Celebrate your daughter's Sweet Sixteen with a Hollywood theme

November 10, 2010

Your little girl isn't so little anymore and her 16th birthday is rapidly approaching. Every teenage girl thinks about what her Sweet Sixteen will be like, and she more than likely wants it to be just as great, if not better, than all of her friends'. Planning such an event can't be done last minute, so it is best to begin looking into decorations and invitations as early as possible.

First, one should pick a theme to center the birthday party around. A Hollywood theme is perfect for a Sweet Sixteen, making your daughter the star of the show. Once you've agreed upon that, start by making the guest list and organizing how party invitations will be distributed. There are a number of different custom invitations that one can choose from that can resemble a movie ticket. To give it a real A-list touch, make the invites look like VIP access cards. Your daughter's friends will love receiving the invites and instantly know that this will be a huge event.

Now that you have the invitations all squared away, start thinking about how you'll be decorating the venue and what party supplies you'll need. The first thing you should look into getting is a red carpet. You can't have a Hollywood party without a red carpet, and the guests will enjoy seeing that you've pulled out all of the stops as they arrive to celebrate your daughter's big day. Set up a photograph area near where they'll arrive and have every one pose for pictures as if they're being shot by paparazzi. Give the pictures out at the end of the evening as everyone departs.

Also, place gold statues and fun lighting throughout the venue to give it more Hollywood feel. It will seem more like one of the over-the-top parties that follows the Oscars or Grammys. You can even turn a section of the flooring into your very own walk of fame and include the names of your daughter and her friends.

Hang a large banner in the background recreating the iconic Hollywood sign. It will feel just like an event in Los Angeles. Party centerpieces can look just like awards handed out at all of the fabulous award shows.

Make sure to have plenty of balloons, streamers and confetti in golds and silvers to add some shimmer to the party. It's all about bright lights and glitter. You can carry that theme into the paper goods you choose as well. Paper plates, napkins, cups and plastic tableware are essential when hosting a party of this magnitude. You'll no doubt be serving some kind of food, whether it is a buffet style spread or small appetizers, so you'll want to provide your daughter's friends with something to eat off of.

Send each partygoer home with their own swag bag full of fun items such as candy a neon party favors. You can even include some miniature award statues that are actually chocolate bars.