Roll in Sweet Sixteen with the perfect party for your child.
Sweet 16 parties are a big rite of passage. As a parent, trying to put together a great party can be difficult. You must keep the taste of your partyer in mind when putting together the perfect celebration. It can help to have a bit of a checklist when deciding how best to celebrate. Does this Spark an idea?
Theme
Theme dictates the rest of the party. Deciding on the theme should be something you do with the person turning 16 or their close friends if it is a surprise. This will lead you to the rest of the answers as you move through the process of planning. The theme dictates the tone of the food, the invitations, and even the time of day you might hold the party. If you plan a midnight madness scavenger hunt, the party will have to be after dark. If you want a pool party, it should likely be in a warm month and during the day. The food should be simplified for something outdoors, whereas if you go with a dress-up theme, you might do something more formal with the food, such a tea service or a sit-down meal.
Guest List
Next, think about the guest list. Keep in mind the space in which you have to throw the party as well as what type of party it is going to be. This will help you come up with a realistic guest list. Inviting too many people can lead to problems if you do not have the space to accommodate all the bodies. Also, decide if this is going to be a family affair, a friend gathering or both. Sometimes teens might choose to have a separate party for just their friends.
Invitations
Invitations can be printed and sent out, or you can choose to utilize online invitation programs. Sometimes this is a better way to reach out to people and keep up with responses. Invitations allow you to let the guests know the theme, such as colors or specific ideas. If you are hosting a slumber party, including pillows or sleeping bags in the photos helps solidify the idea in the guest's mind. This also works for more complicated things such as "Hawaiian Luau," where the invite can be covered in tiki torches and grass skirts. The photo relevance works with both electronic and printed invitations. The computer savvy younger generation would probably appreciate something electronic to keep on their phone. Consider starting a party Twitter account to keep everyone involved during the process.
Music
Music is likely going to be part of the forefront of the celebration. While you used to have to decide on a DJ or a more expensive option, now, with the advent of MP3 players and speaker systems you can choose to make a very specific play list. Consider leaving things open for requests as well if you go this route. By having an online site, whether Twitter or Facebook, you could keep ahead of the game when planning the music.
Food
Food will dictate the timing of the party a bit. Depending on if you wish to serve a full meal or not, you should work the time of the party around meal times. You can work the food into the theme, but also make sure to keep in mind the palates of young mouths so they will enjoy the food.
Gifts
Gifts are often a big question for people. Some people don't know what to bring or even what direction to go in. Think about having your students register, as most stores will allow people to register. If they are saving for something large, put it on the invitation. Sometimes people like to give monetary gifts when they know what the money is going towards.
Clean-up
Clean-up should be the final thing on your checklist. Planning for the after part of the party can help to keep you sane. Especially if throwing a party at home, planning to have a cleaning crew come in the following day might make your day slightly easier.
Tags: guest list, know what, Sweet Sixteen, This will