Are Sweet 16 parties (for girls) common where you live?

[RoughCollie]

I've only read about Sweet Sixteen parties in books.

 

We moved to this small town last year and, lo and behold, Sweet Sixteen parties are common. DD has been invited to 5 of them, and the school year has barely started.

 

This is town that is frequently spoken of as being 30 to 40 years behind the times, and I wonder if these parties are due to that. I'm thrilled, because next year we can (hopefully) give DD a Sweet Sixteen party. I love planning parties.

 

Are Sweet Sixteen parties common where you live?

[Wheres Toto]

They are very common where I live. The town where my dd goes to school is a wealthy town with houses in the $million+ range. These parties are held in banquet halls and country clubs and rival weddings for cost.:glare: The town she used to go to school in was a much more lower/middle class area and Sweet 16 parties are popular there too. They are usually held in a fire house or VFW-type hall and are much more reasonable. My daughter gets invited to parties in both locations and probably attended 15-20 Sweet 16's in the past 18 months.

 

DD had a party last year that fell somewhere in between. It was held at a nice Mason hall (DH is a Mason) but we had a very good (and expensive) DJ who did special lighting and decor.

Edited October 15, 2010 by dottieanna29

[RoughCollie]

DD had a party last year that fell somewhere in between. It was held at a nice Mason hall (DH is a Mason) but we had a very good (and expensive) DJ who did special lighting and decor.

 

I am going to check out the cost of renting a hall and hiring a DJ. I can cater the party myself. Maybe it will be cheap enough. My fingers are crossed. This will give me a project to start in January, when I am usually at loose ends because all the holiday planning is over. January is way too early, but I won't be able to resist having a long term (which I will turn it into) project. This is not going to resemble a wedding reception, just a party like we'd have at home if we lived in a large enough house, plus a DJ, if we can afford it.

Edited October 15, 2010 by RoughCollie

[NanceXToo]

I don't even know! My oldest daughter attended a very tiny private special needs school where they never seemed to bother with birthday parties much at all (not that my daughter was ever invited to anyway).

 

My younger daughter only just turned 10 and has been homeschooled for a while now.

 

So I have no idea if people tend to do Sweet 16 parties around here. I know *I* had one growing up in NY (Long Island) :D

[Ravin]

My DD wants a quinceanera. They're definitely more common around here than sweet sixteen parties, but then we live in a culturally diverse area. I have an acquaintance who's going big on her son's bar mitzvah. Other people make graduation or 18th birthdays the big deal party.

 

I think one really big party honoring a child's coming of age during adolescence is a really good idea.

[AHASRADA]

This is interesting. I have always thought of "Sweet 16" as a Southern US or Mediterranean/Latino immigrant thing. I would be curious to know in which regions this is common, and among families of what cultural backgrounds. I believed the original purpose of a Sweet 16 was as a type of "debutante ball", where the girl makes her debut as a woman in the community, and therefore as a marriage prospect and open to courting. This would explain the huge, extravagant, well-attended party. Is there another reason I am missing?

 

I, also, have only heard of Sweet 16 parties in books and movies. While 16 year olds have the right to drive, 18 is a much greater milestone in our modern culture, since it marks entry into legal adulthood, so this is the birthday that I am accustomed to being celebrated in a big way (but definitely not as big as you are describing; that's a wedding!)

[justamouse]

Yes. A lot and all over. They treat them like small weddings, here, though. I like the idea of having a cultural rite of passage for girls, much like the Quincenara.

Edited October 15, 2010 by justamouse
whackadoo #a in my text

[momofkhm]

Some are small affairs, some are large. Some invite the whole family some just other girls.

 

My dd's party is next weekend. So far we're expecting 11 girls to come and stay up all night watching movies. It's what she wants.

 

That reminds me - I need to change my sig! DD turns 16 today!

[yslek]

:001_huh:

 

I've never heard of this. Don't know if it's my region or maybe I'm way out of touch. :confused:

[RoughCollie]

My DD wants a quinceanera.

 

DD went to a quinceanera a couple of years ago. It was lavish -- complete with the girls wearing formal gowns and white stretch limos to transport the guests in.

 

Sweet 16 parties here are not lavish -- there is a different demographic in this rural area, which is dotted with tiny towns among many small farms, than we were accustomed to when we lived in a very large metro area.

Edited October 15, 2010 by RoughCollie

[DianeW88]

I don't know, but I had my "debut" at the country club when I was 18 with the other debutantes in the area. Back east, exclusive neighborhood, Junior League crowd...that sort of thing. I'm MUCH less exclusive now. :lol:

 

Diane W.

married for 22 years

homeschooling 3 kiddos for 16 years

[Tabrett]

We gave our dd a huge sweet 16 b-day party this past April. It was a Masquerade. All the kids dress up in prom like clothes with masks. Fortunately, my in-laws own a retreat center that we used free of charge. My dh has all the DJ equipment, projectors and screens. I think about 60 teens came. It was great fun!

