Sweet Sixteens: Getting Started

Sure, the girls on MTV may have half-million dollar blowouts, gate-crashers, personal stylists, and diva attacks while you're probably thinking of something a little more low-key. Don't worry. No matter what size your Sweet Sixteen or budget is, you can have a Sweet Sixteen that's every bit as glamorous and fun as you're dreaming of -- just use smart planning strategies. Here are some basics for getting started.

Money Talks
The biggest source of disagreement between 15-year-old Sweet Sixteen planners and their parents? You guessed it -- budget. If you're thinking $250 for snacks that you serve in your basement and she's got a $3,500 loft venue in mind, the time to start negotiating is as soon as possible. What are you willing to pay for? What kind of food, drink, and entertainment do you expect to pay for, and what do you think will be D.I.Y.? Laying down some ground rules now will stave off fights in the future.

Create a Great Guest List
How much fun your daughter will have all comes down to one thing: The names on her Sweet Sixteen guest list. Whether it's twelve of her best friends or 125 class-, band-, camp- and teammates, she should choose people who make her feel relaxed and happy to be around… and people who won't cause problems (no moshing to the jazz band or trying to spike the punch).

Think About The Theme
The Sweet Sixteen theme can affect everything from her dress to the desserts, so figure out if you want one before anyone starts shopping. You want the Sweet Sixteen planning to feel fun, not forced, so choose a concept that's in line with her personality. Of course, if you don't want to choose one theme to focus on, just turning sixteen is special enough -- use her favorite colors or images in the decorating to create a perfectly-planned atmosphere.

Set the Tone with the Invitations
Once you know the vibe of the Sweet Sixteen, get people excited by incorporating it into the design of your invitations. Whether you send out rolled-up messages in a bottle for a beach day, tuck bits of straw into your country-style invite, or have announcements engraved on fancy card stock for a formal affair, the invitation is an opportunity to give people a sneak preview of the Sweet Sixteen. Insist on RSVPs so you can be totally prepared numbers-wise with food, drink, and favors. Make sure to include an end time for your Sweet Sixteen, too -- it'll encourage people to come on time rather than dropping in like it's an open house.

Create a Timeline
Even though she may want to just "let things happen," having a schedule for your Sweet Sixteen means there won't be weird pauses where everyone looks at one another and asks, "Now what?" Create an hour-by-hour schedule for the day and include everything you can think of, from when the streamers will be hung, to when she'll make her entrance, to when the cake should be served, to when favors should be set up for departing guests. Don't forget to add specifics, like if there will be any group games, posing for formal pictures, or toasting -- these "basics" are actually easy to forget once everyone's caught up in all the attention and excitement. Creating a schedule will also help the servers and DJ keep the momentum of the party going.

Designate Your To-Dos
As you book Sweet Sixteen pros, find out what they'll include: Will the DJ bring dancers who give out favors? Will the restaurant provide enough servers to keep everyone's glass full? Then you'll know what you're responsible for filling in instead of assuming it's all taken care of. Also check on any extra equipment you might need (especially if you're hosting the Sweet Sixteen at home or providing a lot of the supplies yourself), whether it's a tent for your backyard or rented speakers so you can blast the playlist she's set up on her iPod. Make sure your friends, family members, and vendors know exactly what you need them to do that day.