Perfect Prom Resource

Glowing Club Decor Columns

The newest hottest Trends at Sweet 16's & Proms are Decor Lighting! 

This ranges from Up-Lighting a wall to an entire room, & can combine glowing columns around your virtual night club.

To see an entire article just on uplighting click here

The best way to write this article is to show you how cool some of the effects can be with photos!  All the Effects are lit with safe LED lights that can be set to 1 color or to scroll through 10 colors depending on your style & theme.

Most Rental Companies that have these rent out no larger than 8 foot because of ceiling restrictions & stability.  Over 8 foot requires them to be weighted down with sandbags plus other safety precautions.

These Columns will not only make your Prom or Sweet Sixteen Unique but will set the mood as clubby as you can get!  The decor (and Photos) speak for themselves.

This combined with use of standard up-lighting will transform your plain dark room into a lounge  atmosphere like no other! 

Smaller cubes like in the photo to the right are custom per event & the light fixtures as well, most companies will not have these but the photo shows you what is possible with a little light and creativity. 

Most companies will rent these columns for a few hundred dollars including the LED light fixture! They setup in minutes but the memories & photos last a lifetime!

 

Good luck & Have fun!

Cher!

For a Rental Company that has Up-Lights & Columns click here!

Red Carpet Prom or Sweet 16

Elegance, Fashion, Celebrities & Photographers are what come to mind when thinking about a Red Carpet Party!

To recreate being on the red carpet at a huge premier, celebration, Prom or Sweet 16 takes a lot of planning!

This blog will cover the parts of planning a red carpet theme party including where you can put your rented red carpet runner, vendors, pictures & ideas for taking an event like this to the next level!

A few things to think about when planning:

• Red Carpet & Paparazzi
• Dress Code
• Custom Backdrop for Photographer
• Food & Drinks
• Cutouts of Celebrities & Decor
• Club Disc Jockey & Club Light Show
• Plasmas & Montages
• Invitations & Favors

Red Carpet Rental 

This is the key to the whole theme, so don't get a cheap felt red carpet.  Get the real deal a 3-4 foot  Official Hollywood Red Carpet, and if you have the budget stanchions & Velvet ropes to make it official!  Many Entertainment & DJ companies will have these.  If not check your local party rental stores.  Beware they will charge a delivery & setup/breakdown fee plus travel.

Dress Ideas!

Dress to impress!! You and your guests should be dressed comfortably fashionable, looking sexy, without being too formal (unless its a Prom). Guests should be allowed to add their own style to the night! This will help them get into the theme. The host should look amazing,  Anything you would want to wear when getting stormed by the paparazzi!

Photographer & Custom Backdrops

Photographers are super important for pulling this off & your Grand entrance. Make sure your friends bring their digital cameras is important as well! Hiring a Professional photographer & Possibly an assistant is an important aspect of the event. Make sure to tell your photographer details so they know what is going on. When your guests arrive have the photographer take a formal photo on your red carpet. A Great addition to the carpet is a Custom backdrop, you can get them with your Club DJ's name on them or even get it customized to say you name & theme, or logo if you have one!  This is True Red Carpet Stuff and will make your photos that much more professional! Make sure you photographer captures the rest of the night & dancing (candid) shots as well as the formal ones!

Menu & Drinks

Food should be Pass-arounds during "mocktail" hour. These can be continued throughout the night. We always suggest a Buffet instead of a formal sit down dinner with teens because it will give them more time to dance. Meals should be avoided until after formal Photos so everyone is looking their best at the beginning of the night!

Drinks are an important part of the red carpet, if you want to go formal then try sparkling apple cider also you can do frozen "mocktails" in martini style glasses at a formal "bar area". Soda & Water can be served at the tables as well.

Decor

Make sure your red carpet is long enough to reach the entrance so once a person arrives they can walk all the way in on a red carpet, make sure you measure the distance before you order the carpet.

Life size celebrity cardboard cutouts can be a great way to have guests arrive & have photo ops with.  Hiring an extra MC from your DJ company to interview guests on the red carpet can be a fun way to create a memorable evening!  If you hired a Videographer make sure they know to catch that as all of your friends arrive.

At a real Red Carpet event, planners place strobes facing the Celebrities to simulate photos being taken. This helps get the energy level up so it always looks like friends are getting their photo taken, & it looks  great! Ask your Dj company to provide these if not you can buy them at party stores!

