Sites like that let you pick your favorite design (they have lots of cute Sweet 16 party invites! 2022 In most cases, makeup application is free and then there is an expectation that youll buy at least one product. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Cancel anytime. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Time. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; "How to Throw a Sweet 16 Party on a Budget" The food you serve will depend on various aspects of the style of party that your child has chosen. Receive your order right away. So for example, instead of investing in lots of little party favors that will sit in a basket off to the side, imagine what it might look like to wash all the walls in blue and purple uplighting (hint: its probably comparable in price!). But since you have such a good head on your shoulders, we're thinking your son or daughter is probably pretty sensible, too. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; And dont forget the Sweet 16 cake topper. I think making the food yourself and purchasing from thrift stores or borrowing is the way to go! Like what you see? Sweet 16 Party Ideas To Discuss With Your Teen, Unique Sweet 16 Gift Ideas Your Teen Will Treasure. You should also discuss if they have a favorite theme as this will help you with your planning tremendously. If theyve chosen a disco party then finger foods are the way to go. Your email address will not be published. I love this! Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links. New Occasion Brands LLC. Other factors that will increase the price of party dresses include fabric (certain fabrics cost less than others) and embellishments (the more add-ons, the more costly). We love entertaining at our home. Oh, and 500 or so of his or her closest friends -- and bouncers at the door to keep out the riffraff. Then, scan the list below for our top PromGirl budgeting ideas to saving big on the rest of your party! Your budget will influence where you will have the party, how many guests you can invite, as well as the food, decorations, and entertainment. If youre going all Super Sweet 16 glam then she might like to have her hair and make-up done. monitoring_string = "b24acb040fb2d2813c89008839b3fd6a"monitoring_string = "886fac40cab09d6eb355eb6d60349d3c", Rough Breakup? All Rights Reserved. Think about what decor you could add to the room that would have the biggest impact. Vines are great to hang on walls or around doorways, and paper flowers make gorgeous wall and table decorations as well. Because it was a pool party, most of the kids stayed outside throughout the night anyway. However, one year I realized that I was spending more on the cake than the gift. amzn_assoc_asins = "B07P8DQ776,B085KVZ65Z,B07P5JPGBS,B08P9XS73D"; If youre not serving dessert, a candy bar is a great alternative. If you're on a budget, a surprise party probably isn't the way to go. If having lots of guests would mean serious skimping on other areas of the event, you could spring for dinner at a fancy restaurant for just a few friends. (Plan to buy the lipgloss or lipstick they use on you so that you have something for touch-ups later!) Music always makes a party better, so even if youre teen has decided on a girlie sleepover, or a beach party, its still great to create a playlist and enjoy some fun tunes. Be sure that your DIY set includes some arch strip tape that you can attach your balloons to. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Jan. 22, 2007. If you can think of any item that can be borrowed or bartered for, go for it. Guests in '80s garb are a must, and here's where it pays off to be a hoarder -- if you've been hanging on to any ancient relics from the Me Decade (prom dress, maybe?) There are plenty of Web sites that specialize in reselling prom and bridesmaids' dresses, and of course there's always an enormous dress selection on eBay and Craigslist. I sent a group of sugared up teenagers home to their parents ; ). It might be fun to have a virtual make-over done online to get some inspiration for the party. Unless you have unlimited funds for your Sweet 16 party (said no one ever), youre going to have to find ways to save. Gabrielle made her own music playlistand streamed our own music. Please check with your local store to find out what they offer. Instead of the over-the-top stuff, I want to see 16th birthday ideas that inspire me, not ideas that aretotally unattainable to an average family. This was a BIG hit! The first rule of getting good deal on a Sweet 16 dress is not to buy a "Sweet 16" dress. For great music all night long and a dance floor packed with your closest friends, a DJ is definitely your best bet. No, you are a sane and rational parent, and this 16th birthday party will be on a budget. Why does having too many options make it harder to choose. Heres some ideas that I used to make the event a smashing success and keep our budget in check. Once you know what look you want, you can head on over to Sephora, as they offer a 15-minute walk-in mini makeover, including smoky eye application and contouring services. Ive seen how quickly party costs can skyrocket if you dont budget and plan ahead. amzn_assoc_asins = "B08STNJ5DK,B0787S74YH,B00CYTK77Q,B081286RSN"; Ive already mentioned balloons several times because they really set the scene and complete any party theme. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; We entertain every now and then and always like to make our own food and create our own decorations instead of buying them. Remind your kid that a smaller guest list could mean a nicer party. Next up is dcor. Dont forget to decorate the entrance to welcome your guests. And limit the options. But if your teen is a fan of MTV's "My Super Sweet 16," he or she might have certain expectations for this affair -- expectations that might include custom-made gowns, rented-out nightclubs, exotic animals and carte blanche with your credit card. Instead of presenting your daughter with the tricked-out pink Escalade she thinks she so richly deserves, you'll probably be giving her the spare keys to the family minivan. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hugateen-20"; Tip for the Taking: Tip for the Taking: Another way to score big on your dress without spending a ton is to shop online sales, especially dress outlets. If you have a little budget for a photographer but its not enough to cover a highly experienced one, try calling a photo studio anyway. 3. "Party Budget Estimator." You might have to search around and mix and match from different places, but you'll end up with a much more creative, unique look than if you bought everything from the same aisle at one store. Food and drink will have the biggest impact on your overall party budget. Sweet 16 Party Ideas for Families on a Budget. Making & decorating the cake yourself if youre on a budget is a great idea. And we're here to help. HugATeen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can pick a couple of must-have items for the "wow" factor, and then go simple and inexpensive for everything else. If you dont know anyone, ask around: Its very possible that amongst your friends, someone has an older sibling who could do it for you. If youre having a movie night then this post on Movie Night Snacks might be of interest to you right now. Your teenage daughter will most likely want to get a special dress for the occasion. Nice topic and well written. Your sweet 16 will treasure all the messages written in the guest book for many years to come. We hosted the party at our home. If you want the full arch effect then you could get a proper balloon arch as well. You can get Free 30-day Unlimited Access to 75 million songs on Amazon Music. I want sweet 16 birthday ideas that are actually sweet, not snooty. Ask your child what's most important -- a big guest list, the venue, food, music or maybe the dcor -- and pick one area to splurge (just a little) on. Even if you're working with a limited budget, there's no reason your kiddo's 16th birthday party can't have a fun theme. Do you like to plan your own parties? With a little planning, you can tailor any of these ideas that I used to make your next at home party a smashing success. Your birthday girl should choose a theme or at least a color scheme to help you create the right look. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Order a special cake for your birthday girl or if you enjoy baking why not make something special yourself. If its an after-dinner party, you could do mini sliders and Coke bottles! amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; More traditional parents might think it's too informal for such an occasion, but kids these days are constantly on their phones and computers and wouldn't think twice about it. Once youve decided on the date, venue, and guest list, its time to send out the invitations. Check em out! It'll be a lot easier to shop and stay focused on your budget if you know exactly what you're looking for. I have a dd that will be 16 next year and we havent decided what were doing yet, but I know she would love to have a candy bar. Paper globe lights are another great option for an instantly festive look. Or, maybe I should ask how did I age so gracefully so fast? They're the simplest way to make even the plainest venue party-ready. I think you know by now that I love to cook and whenever we have a party, the food is always homemade. This will take away the stress of finding a venue thats available on the date you want, plus it will save you a lot of money. Buying in bulk always saves a little money. I personally love planning events, so I have always planned my own, even our wedding. amzn_assoc_region = "US";