 

I had a sweet 16 party many moons ago. It was not as lavish, but fun.:D

 

My SIL had a sweet 16 party. I distinctly remember her party. We were hoola-hooping and I felt soooooo sick. When I got home I took a pregnancy test and was positive with my first dd!

 

I think it is pretty common around here.

[Wheres Toto]

I am going to check out the cost of renting a hall and hiring a DJ. I can cater the party myself. Maybe it will be cheap enough. My fingers are crossed. This will give me a project to start in January, when I am usually at loose ends because all the holiday planning is over. January is way too early, but I won't be able to resist having a long term (which I will turn it into) project. This is not going to resemble a wedding reception, just a party like we'd have at home if we lived in a large enough house, plus a DJ, if we can afford it.

 

For my dd's 13th birthday (it was her last year at her old school so we did something nicer than we normally would have) we took all her CD's and Itunes to make up a bunch of mixed CDs. Then we brought our regular home stereo and used it to play the cd's for the party. It only was an issue when she wanted a specific song at a specific time - when that happened I was very thankful I had printed the song list for the cases. Basic DJ's around here started at $300 but we're in a pretty High COL area.

 

DH did all the food for her party. He made easy things like - meatballs, roast beef in gravy, sausage that he removed from the casing and made into balls, melted cheese and chips, and a crudite platter. We bought rolls from a bakery and did get the main cake from the bakery. We made cupcakes as well. We served non-alcoholic margarita's and strawberry daquiris with a limited amount of soda.

 

DD ended up having 120 people at her party (two different school districts plus dance friends) with a Mad Hatter theme.

[Hunter's Moon]

No.

 

Sweet Fifteens are though.

 

We live in a mainly Hispanic community so that is the reason why.

[ereks mom]

...she invited a dozen friends, both boys & girls, and they played games, danced, talked, ate, watched videos, listened to music, etc. We had the party in a large conference room at dh's office; we moved the tables to the back of the room to make a buffet & eating area and so there would be room for a dance area in the center of the room. We used dh's projector (mounted in the ceiling) to project videos onto the screen (mounted to the wall). I bought cheap tablecloths, helium balloons, and decorations from the dollar store, and matching bright-colored cups, plates, napkins, and plasticware from Sam's. We served soft drinks, chili cheese dip, cocktail sausages in sauce, veggies tray, fruit tray, m&m's, Skittles, and an assortment of crackers, chips, and mini-cookies, in addition to birthday cake and ice cream.

 

Contrast that with the formal Sweet 16 I mentioned previously. The birthday girl wore a formal white dress; it looked a LOT like a wedding dress. Her attendants (I forget how many there were, but EK was one of them) wore fancy party dresses. The girls were all escorted by young men (also friends of the birthday girl) wearing black suits, white shirts, and black ties. Guests dressed the same as they would dress for attending a wedding. The food was a catered sandwich bar, plus fruit trays, veggie trays, pasta salad, potato salad, plus a (fancy) strawberry & whipped cream cake. The parents rented a country club-like facility that looked sort of like a lodge, and that's where the food was served and the formal dancing took place. The music was ballroom dance music, and they danced to several songs as other guests looked on. The birthday girl also had a special waltz with her father. Outside, next to the pond, there was a lighted outdoor pavilion where, after the meal and formal dancing, the kids danced to an assortment of songs, from 50s & 60s oldies to modern stuff.

[RoughCollie]

For my dd's 13th birthday (it was her last year at her old school so we did something nicer than we normally would have) we took all her CD's and Itunes to make up a bunch of mixed CDs. Then we brought our regular home stereo and used it to play the cd's for the party. It only was an issue when she wanted a specific song at a specific time - when that happened I was very thankful I had printed the song list for the cases. Basic DJ's around here started at $300 but we're in a pretty High COL area.

 

That is a good idea, thank you.

[RoughCollie]

We gave our dd a huge sweet 16 b-day party this past April. It was a Masquerade. All the kids dress up in prom like clothes with masks.

 

This is a good idea. DD's birthday is near Halloween, so I might do that. She's always wanted to have a Halloween party (in addition to a birthday party).

 

We'd probably have this party between her birthday and Halloween. We have to hope that if the Red Sox are in the World Series next year, that one of the games doesn't take place on party night.

[LibraryLover]

Low key here, but very common. :) I really like it.

[Peela]

I dont understand- what is a Sweet Sixteen party? Sixteen does seem to be one of those milestone ages- dd16 forewent a large 15th party so that she could have a large 16th. She had over 16 friends, male and female. I cooked a feast, we lit a fire in th backyard, played loud music, and had the spa running (its in teh backyard). She reckons it was the best party ever and her freidns still talk about it months later- and many of them are used to drinking alcohol at parties, and we didnt have any.

 

But..I dont understand what a Sweet Sixteen party is- isnt it just a party?