Stanchions & Velvet Ropes are also necessary to keep your friends & guests in the Spotlight. Have your guests arrive and make their way down the carpet. At the end have them pose for a Picture, pickup a drink, & join the guests to welcome your other friends as they arrive. Encourage them to take pictures & cheer! Then when you arrive, all your guests are ready & waiting right there for you to get the perfect picture & give you an standing ovation!

A Great new Decor Item is Up-Lighting, where you can change the color of your room with LED lights placed around the room, or light up 8 foot spandex columns & have them fade different colors!

Club DJ & Lights

High energy music is the most important factor to pulling off this type of event. Get your entertainment company to setup  speakers outside, and play your music as guests arrive. Hire a Young Club Style Disc Jockey that knows your crowd and is willing to play all the Top hits and remixes!  This will make or break your Red Carpet Party.  If your friends have an awesome DJ and a $10 red carpet what do you think they will remember?  Make sure the DJ has a great light show to set the mood for dancing, many will have club style lights that they can bring in and setup for you.  This will let the venue lower their lights & make the event more realistic.

Plasmas & MTV Videos

Most Entertainment companies have Screens or Plasmas they can build into your package.  This is an important element to your red carpet party!  A Few things you can do on the Screens:  Photo Montages, MTV Videos, Live Photo Slide Shows, Live Dance Floor Cams, Video from the Red Carpet, Custom Messages with your name/logo etc, Pictures & Slide Shows!  In 2010 & Beyond Video is an important element at any event! (Be Sure not to lump this in with your Decor or DJ budget)

Favors, Invitations & Giveaways

Custom Favors are amazing try a Photo booth or Photo Printer with a custom printed border! Giftcards can be great or some type of custom glass or favor. Custom Candy can be a great addition as well, buy personalized chocolate bars & put your picture on them! Invitations should have all the party info and be custom made.  Giveaways should fit your theme but can also be glow items, blinkies or LED's

Last Ideas

A Red Carpet themed party can be an awesome event, there is no right or wrong way to do it! The glamor of the evening, fun music, photography, & videos can make it an awesome experience for you & your friends.  Remember, have fun, do it big & be a star for the night!

Other Party Themes:

• Black-light Party
• Glow Party
• Pretty in Pink
• Under the Stars
• Mardi Gras or Masquerade
• Black & White
• Red Carpet Premier
• Hollywood Sweet Sixteen
• Luau

For Red Carpets, DJs, Photographers, Photobooths, Uplighting, Photo Printers, Decor, Giveaways, Plasmas & more for your Sweet Sixteen Click this link!

Prom Committee Timeline!

Your Prom Committee has a responsibility to build a once in a lifetime event for your friends & peers! This task should be taken seriously and your classmates will see the hard work you put into Prom!

Smart Tip #1: Break it up into smaller tasks, each of the items should be delegated to a different prom sub-committee, these sub-committees should have knowledge or insight into their "task" and enjoy what they are researching!  Then the sub-committee reports their findings back to the whole prom Committee by a mutually agreed upon date. Then the final decisions are made by the whole Committee, via a vote.

9 Months before Prom

• Choose your Prom Date (Weekdays have been more popular in the recent years)
• Form your Prom Committee & Sub-Committees with volunteers
• Determine the Overall Prom Budget & Open a Bank Account
• Start Fund-raising & looking into new creative fund-raisers
• Book your Prom Venue (Some Schools book the same venue the year before)

8 Months Before Prom

• Choose your Prom's Theme & Prom Song
• Choose Food Options (We Suggest Buffet for max Dancing time)
• Hire your Prom Disc Jockey
• Select & Order Prom Favors etc

7 Months Before Prom

• Select Prom Theme Decorations
• Order Decorations or Hire Prom Decorator
• Select & Hire your Prom Photographer
• Start Advertising Prom with Posters, Flyers & Announcements

5-6 Months Before Prom

• Decide ticket and invitation design & Order Tickets & Programs
• Write wording for memory booklet etc
  
• Book Prom security Team
  
• Arrange for Chaperones & Teachers to commit
  
• Order favors, & all other Prom supplies
• Build a Prom Photo Montage (Slideshow) for DJ to Play on Projector Screen

3-4 Months Before Prom

• Organize Prom Setup & Clean up Crews
• Plan Royal Court Ceremonies
• Send out Prom invitations (don't forget the faculty, admins, & chaperones)
  
• Confirm all orders, volunteers & Disc Jockey
  
• Sell Prom Bid tickets
  
• Arrange Prom seating charts
  
• Fill out DJ's Forms & time line (dinner, activities & Prom Court)
• Have Paid Students make Requests for Disc Jockey
  

1 Week Before Prom

• Finalize total headcount
• Confirm with Prom Venue
• Assemble all decorations that can be moved to Venue
• Get final checks for Prom night payments(Venue, DJ, Photographer, Decor etc)

2 Days Before Prom

• Purchase or pick up food & beverages (if DIY)
• Decorate for the Prom(If DIY)

 Day of Prom!