For a traditional dance party, shell probably want a beautiful gown for her father-daughter dance. Of course, your daughter might not feel the need to make a grand entrance in a custom-made full-length ball gown (or make three costume changes). You can look for local hair and makeup schools. You might be completely overwhelmed at the thought of planning this party, but it's possible to throw a terrific 16th birthday party that doesn't involve extravagant expectations. The kids on "My Super Sweet 16" have thought of umpteen ways to deliver their party invitations, each more dramatic (and expensive) than the next. "$38,000 Kids' Birthday Parties?" Budget Dress Tip: look for the Sale or Special Offers on your favorite website as youll often find absolute bargains. Frugal Living Quiz, How to Know When to Spend and When to Save. And piped-in iPod tunes are good enough for you -- no need to hire a flavor-of-the-month pop star for musical entertainment. How did she get so old so fast? Working with a theme might sound like a hassle (and an invitation to overspend), but it can actually help save you money. (Nov. 6, 2011) http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1581036,00.html, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security, 10 Budget Basics Every Parent Should Know, Can you penny pinch and still have fun? Budget Food Tip: If your budget doesnt allow for a plated meal, then have your party in the afternoon or a dance party after dinner. amzn_assoc_rows = "2"; Its not always necessary to hand out party favors, especially with older teens, but if your budget allows, you can find many fun party favors for your guests. Budget Ideas for Sweet 16 Party DJ & Entertainment If you don't want to deal with an elaborate theme, we suggest working with a color scheme. Our best advice: Start by naming your top one or two priorities for the party. Go this route and youll not only save on paper and design time, youll also save a ton of postage (one of those hidden costs no one talks about but that can add up fast!). How did this happen? Budget Ideas for Sweet 16 Party Decor I would always choose fresh flowers over artificial flowers, however, if youre on a budget, you can bulk up your fresh flowers with some flower decorations. Whatever it is that you want to invest in, name it and do it. Our US Customer Support team is available to provide fashion advice or to help with order placements or existing purchases. But if thats just not in the budget, then get creative. Time for a party! If its a dance party at night, then you will want to have a set end time, so that parents can collect their teens at a specific time. (Nov. 4, 2011) http://www.examiner.com/family-parenting-in-national/sweet-16-parties-on-a-budget, Evite. Required fields are marked *. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Oftentimes second shooters are much more affordable and will do a great job capturing the evening. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; 2011. Dont forget to Pin it! We are also fortunate enough to have the space to do it. So for example, maybe you want to wear a gorgeous dress and youve always imagined a dance floor with DJ. Budget Ideas for Sweet 16 Dresses No matter what your budget, you should be able to throw a great party without having to take out a second mortgage. The birthday girl's dress is the centerpiece of many a Sweet 16 party -- and it's also what can blow your budget right out of the water. Do you entertain often in your home? amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Register. Thanks for share this informative post with us. Dollar stores and party shops are usually overflowing with tropical decorations in the spring and summer, so that part is a cinch. You can really carry the theme and color scheme through starting at the entrance. You can use sites such as Evite, Sendomatic and Socializr to create, send and track responses to your digital invitations. Pull up a chair around my farm table and enjoy some farm-fresh recipes. The Candy Bar was a BIG hit!. 1.
Visit several different venues before making your decision. Examiner. With music streaming services like Spotify or Amazon Music, you can create a playlist with your teen and friends and play their favorite songs all night long. Caprese Flatbread with Balsamic Reduction. This is a fun alternative to the traditional guest book. Traditionally Sweet 16 parties are a big affair where friends and family are invited. Just do a few practice rounds ahead of time so that you feel confident you can get the look you want. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Budget Ideas for Sweet 16 Party Invites In terms of food, a buffet is cheaper than a sit-down dinner, but you don't necessarily have to serve a meal. Catered events are VERY expensive. Buying a used dress is a great way to snag designer dresses for a fraction of their retail price. For a Winter Wonderland theme, the table can be decorated with a shiny silver tablecloth, fresh flowers, silver, and blue balloons, and tableware in the color scheme chosen. But your name is not Daddy Warbucks, and your hopes for this party are just a little bit different. Add some themed decorations and youve recreated this look for the most memorable Sweet 16 party. amzn_assoc_linkid = "db1f8d4e9e6486e8a8804ca96f60f986";
Gabby wanted to have a pool party-themed party. The length of the party really depends on what type of party youre having. Box addresses). And it may sound counterintuitive but the best way to save money on party decor is to think big, not small. For short party dresses, you can find some super cute options at Missguided. Most sets on Amazon do include the tape but just double-check. (And really, how cheesy were those parties?!)