It's possible to combine a cookout with a fancy dress theme Sweet Sixteen party.
A Sweet Sixteen cookout adds outdoor cooking and decorative elements to help celebrate this special birthday. Go super casual with a relaxed luau or camping theme (a good cool weather choice) or go for a more structured party theme by throwing a "Twilight" inspired costume party or a fancy dress gala under the night sky. Does this Spark an idea?
Luau Theme
If you have access to a backyard or neighborhood pool, a luau theme party will give everyone a chance to party island style. Encourage guests to wear Hawaiian style bathing suits, cover ups and shirts, and greet arriving guests with an "Aloha" lei. Have a live ukulele band or pre-recorded island music to provide ambiance. If possible, go whole hog and roast a pig over an open fire pit, serving the meat with rice, grilled vegetables and lots of pineapple. Serve festive non-alcoholic pina coladas with umbrellas floating on top and, if at night, light the party with tiki torches. Add old-fashioned limbo and hula lessons to the swimming and your guests will have the full luau experience.
Starry Night Theme
Decorate your backyard in sparkly silver and white -- balloons, candles, mirrored centerpieces, soft music and rhinestone studded cloth will help create a fancy, starlight reflecting atmosphere. Set the table for an elegant sit-down meal, complete with fine china and crystal. Ask guests to arrive in their most elegant attire and begin with a non-alcoholic cocktail hour, serving sparkling cider or grape juice for a festive touch. Serve crostini or pizzas as a first course, progressing to a main course of fish or filet mignon - all cooked on your outdoor grill. The "grown up" vibe of this party idea lends itself to conversation as an activity, so be prepared to offer some starters to get the group talking.
Camping Theme
Try to hold this Sweet Sixteen in a wide open space away from residential and commercial buildings. Set up tents to accommodate sleepover guests and make sure you have at least one bonfire area. If you'd like to keep the party inexpensive and environmentally friendly, have guests bring a covered dish to share as part of the community camping atmosphere. If adult chaperoning permits, encourage guests to bring sleeping bags for the full camping experience. Roast veggie hot dogs, make s'mores and, if the weather is nippy, serve hot cocoa or cider. Have your daughter's friends bring guitars and other instruments for campfire sing-alongs and close the evening with spooky ghost stories. In the morning, make sure to offer more warm beverages and breakfast to sleepover guests.
"Twilight" Theme
Consider a Sweet Sixteen that asks guests to dress as a favorite "Twilight" character. Set the mood in your backyard with a red, white and black color scheme, and play music from the movie over outdoor speakers. Apples are a "Twilight" must, so decorate and/or cook with bright red ones. If your daughter enjoys a rare steak, serve slightly bloody steaks fresh off the grill, alongside festive blood-red drinks. Vote for the best Edward and Jacob costumes and create some team games that pit "Team Edward" against "Team Jacob." Games that recall famous quotes from the book series, such as asking players to recall who said what, will test your guests' trivia knowledge.
Tags: Sweet Sixteen, fancy dress, guests bring, make sure, sleepover guests, your backyard