• Prepare food & beverages (If DIY)
  
• Put up all outdoor decor & Inflate balloons 
• Have Phone Numbers of all your Vendors just in case

Smart Tip #2: Every School Handles Proms differently, some are in The School Gym & Some are in a NYC Night Club but all that matters is the the committee did the best they could within their allotted budget!  Our suggestion is Prom is ultimately a Formal School Dance, so Venue doesn't matter! The DJ, Decor & Photographer will make or Break your Prom! 

Smart Tip #3: Most of ALL Don't Stress & Have FUN!

Cher!

Awesome Prom Entertainment Here!

New Kind of Prom 2010 Style!

With the economy in shambles EVERYONE is looking to save money & get a better value for their spent  cash!  That does not mean cheap out -- it merely makes individuals think outside the box!  Great things can change when you start to think outside the box and move forward!  Proms & School Dances are stuck with an "old school" (no pun intended) mentality but most are charging in excess of what a 5 star restaurant would! Which is good if they actually put the quality and money back into the event!  Very few do.

Our suggestion is hire a company that specializes in Privatizing your Prom & Other School Dances! 

High school proms have become more like another class rather than like a party. Every year, government school administrators think up new rules to restrict the behavior of students who attend school proms. Strike back against the government's party rules, by organizing and attending a PRIVATE prom that will keep your teachers, your principal, and their ridiculous rules out of your social life. 

A private prom would be organized by a Company that only throws teen events, without your school's assistance. Therefore, your school administrators would not be able to enforce the school's disciplinary code. The prom would simply be a more elegant & elaborate weekend party.

At current school proms, teachers are more concerned about security than about the music. Proms regularly have three levels of security which include off-duty police officers, hotel security, and teachers. All of them regularly inspect the bathrooms, check the parking lot for people that are hanging out, and implicitly discourage all wild behavior & close dancing. Step out of line and you'll be asked to leave the prom and possibly suspended.

"Of course, the use of alcohol is always prohibited at any school event. Individuals involved in these behaviors may be prohibited from taking part in the ceremonies on graduation day, as well as facing suspension," said a letter sent to parents of seniors at Birmingham High School. Montclair High school recently had an entire Limo arrested and processed for arriving drunk at 2009 Prom. These events would also be alcohol free because lets face it everyone is under age, but parents would be notified for violations!

Here are some rules enforced at CURRENT Public & Private School proms:

1. At any school dance, each student may invite one outside guest as long as he or she is responsible for his conduct and almost all schools make you sign a "guest" pass which is like an elementary school permission slip.
2. The mode of dress set up by the group sponsoring the dance shall be strictly enforced.
3. Students exhibiting conduct unbecoming a student of High School will be asked to leave.
4. Students will not be permitted to leave the building during the course of the dance. Students may leave at 10:00 p.m. but will not be allowed to return.
5. Only students in junior and senior homerooms are eligible to attend the prom. Outside guests must be registered with the Prom Committee (and a guest pass, lol).

These rules are more appropriate for a prison than for a party. Do you know of any other party that forbids people from leaving? Why must people register their outside guests?

You won't have to worry about suspensions at a private prom. Private facilities want your business and they want to make sure that they also host the next year's private prom. It will actually be difficult to get kicked out of a private prom, because the owners would not risk future business by ejecting a wild, though peaceful, student. And even if you do find a way to get kicked out of a private prom, you won't have to face additional punishment at school on Monday.

Other things that get put ahead of students good time: Decor, Balloons, Invitations, Food - all on the List before Disc Jockey!  Now to us a Prom is a elegant school dance!  So the first and most important decision should be your DJ entertainment for the evening!  With a Private Company like AClubProm.com running your prom we understand this and the entire theme, and event revolve around great Club DJ's!

Private proms would be an all-day and night event. Many students who attend current proms are forbidden from renting hotel rooms at the hotel that is hosting the prom. But if you attend a private prom, you and your friends could rent a hotel room where you could hang out before, or after the prom.