 

It reminds me....dd16 has a nutter of a Venturer leader- a woman- who told her- in front of me- oh your boyfirend will be happy you are 16 now, wont he? Meaning she is now legal age to have s*x. I was so gobsmacked that she would say that completely openly, I didn't even respond. Dd just smiled and said she didnt have a boyfriend, which she didnt at the time.

[Parrothead]

I dont understand- what is a Sweet Sixteen party? Sixteen does seem to be one of those milestone ages- dd16 forewent a large 15th party so that she could have a large 16th. She had over 16 friends, male and female. I cooked a feast, we lit a fire in th backyard, played loud music, and had the spa running (its in teh backyard). She reckons it was the best party ever and her freidns still talk about it months later- and many of them are used to drinking alcohol at parties, and we didnt have any.

 

But..I dont understand what a Sweet Sixteen party is- isnt it just a party?

 

It reminds me....dd16 has a nutter of a Venturer leader- a woman- who told her- in front of me- oh your boyfirend will be happy you are 16 now, wont he? Meaning she is now legal age to have s*x. I was so gobsmacked that she would say that completely openly, I didn't even respond. Dd just smiled and said she didnt have a boyfriend, which she didnt at the time.

Some people, eh?

 

A quinceanera is a Hispanic tradition. These happen when a girl turns 15.

A Sweet 16 is a US/Canadian phenomena. These can range from the extremely formal to the extremely casual.

[Luckymama]

Sweet 16 parties are popular here. Ds17 attended two-----one incredibly fancy at a private club in the city and one (just the other day) in a friend's backyard. He preferred the casual one :)

 

Dd15 has started to attend the parties, with her first last week. The parents rented a jump house shaped like a castle, made all the food themselves and had hay bale seating all over the backyard. The kids apparently really enjoyed the jump house!

 

Dd15 would like to have a Sweet 16 party. Her birthday is in February so that means it would have to be indoors, which will limit the number of people she can invite. We'll start planning after Christmas :)

[Granny_Weatherwax]

They aren't common here - most kids just have a regular birthday celebration. The families who do celebrate Sweet Sixteen are usually more affluent and the party involves gifting the birthday child with a car.

 

I think DD went to two official Sweet Sixteens and that was it.

[Jeannie in NJ]

my dd, age 15, has been to 3 sweet 16 parties. one was last year and it was held in a vfw hall and about 20 kids were invited. another one was held at the girl's house with about 10 friends. The other one was my niece's which was a fancy tea, she invited several girlfriends and also our

 

entire extended family. ( no one in our extended familyever has any kind of party, including birthday parties, without the entire large extended family coming).

 

I think sweet 16's are fairly common around here but they are not lavish affairs, they are even often held at home.

[Natalieclare]

Hullo!

Nataliclare's daughter here. Mom and I were reading this thread as she cleans out her closet, because I just turned sixteen. My mom surprised me for my birthday with a bonfire! It was delightful.

A couple of questions pop into mind.

 

What makes a Sweet Sixteen party Official?

 

If you spend a bunch on money on a Sweet Sixteen party for your daughter, what do you do for your son?

[Hockey Mom]

We had a Sweet 16 party for my DD...at her place of employment. She worked for an indoor bouncehouse place called 'Pump it Up'. We invited all of her friends and co-workers and surprised her. It was great because she thought she was going to be late for work, and she was really stressing about it. When she walked in, her supervisor gave her the 'mean eye' and said, "you're late". As soon as DD clocked in, she went into Bounce room A, and waiting around the corner was everyone. She actually broke out in tears (mixed with shock and laughter).

 

The teens had a great time bouncing in these massive bounce houses, the music was blaring (her favorite is 80s pop), the adults had fun, and even those with little kids had a great time. The whole party cost us less than $500 (that included the entire establishment, entertainment, food, and party supplies).

 

I don't know if they're popular down here (Florida), since DD was never asked to a sweet 16 party. A lot of her friends had slumber parties instead.

[Chris in VA]

They were seen as a milestone-type party in Ohio when I was growing up, but not the big blowouts seen on cable TV. My niece just had a surprise party for her's, but they are not dressy people and just had some friends over.

I'm not sure about this area (N Va).

 

Quinceneras were very popular in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale region when I was in high school--big Hispanic tradition area.

[RoughCollie]

What makes a Sweet Sixteen party Official?

 

If you spend a bunch on money on a Sweet Sixteen party for your daughter, what do you do for your son?

 

It's all in the name ... and it really helps if the girl has just turned 16. Mind you, DD's party is not going to be a lavish one, like the ones that are similar to fancy wedding receptions. Basically, it is what girls around here call their 16th birthday party.

 

I like planning parties, and my DD is the only child I have who is the least bit interested in having one.

 

I asked my sons that question (they are already 16, so it's too late to do anything about it) and they were loudly unanimous in their agreement that they did not want, and will never want, a Sweet Anything Party, even if I call it something else.

 

They don't want anything to make up for it -- to them, this is one of those inexplicable girl things. It is too uncool for words.

Edited October 17, 2010 by RoughCollie