Sweet 16 Birthday Ideas

by Carol
(Hawaii)

This idea is for a sweet 16 birthday prom dance. My niece was ill during prom her junior year of high school, she was so bummed out. When her mom asked me about ideas for her sweet sixteen, I mentioned a Prom night theme.

At first we were reluctant, because we were not sure how she would handle it. You see my niece has Lupus, and some days are better than others, and we did not want this day to be one of the down ones.

We decided to go for the Prom birthday theme keep it a surprise. The first step was renting a hall. Then we sent out prom ticket invitations to all the juniors and seniors at her school, courtesy of the principal of her school. We also asked that everyone dress formal. Girls in gowns boys in tuxes.

Sweet 16 Birthday Ideas : The Prom Decorations

We set out to put on the best prom anyone had ever been too. I bought a trellis, wrapped in vines, and purple lilies, her favorite color and flower. I bought a beautiful purple silk curtain to drape behind that for Prom pictures.

We rented 50 round tables and covered them with white lace material (which I found inexpensively at the fabric store). Centerpieces in the middle were Beta fish in round wine glasses with purple sand on the bottom. (they doubled as party favors as well.)

I wrapped all the poles and pillars with white Christmas lights and purple lilies. I pulled off petals from every kind of purple flower I could find to throw along the floors of the hall. My sister bought hundred's of purple and white balloon's to hang from the ceiling. When we were done with the decorations, I was in awe of us. We had done a terrific job, the place was amazing.

Sweet 16 Birthday Ideas : The Big Day

We had booked a photographer a month prior, and he was the same guy who did the school's. He gave us a terrific deal.

The food was being Catered by a Hawaiian style cafe here on the island of Hawaii, and they provided more food then was necessary for a very cheap price. On the day of my nieces sweet sixteen, we were all a wreck. Her parents were getting everyone prepared in their home, Telling my niece we had been invited to a super special dinner in her honor.

My husband and I were ready two hours early so that we could collect tickets. Our parents were in a daze, they could not believe how wonderful everything looked. They had provided most the financial end, and were proud of us, and what we had pulled off.

The photographer showed up an hour early, and as soon as the tickets started rolling in, he started snapping pictures. The food line came a few minutes later, and by the time my sisters van pulled in, a hundred plus students had already arrived.

My nieces face that night was priceless. I had never felt so much love and pride in any moment ever. She lit up like tinkerbell and was the party princess for the night. In that moment I was proud of my entire family.

Everyone who had gotten an invitation showed. Her teachers, her principal, and every single junior and senior from her school. We had roughly 400 people at this party.

The crowd took prom pictures, and the photographer went above and beyond his call of duty, taking pictures of everything going on, and even made us all take family portraits. Dancing, eating, enjoying everyone's company was priceless. We had a blast!

A few weeks later, we were able to send everyone their prom pictures, and received a bill from the photographer in the amount of $ 0.00. He said he enjoyed himself so much, he could not charge us. We also received our bill from the Hawaiian Cafe in the amount of $100.00, and they only charged us for the use of the van and catering service.We payed nothing for the food.

My niece and her friends continue even now to talk about that night, and it will be remembered for a lifetime.

Categories: Sweet 16, All Birthday Ideas

Click here to post comments.

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to 16th Birthday Party Ideas.