Ideas for Sweet 16- on a low budget

Christine (Tina) - posted on 12/30/2012

what do you do for a boy who is turning 16, is it called sweet 16 for a boy also?

Shona - posted on 11/25/2012

yes. I am interesting in getting help in planning this event for her

Pamela - posted on 11/21/2012

My step daughter is turning 16 and I plan on having 16 roses to be given to her one at a time; each rose will be given as representation of a role model by family as well as friends who will support her in life adventures. Not sure what else but the roses are cheap and this can be included in any theme! Good luck everyone on making the sweet 16 a memorable one for the boys and girls we love!!!

Joci - posted on 11/21/2012

my daughter will b 16 on dec 2 and im at a total loss and limited on funds!!!!! HELP

Shakita - posted on 11/20/2012

My twin girls will be 16 in March. I have a theme in my mind that they like bt we cant come up with a name for it that doesnt sound so boyish. ok here it goes.. we are thinking a board game kind of event. Boardwalk will be the entrance, Park Place will be the spot for gifts, candy land will be where you make your own goody bags, theres 2 dannce floors so thats where the dance revolution will come in, then chutes and ladders will be the steps leading to the upper level of the place, UNO will be the food area, and soo on. they like the whole idea bt we need a name for this. everything with the word game in it sounds sporty or boyish. help me out please

Tina - posted on 11/03/2012

My daughter turns 16 on the 27th of December. I'm going nuts on what to do and when to do it. we had planned to go to Disney World but due to family emergency looks like the trip will be canceled. I'm lost and totally unsure of what to do.

Jennie - posted on 10/13/2012

i am having the same problem, my daughters birthday is New Years Eve, I have no clue!

Melissa - posted on 09/27/2012

my daughter's sweet 16 is oct. 21. I am freaking out b/c I am the POOREST in the world but she is the most DESERVING EVER.....so....I'm taking all these ideas and my own good sense (lord help us all) and thinking....Pirate Bonfire on the Beach....WEATHER PENDING (which is the problem)...get a "spooky" storyteller (maybe someone I work with) serve chips, sandwiches (chix salad/egg salad/tuna on mini rolls) then s'mores on the bonfire (yes I will and can get a permit for the fire on the beach).....serving waters only.....? then b/day cake I suppose....everyone can derss as a pirate....they can choose to play spin the bottle....thinking of serving dogs in a blanket upon arrival.....plus the cost of plastic/disposable dinnerware....and some tiki torches ? Anyone have any insight?? I HAVE NO MONEY !! but I love my teen. THX for reading.

Julie - posted on 08/08/2012

My daughter turns 16 in January. I am planning a Sweet 16 with a chocolate theme. I am renting a limo to pick her and her friends up to go on a scavengar hunt (the driver will know the route in case there is a mishap with clues). She will go to 3 places to pick up a gift and the 4th place will be her actual suprise party where family and friends will be waiting. She loves art so we are using the city's museum party room. We will have chocolate fondue with dipping foods, a candy bar (which will serve as party favors) and cake with cupcakes. This will combine a few of her favorite things... art, willy wonka (invites will be hershey bars with a golden ticket), and chocolate

Lisa - posted on 08/15/2009

my daughter will be sixteen soon and she asked me to let her do the planning. She wanted a couple friends to stay the night and then the next day she is having a party with family and friends. Her friends get a room to themselves to decorate.She even got to order and design her own cake. this way she gets what she wants and with a bit of bargain hunting we kept the cost down. As far as themes she just choose her three fav colors and we went with that.

Inga - posted on 08/11/2009

It takes some planning but if you do a scavenger hunt with a digital camera (one per 'team').. I think by this age, doing activities on their terms & expressing themselves is a treat. There are some ideas out there on the web for things to list. Usually need someone from the team to pose in the picture. Doing this at a mall or park would be fun .

Sandi - posted on 08/09/2009

When my oldest had her Sweet 16 party, we decided that since it was so close to Mardi Gras, to use that as a theme. I bought masks for everyone to take home.

It was a coed party at our house & she only had one friend stay the night. We put Rock Band, Guitar Hero & DDR out for them to play with. Later, they put a horror movie in. The kids also played hide & seek in the dark. There were certain rooms off limits, but those teens can hid in some very strange places.

I've got some very cute pics of them playing Rock Band with masks on.

Meschelle - posted on 08/08/2009

My daughter turned 16 last wens. and we had a bowling party with friends from her youth group. they had a blast and she loved it. the bowling alley gave her a pen and all her friends signed so she would have memories.

NATALIE - posted on 08/08/2009

Hi Kristin, my daughter is 16 and i hired a juke box/karaoke machine and did a sausage sizzle and the kids bought a plate of food each and i supplied the drink, rolls, salads, nibbles and yes they had to get their parents permission and the parents had to notify me if the kids were allowed to consume alcohol, well very much to my surprise we had a glorious warm/hot day we all got burnt and all went fabulously well the kids played spin the bottle and many other teen games and even gave the karaoke a workout i had the machine and hired tables and a few chairs all from the same company i had it overnight from 4pm and they collected it 4pm the next day even i had a ball lol give that one a go and good luck to you and the birthday girl....

Angel - posted on 07/22/2009

I did a Tiki themed party for my daughter's sweet 16. I bought all the necessary party decorations at the $1 Shop and slowly bought the refreshments that were not perishable or could be frozen ahead of time. She loves Elvis so I got her a cd w/ Hawaiin themed Elvis song and the "Blue Hawaiin" movie he starred in for under five bucks. You can also google a lot of do it yourself party ideas. That will cost next to nothing to do.

Silke - posted on 07/21/2009

What are her interests?

I'd use that as a starting point since not everything suits everybody.

When our son turned 16 all he wanted to do is go to the DMV to apply for his learner's permit... I know our daughter on the other hand won't feel that way when she turns 16 next year. I imagine she's going to want to do something with her best friends.

Ruth - posted on 07/17/2009

Hi. I was going to suggest the beach - but that might be tough in December! My daughter just turned 16. I have been amazed by how little she and her friends wanted when they turned 16. My daughter ended up going to a water park with friends. One of her friends wanted to have a BBQ and watch the sunset at the beach with family and friends.

I think we parents put more into elaborate celebrations. Our kids just want to have some fun with friends. That can be pretty inexpensive. Ice skating? A day in the snow? Enjoy.

Ruth at SuchASmartMom.com

Jessica - posted on 07/16/2009

My daughter will turn Sweet 16 this year too. Her birthday lands on a Saturday, so I'm considering a Surprise Birthday Breakfast...probably more like a brunch considering how late teens like to sleep! Everyone wears their pajamas. Haven't thought much beyond that. Iced cinnamon rolls instead of cupcakes... Breakfast foods tend to be inexpensive. good luck!