Thursday, November 27, 2014

Plan A Cheap Sweet Sixteen

A Sweet Sixteen party can be inexpensive while still offering a good time.


A Sweet Sixteen birthday party is an important event for girls. Each girl wants her party to be the biggest and the best, one her friends will remember. Some girls demand that this party be elaborate and expensive. However, not every family can afford to spend a lot of money on a birthday party. Throwing a less expensive Sweet Sixteen party does not doom your teenage girl to be considered cheap among her friends.


Instructions


1. Set your budget and follow it. Let your daughter know how much you can afford and that you will be sticking to it. Let your daughter help you decide where to cut back and what to splurge on.


2. Play your own music. Hiring a DJ can be expensive and unnecessary. Load your daughter's CD collection onto a computer or laptop and play those. Use an MP3 player and docking station to play the music your daughter has downloaded for her own library.


3. Make the food yourself. A catering bill can get expensive. Many things that a caterer offers can be made in your own kitchen for the big day. Your daughter can pick the foods she and her friends like and you can prepare them. Set the time of the party so that snacks are the main thing to eat. Snacks are cheaper than making a meal for all of the guests.


4. Limit the guest list. Your daughter will want to invite as many people as she possibly can. However, the more guests, the bigger the expense. Evaluate the size of the room you are using for the party and how many guests can comfortably fit in that space. For instance, if you are using the rec room in your basement, a party of 20 to 30 kids is best. If you choose to splurge and rent a catering hall, your guest list could be considerably larger.


5. Decorate yourself. Hanging crepe paper is an easy way to decorate for any party. Print banners on your home computer wishing your Sweet Sixteen a happy birthday. Use balloons and confetti to finish the decorations.


6. Many girls want a new outfit for their special day. Encourage your daughter to wear a dress she already owns, especially if she has one that she has only worn once or twice. Odds are, most people at the party will not notice it is not a new dress. You may need to convince your daughter of this, however. If she insists on a new outfit, set a reasonable price limit.


7. Take photographs and videos yourself or have a friend or family member take the pictures. Professional photo and video packages are expensive. Another option is to place disposable cameras around the room and let the guests take pictures. These candid shots often become the favorites.

Tags: Sweet Sixteen, your daughter, birthday party, guest list, Sixteen party