Party Ideas
Birthday Party: Significant Sweet 16
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It’s one of life’s monumental moments… that special day a young girl turns sixteen. Mark this rite-of-passage in a truly significant way.
While some folks may opt for the over-the-top bash, this Party Originals idea offers you an alternative approach:
Make it a truly meaningful, heartfelt celebration, with important, loving messages woven through the festivities to help uplift and guide your special young woman through the next unfolding chapters of her life.
- How? By focusing on what’s significant:
- Something Old . . . Photographs and memories will trail in a beautiful, symbolic timeline down the table center.
- Something New . . . A special, classic gift will await her, something symbolic of her new, young womanhood -- and to be treasured lifelong.
- Something Important . . . Female bonds and friendship will last a lifetime. Invite a special group of women and girls to share this happy occasion in friendship and solidarity.
- Something True . . . Don’t miss this chance to share some heartfelt words of meaning that will make this day extra-significant.
There are always opportunities in life to throw that great big fun crazy bash –- but the significance of this intimate “Sweet 16” lies within the hearts of those who truly care about the birthday girl!
Invite women and girls with whom you share a bond (Something Important) for a birthday brunch/lunch or dinner. It doesn’t need to be a large group. This could make a wonderful mother/daughter party, with your daughter’s closest friends and their moms. Or, gather together the family women, so special aunts, cousins, grandmothers, and sisters can offer a womanly welcome to your newly minted 16.
Here’s a lovely Sweet 16 invitation card. On it, ask each guest to come prepared to share with the group a meaningful message, memory or acknowledgement about the birthday girl.
And . . . ask the birthday girl do the same for each of her guests (See Party Activity below for more details!)!
What could be younger and fresher in spirit than hopeful, sweet sixteen? Light, happy daisies dance in little puddles of pink tulle circles on this tabletop. 
A “Clothesline Photo Timeline” visually portrays your birthday girl’s life-in-progress with fond photos and memories. This is your Something Old! The clothesline is
fun to make (See How-To for steps and a complete list of materials needed) - or if you prefer - you can purchase a fun whimsical photo tree display to use down the center of the table.
Polka-dot luncheon plates and flower-shaped accent plates snazz up these the tablesetting. Both come in a set of 4 colors: pink, brown, lime and lilac. They can even go into her ‘trousseau’ for later!
White cutlery and streamlined, modern glasses keep it clean and simple. . . 
. . . as do simple paper-cutout napkin rings (See How-To) encircling soft pink napkins.
As an alternative, download this premade flowered graphic napkin ring (Click here to download PDF.) 
Daisy placecard holders are a cheerful way to support these downloadable placecards (Click here to download Daisy Placecard PDF).
Make sure and involve the birthday girl in menu decisions. She may have some homemade "Mom" favorites that she will beg you to include! If you are planning on a luncheon - here's one of my favorite women's luncheon menus:
- Fruit Salad
- Croissants with Honey Glaze (See Recipe How-To)
- Curried Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups (See Recipe How-To)
- Baked Asparagus Spears (See Recipe How-To)
- Frozen strawberry daiquiris - non-alcoholic of course
Sharing Something True:
The intimacy of this lovely meal shared by friends may naturally spur your party activity. Or, you may want to tap your glass and formally announce that it’s time to begin -- It’s time to speak aloud those caring thoughts, messages and memories between guests and birthday girl.
Stand with your daughter – help her thank her guests for coming. Perhaps you may want to start off the process with your own little message – or, even better, encourage your daughter to start it off by turning to each of her guests with a little something true and kind to say. As they respond with their own special memories and messages, you will find that there’s something priceless about having the truth-of-the-heart spoken out loud among a group of caring girls and women. Your daughter will be strengthening her bonds of friendship, and building her self-esteem. 
Giving Something New:
Sixteen is truly significant. If you can manage it, now is the perfect time to give a piece of classic jewelry your daughter can cherish and enjoy through the years to come. It may be a birthstone, a pearl necklace, a dainty bracelet or some classic gold earrings. Whatever you may choose, give her something classic and symbolic that she will cherish. I still have and wear the ring I received on my own “Sweet Sixteen.” Such fond memories! 
One more thing –
Don’t forget to have a Polaroid instant camera available to catch and quickly share the moments! Check out the Instant Photo Fun Package on the right for all the accessories.
With these festive photo frames, each guest can display one of the Polaroid snapshots – or future photos from other times shared. How truly significant!
