16th birthday patry ideas help!

ixia

It is my daughter's 16th party at the weekend. There will be a mixed group with the girls saying over and the boys going home.

my daughter wants it to be a great night but can't think what to do. Any thing I have suggested she says is too childish.

I am looking for ideas of what to do to keep them entertained she doesn't want to do movies as she has plans to do that with the girls once the boys have gone home.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am at my wits end. Thanks.

cocolgooh

Is the party going to be at your house?
What age are the people attending going to be?
How many people are there going to be? (And how many are girls, how many are boys?)
How long is the party going to be for? (Eg before the boys go home?)
What time does it start?

skintbint_2

thing in my area is hiring a hot tub - yes even at this time of year, and doing a beach themed party with bbq - hope that helps!

sarah*a

Our DD was 16 a couple of weeks ago and I asked her what she would like to do if she had had friends over (we threw her a HUGE 13th party so we haven't done anything big for her 16th) and she said "Vodka & Pizza" :eek: Hmmmm?

But the overall gist I got was that anything 'too organised' was 'lame' (her words not mine ) and just to be left alone with music on, nibbles and something posh to drink would be all it took to make them happy. Maybe throw in a cocktail fountain? (not chocolate - oh my think of the mess!)

With boys around the girls are too bothered about 'looking cool' to really want to participate in anything so maybe just leave them to it for a couple of hours (stay out the way but not too far ) and then do something more organised for later - movies and pampering with face masks/hair masks/manicure etc, some nice chocs and non-alcoholic cocktails ?

Or - depending on the size of your garden/area you live in - a bonfire with jacket potatoes,sausages in buns and warm non-alcoholic cocktails. Finish with fireworks/sparklers just before the boys leave? Then inside to warm up and have popcorn and movies for the girls?

Just some thoughts - obviously not all 16yo are the same - even if they seem to be at first glance:rotfl:Good Luck!

Rummer

How about an 80s or 60s theme? Then they could dress up but with little expense, or a colour theme like black and white?

ixia

there are about 12 of them 6 boys 6 girls. It will be in the house. I did think of a theme however the boys that are going would think they were too cool for that.

Sarah- think my dd was hoping for some alcopops etc but explained that was not happening as I am not being responsible for other kids and that she was still too young. I will probably just leave them to it and they can entertain themselves. I like the garden idea but don't think my neighbours would be too pleased with the bonfire idea they aren't the friendliest.

Skintbit- I like the hot tub idea but would probably blow the budget I will look into it though. thanks

Thanks everyone.

susiecm3

My dd was at a 16th party/sleepover last night although sleep seemed to have been missed out

They had singstar set up and had pizza and snacks, they had a punch made for them with a quarter of bottle of cheap champagne mixed into it, the mum contacted everyone to make sure it was ok first made enough for 1 glass each, then soft drinks after that :-)

Also warn your neighbours

kaz0705

I think Susiecm3 hit the nail on the head with singstar. I don't know how it would go down in a mixed group but it's a big hit with my 20 something friends!

From memory, 16th birthdays are purely about trying to be more grownup than they thing they are so a punch (as suggested above with an 'ok' from other parents) seems like a good idea and then leave them to it! Without wishing to scare any parents, I'm pretty sure a lot of cava was drunk at my joint 16th with my best friend (whose liberal parents kindly went away for the weekend). We got strawberries and cava and pretended we were grown ups.... and then played music loudly and danced all night!

Think that's crucial: no one wants their parents popping their head in to check everyones ok!

And the other idea about the face masks etc for when the boys leave will be a nice treat- being as they'll be staying up all night to discuss them anyway! :-)

good luck!

Lunar_Eclipse

ixia wrote: »

there are about 12 of them 6 boys 6 girls. It will be in the house. I did think of a theme however the boys that are going would think they were too cool for that.

Sarah- think my dd was hoping for some alcopops etc but explained that was not happening as I am not being responsible for other kids and that she was still too young. I will probably just leave them to it and they can entertain themselves. I like the garden idea but don't think my neighbours would be too pleased with the bonfire idea they aren't the friendliest.

Skintbit- I like the hot tub idea but would probably blow the budget I will look into it though. thanks

Thanks everyone.

Some great ideas; hope your DD has a lovely birthday.

Just wanted to say that I would assume someone is likely to bring alcohol (especially if your DD tells hers friends that there won't be any at the party), so you might want to think about how you would handle that in advance of the night.

Doesn't everyone have alcohol at 16th birthday parties? I know we did back in the 80's; Martini or Cinzano anyone? :rotfl: It could work to your advantage to serve a small amount, if you could cope with that. It's good etiquette to inform other parents first though.

I love the fire idea, but would go for a firepit or chiminea over a bonfire. If it was a dry night, I think it would be lovely to chat, make smores and huddle under fleece blankets around a fire, with candles and the night sky. They'd probably love a hot tub too.

captainladypants

The firework and sparkler idea is good. Or if not fireworks (they can be loud!!) how about chinese lanterns?? Each person could write a message then let it go into the night sky.

Punch idea is good, do one alcolholic one and another non-alcoholic one for once the other has been drunk.

Face masks, popcorn, dvd, magazines, maybe some christmas tree lights around the room for the girlies would be lovely.

Could get twister out whilst everyone is there? You could maybe do a football competition in the garden whilst the boys are there? Who can score most goals in five mins, keepie-uppies or somethin, with a bar of choc as prize for the winner?

Definately do pizza, maybe get them to add their own toppings? Buy the smart price/basics bases, then they can add their own chesse, ham, tomatoes, tuna, sweetcorn, mushrooms or whatever they like?

Good luck!! Enjoy yourselves.x

AnthonyUK

You can get nice low noise fireworks if noise is an issue;many crackle with colours and some whistle too but no bangs are produced.
Look at this:
http://epicfireworks.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=52&epicid=21bf451f3815bfa64e445f35d5d9161e