Does a Sweet 16 Party Have to Cost a Fortune?
Celebrating Sweet 16 without Breaking the Bank
Sweet 16 parties have taken on a whole new life in recent years. When girls turned 16, they used to celebrate with birthday cake and a slumber party. Nowadays, the sweet sixteen parties actually rival wedding receptions in terms of their extravagance and cost. How lavish have they become? If you don't already know, save yourself the stress. Here are some ways to create a fabulous event without the high cost.
Remember, It's a Birthday -- Not a Wedding
Recent Sweet 16 celebrations have grown to be unbelievable events that rival wedding receptions. I remember reading a story in my local paper about a family spending nearly $20,000 on their daughter’s sweet sixteen party.
The dress alone cost more than many adult brides pay for the wedding gowns. The facility where they hosted the party was a venue that usually hosted weddings, and they even had a flavored oxygen bar for entertainment. The amount of money the couple spent could have easily paid for one year of college or a nice down payment on a home. In my opinion, this is a prime example of what's wrong with today's teenagers.
Some Saner Options
Want to give your child an acceptable Sweet 16 party that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (along with a heart and a lung)? Consider having an afternoon tea party. This option works especially well if the sweet sixteen birthday occurs during the spring or summer.
You can head outdoors to your garden and host an afternoon tea for your teen. Even if you want to hire live music that is appropriate for an afternoon tea, you will still save a lot of money compared to the extravagant party sweet sixteen party described above.
If a tea party isn't your daughter's idea of fun, think about a beach party, ice skating, a nice dinner or some other practical way to celebrate.
Not Everyone's a Diva
Keep in mind that some teens don’t want a Sweet 16 bash or some really do want something simple as a slumber party. Sweet sixteen can be as extravagant or as minimal as your teen wants, but make sure you get her input and plan accordingly.