Balloons are some of the least expensive party decorations.
A sweet sixteen party is a momentous event for a teenage girl, and often the birthday girl has a significant role in helping to plan and set the overall theme and tone. When throwing a surprise sweet sixteen party, carefully consider the girl's interests and pick a theme that fits with them to ensure that she will enjoy her party. To decorate within the theme on a tight budget, strategically choose simple, inexpensive decorative items that will make a big impact. Does this Spark an idea?
Simple Themes
Complicated themes often require complicated decorations to pull off, so opt for a simple theme to keep the party on a budget. Simple themes could be colors, shapes, sports teams or a favorite holiday. Use decorations that you already have or buy inexpensive party basics. For example, for a color theme, inflate balloons in the theme color with a rented or disposable helium tank or just inflate them with air and have them color the floor instead of the ceiling. Purchase disposable tablecloths in the party color and, if there is a paired color, get tableware in that color.
Locations
Choose a location that the girl enjoys and a single decoration as a focal point to make the party feel like that location. Make sure the focal point decoration is something she sees right when she arrives so she knows what the theme is. Potential locations include Hollywood with a red carpet, Paris with the Eiffel tower or the beach with an inflatable or paper palm tree. Choose other basic or homemade decorations to fit the theme. With a Hollywood party, for example, decorate with black and metallic colors, which give a glamorous feel. Some ways to include metallic colors include star-shaped confetti on the tables and large star shapes made from aluminum foil on the walls or hanging from the ceiling.
Costume Party
Make a surprise party even more surprising by having the guests dress up in costumes from a particular era, location or style. This kind of party keeps decorating costs low, because the costumed guests set most of the scene and you need not rely heavily on decorations. Some potential costume theme ideas include disco, '80s, '50s, the Wild West, a Hawaiian luau or a particular movie that the birthday girl likes. Make sure to have a costume ready for the birthday girl to change into after she arrives. Include a few simple inexpensive accessories, such as plastic flower leis for a Hawaiian luau, to complete the theme.
Pastimes or Hobbies
The sweet sixteen party is a big milestone where a girl comes of age and is no longer considered a child. As she nears her 18th birthday, she begins to become an adult in her own eyes and in others'. To play on this transition, focus the party on one of the birthday girl's favorite childhood pastimes or hobbies. She probably already has plenty of items that can serve as decorations, such as soccer equipment and jerseys for a soccer-themed party or a dollhouse and furniture for a doll-themed party. Surprise her by decorating with pictures of the birthday girl at different ages participating in that activity. Include some games that focus on the hobby, such as a relay race dribbling a soccer ball around cones or changing a baby doll's diaper with one hand. You could also focus on one of the girl's current hobbies or favorite activities.
Tags: birthday girl, sixteen party, sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen party, focal point