Private proms would also take one less punishment out the your principal's arsenal. Routinely,  schools control the behavior of students by threatening to bar them from the prom. We wrote about a student in Kansas who ran naked through his school auditorium and now will not be able to attend the prom. His fellow students protested the punishment by staging a parade. However, the ultimate protest would be to organize a private prom.

Gradually, you & your fellow students should privatize all extracurricular activities. Then your  administrators would never be able to ruin another school dance, kick you off the baseball team or bar you from the prom because private companies who don't take orders from the schools would run these activities.This will also prevent 2 other issues embezzlement by prom advisers (see other articles) and saving to help fund school slush funds for cappuccino machines & couches in the teachers lounge.  Get your moneys worth today, YOU DO PAY FOR IT!!

Start fighting back now by making your school's prom the first privatized activity. If you do not have experience organizing parties, then call AClubProm.com. Stay away from Wedding DJ's, party planners, rave promoters, and hotel staff - why you ask?  They have no idea how to plan a prom!  They would take the job on and possibly get you the same or worse results!  AClubProm.com could organize the entire prom with or with out your students!

And don't let your teachers or administrators stop you. You have the freedom to embrace the free-market by organizing your own prom. There is NO laws stopping you from calling AClubProm.com right now and making this the year that makes a difference!

  Some Schools have already done this! Check it out:

A School you may have heard of in Georgia is having segregated Proms (STILL!) how you ask, Parents pay for the one Prom and organize it outside of school, and Just invite the students they want to attend!

Also what about the tons of Homeschool Proms across the country, No school to run them - all Privatized!

Prairie High School Jr. Sarah says: she does not plan to comply with any of the new rules."I as well as many other students will just not go to any of the school dances, we'll have our own dances," she told ABCNews.

Lastly AClubProm.com these guys got sick of dealing with administration ruining school dances & Proms and started to pay out of their pockets to host clean fun events for students!  They can also still come and Run your current Prom within the school but at a much higher success rate!

Now the Ball is in your court will you do it the way its been done forever just because? or will you drag your Prom out of the 1960's and make a difference?

Make the Call now! http://www.AwesomeClubProm.com >>> 877.PROM.123

Cher!

Prom Themes!

Deciding on a great Prom theme idea is your first, and one of the most challenging decisions when planning your Prom dance. The student government should meet and discuss possible themes for Prom.  It is important to try to involve as many students as possible try a poll during homeroom of the top 3 choices. In case of a tie, let the seniors decide. 

Most High School Proms are organized by Student Council Advisors or Prom Committee.

Prom Dance Themes:

Here are a few Prom theme ideas to get your class, committee  & Advisor started.

 

A Gathering of Ghouls, A Hero's Homecoming,  A Night In Paris

A Night of Star,  A Place in the Sun,  A Tinseltown Moment Action Heroes,  Affaire d’ Amour, Alice in Wonderland Around the World, Around the World in One Night, At the Hop, Autumn in New York, Back to the Future, Black Tie  Black Widow's Lair, Board Games, Boogie Nights Bourbon Street Masquerade, Box Office Bliss Can't Fight the Moonlight Carnival (Circus), Candyland, Casino, Cartoon Mania, Chillin' in the Arctic City of Lights, City Rhythm, Commercially Speaking, Colors of the Wind Club Scene Theme, Dance thru Time, Decades, Dreams, Dreams, Dreams Disney (Dreams Come True), Down by the Sea, Drops of Jupiter, Egyptian Allure, Escape to Paradise, Escape to Rio, Feelin' Groovy, From LA to the Bay, Frosted Twilight, Fairy Tales, Great Moments in Sports, Harvest Moon History of Music, Holiday Wish, Hollywood Homecoming, Hollywood Magic Hollywood Nights, Homecoming - Then and Now, Historical Events In Vogue, Island Fantasy,Italian Serenade, Jungle Allure, La Noche Dorada Las Vegas, Legends of Camelot, Mad about Mambo, Magic in the Snow Manhattan Mystique, Mardi Gras Mambo, Medieval Magic, Multi-Cultural Native Paradise, New York, New York, Night in New Orleans, Night Lights Night of Stars, Night of the Golden Dragon, Night on the Town, Noche Dorada North Pole Delight, On Broadway, Over the Rainbow, Paris Nights, Parade of Good Books Polynesian Sunset, Poetry, Rest in Peace, Rhythm Divine, Rio Grande Requiem, River of Dreams Road Trip, Rock Around the Clock, Rock 'n Roll Fantasy, School Days, Saturday Night Fever Seaswept, Secret Garden, Shades of the Orient, Shanghai Moon, Simply Irresistible Snowflake Wonderland, Soda Shop Hop, Songs, Old & New, Space Voyage, Spirit of America Springtime in Paris, Star Gazing, Story-Book Land, Stars on Broadway, Summer Wind Sunset Oasis, Sunset Silhouettes, Superheroes, Tahitian Fantasy Cruise, The Circus The Great Frontiers, The Oscars, The Zoo, Theme Songs, Tinseltown Moment, TV Land Under the Sea, Under the Stars, Underwater Escape, Western, Whispers of the Orient Whispers of Winter, Wild Wild West, With All My Heart, World of Fantasy, Written in the Stars
These Themes also apply to Prom, Winter Formals, or other Semi- Formal Dances!

