Getting Started ... Planning Your Sweet 16 Party!
Turning 16 is a major milestone! It is also a very busy time of
your life. What with getting a job, taking your driver's test
(hopefully passing), getting your first car, planning for college
entrance tests, touring colleges ... it's just plain busy!
There never seems to be enough time to
plan. But don’t worry. This website is going to help you get to
work, make your life easier and help you plan a special Sweet 16
party. This website is going to prevent you from getting to that
panic stage
and avoid
some common mistakes.
When planning your Sweet 16 party, your first job is to decide
what type of party you and your teen want to have. There are
many options:
-
a sit down dinner with entertainment
-
an open house with a few people
-
an open house with a hundred people
-
a party in the daytime
-
a party in the evening
-
a celebration on the week-end or during the week
-
you can have it at home, in a park, on a beach, in a hall or restaurant or even on a boat
Dare to be different!
You don't need to spend an arm and
a leg to create an interesting and memorable event. Whether you
are striving for an exciting night with dancing and laughter or a
quieter, more meaningful event, take the time to plan ahead and be
creative.
If there is any one
single message we want to emphasize, it's ...
let your party reflect your teen and dare to be different!
Whatever
you do, don’t feel compelled to keep up with your friends and neighbors
or the Jones’s.
Parents!
Stop and think. Who are
you doing this for? Hopefully your interest in planning a
Sweet 16 birthday party is to celebrate this major milestone in your son or
daughter’s life. Make them the center of attention - the Guest of Honor.
If you lose sight of this as
you plan for their party, you may find yourself screaming “you
never appreciate the things I do for you!”
Let your teen make choices
right up front. Begin by asking them:
“What kind of Sweet 16 party do you have in mind?”
“Shall we invite just our close relatives and a few friends, or do you want a huge party?”
(Start a list right away to give you an idea of how many people you
plan to invite.)
“Would you like to have a joint party with a friend?”
“Do you have any ideas for a theme?”
“Where would you like to have the party?”
“What kind of food would you like to serve?”
“Would you like to select photos and items to display?”
As you progress with your party
plans, be sure to keep them involved in the decision making process.
Let them help select or make the invitation and the invitation list.
Select items to display that put
your teen in a good light. They may be funny, but don’t put
out photos they don’t like.
Always remember ... this is their
birthday. Help them celebrate!
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