Ideas for What to Do for a Sweet Sixteen

Have a small family celebration and host a larger celebration for friends

A sweet 16 is an important milestone that marks the start of your adult life. There are many ways to celebrate your birthday, from hosting large parties to celebrating with a small family dinner. The most important thing is to pick a theme that's personal and represents part of your personality. You can choose a sophisticated theme or a humorous one, and ask your guests to get involved by dressing-up in a costume that relates to the theme.

Throw a Party

Throw a themed sweet 16 party. Use your hobbies and interests as inspiration, and base the theme around something personal. You can host a cheerleading party or a basketball-themed one. Base the theme around your favorite movie, artist or song, and decorate your venue so that it matches the theme. Ask your guests to dress-up as different celebrities or host a fancy dress or masquerade party and give them the freedom to choose their own outfits. You can even base your theme around your favorite color or food.

Take a Day Trip

Take some of your closet friends to an amusement park. This is a low-key alternative to hosting a big party, but it's equally fun and great for thrill seekers. Spend the day going on the rides and trying to beat your friends at the side shows. Alternatively, invite guests to the beach and host an informal barbecue. Play beach themed games like frisbee and volleyball. Visit a local attraction or take your closest friends to a day spa.

Host a Tea Party

Throw a tea party for your friends and ask them to dress-up in tea dresses or suits. Alternatively, host an Alice in Wonderland themed party and ask guests to dress-up in unusual costumes of their choice. Serve a variety of sandwiches and cakes on china plates, and accompany these with cups of tea. Theme your tea party by decorating the table and cakes with your favorite color. You can even host a chocolate-themed tea party, and only serve food that contains chocolate.

Host a Dinner

Host a formal dinner at your house or a restaurant. Make the dress code black tie and get involved with planning the menu. Serve between five to seven different dishes, either as a sit down meal or a buffet. Theme your menu around a particular type of food you like, such as Asian or Mexican, and remember to decorate the table and cake in a theme of your choice.

References

• Sweet 16 Party Ideas: Sweet 16 Party Themes
• Party 4 Sweet 16: Planning the Sweet 16 Party Menu
• Sweet Sixteen Party Ideas: Sweet Sixteen Ideas

Resources

• Party 4 Sweet 16: Planning Your Sweet 16 Party!