Table Decorations

Centerpieces

Table decorations can be very creative.  There are many different options, either homemade or store bought. 

Brighten your tables and make them more festive and interesting with birthday or themed centerpieces, flowers, mementos, pictures or candles.

Birthday and themed centerpieces can be purchased at your local party store or online at BirthdayZbyShindigZ.com

BirthdayZbyShindigZ.com has several different themed centerpieces, including star centerpieces, rock & roll centerpieces, and even Chinese fortune centerpieces.  Click here to see their selection and to order.

Flowers are always a great choice for centerpieces.  Order them at your local flower shop.  Or, depending on the time of year, and if you have a blooming flower garden, cut some fresh flowers ... just make sure there are no bugs! 

Buy some inexpensive vases in your theme color.  Put your freshly cut flowers in your new vases to create beautiful centerpieces!  One mother we interviewed reused the vases for other parties.  For her son’s sweet 16 she used sports memorabilia instead of flowers.

If your Sweet 16 Party is in the spring or summer, look for annuals at your local garden center.  These can be cut and put in bud vases or small flower vases.  Or pot them in small pots decorated with ribbons.  You can also write different sayings or "words of wisdom" in different colors on each one.

Our Partner site Party4Sweet16 at Carlson Craft sells bud vases printed with inspirational messages including "Believe", "Dream", and "Imagine".  Just click on click here and do a search on "bud vase".

Or you should be able to buy vases at a department store or flower store in your area.

Candles and inexpensive candle holders can be purchased at your local department store.  Decorate the candles with coordinating ribbon or sprinkle confetti (how about Photofetti?) around the candles. 

Pillar candles or jar candles are more sturdy and safer than long tapered candles.  Candles in your theme colors or your teen's favorite colors.  Consider grouping 3 candles of different heights and/or colors together.  For grouping, odd numbers are always best.  Candles are especially nice for an evening or nighttime party.

Balloons

Pictures

For one party we attended, the tables were covered with disposable tablecloths.  Pictures of the Sweet 16 were scattered over each table and then another tablecloth in heavy, clear plastic was draped over the pictures.  Each table was different and the pictures made great conversation pieces, especially because they included some of the party guests.

Use recent pictures of your teen or pictures taken throughout the years.  A photo retailer in your area can help you with copies.  Or go to you local copy store and get color copies.  It may be cheaper than prints. 

If your pictures are digital, you can use an online photo developer such as Snapfish.com.  Just upload the pictures you want and order the number you need.  At Snapfish.com you can also crop your photos and correct problems such as redeye.

Confetti

Add a special touch to your tables by sprinkling confetti on them.  Sprinkle it on your dining tables, your guest book table and your gift table.   Themed or birthday confetti can be ordered online at Shindigz.com.  You may also be able to buy it at a party store in your area.