and of course the out of town relatives) would be at his birthday and then DDs friends plus any out of town guests would be at her party.

The only problem is I dread having to plan 2 separate parties!!

Maggie