 An Awesome Dance for your Students

Selecting a theme and going over ideas will help guarantee a fun and memorable dance. This is a key component in producing an unforgettable homecoming dance. First, think about the type of atmosphere you want to have, whether you want it to be romantic, fun, or mysterious. Most schools develop themes that generally set the guidelines for the homecoming colors & Decor. Some schools have become more creative by revolving the entire dance party around the theme and ideas. This goes all the way down to the students attire & decorations. Whatever theme your committee chooses, make sure it fits the personality of your student body.

Entertainment Ideas

Plus remember that Decor and themes are great but don't fall short on hiring great entertainment such as a Disc Jockey, Band or DJ!  The basic ingredients for successful school Prom dance are music, hype, & energy.

The company you hire for the  DJ can make or break your ticket sales for the next dance depending on how the music was balanced. How well your committee hypes the party will determine the outcome as well. Do not forget that the energy level at your school Prom dance will be based on the quality of the Disc Jockey, a cheap DJ will not play loud enough and may have offensive lyrics.  A Great Disc Jockey will have radio edits and know what to play when!  Liability Insurance for all vendors is a must! Please read our other article about this here

For Great Club DJs in your Area Check this link out!

Cher!

Homecoming & Back to School Dances 2010!

Homecoming & Back to School Dances have arrived!  The one and ONLY Rule Don't Cheap out!!! 

If you have to fund raise do it - if you have to charge more then $5 do it!

But don't bother throwing a bash if it is doomed from conception!

Why you ask??

Great question Most schools bounce around with dances doing a great one then try to use it to save money and do a cheap one.  All this does is make students not want to show up the next time!

Well if you went to see a movie and it was no good - would you watch it again? or buy the shirt or DVD? NO!!! Same concept - if you throw a shoddy dance that 1000 students come to- IT BY NO MEANS IS SUCCESSFUL!

Success will show on the 2nd dance of the year, if the same 1000 show up then you did a good job - if 50-100 show up you failed as a homecoming committee and more then likely ruined the rest of the years events with a bad first impression.

Your goal should be structured like a business! You are planning, advertising, marketing and collecting money from "clients" so treat it like a business! And treat your clients like clients.

If Student (your clients) like the level of service they a re given they will re-attend the next and more then likely all the event you throw! - If not you will have an uphill battle right to the Prom.

If your dance is a fundraiser for another event such as Project grad or Prom - Say it in the advertising!  Why?? so your clients know that ALL the money is not going back into the dance they are attending! 

For example if you charge $5 to get into a dance and spent all $5 on the dance (depending on the size of your school) say 500 attend - you would have $2500 to spend ..... BUT if this is a fundraiser and you charged the same but hired a $200 DJ and had no Decor, the dance would fail but appear to be a success because your school profited $2300 for Prom!

Now take the same amount $2500 say you spent $1200 on a awesome DJ, $500 on decor,$100 on a red carpet, $300 on lighting, $400 on food & drinks and the same students showed up - WOW what a different experience they will have!  One that will be memorable, one that they have photos of, one that they will chat about on twitter, facebook & myspace, and more importantly one that they cant wait to happen again!

Now where 99% of schools fail is the second dance, they will do the $200 DJ and no food etc - so don't fall into that trap!  If they are paying at the VERY least give your client what they are paying for, Period.

Other Notes: Our Parents paid $5 to attend school dances in 1960's & 1970's don't you think that the  value of a good dance is worth more then a happy meal?  Actually happy meals even cost more then $5 now! so reconsider what may be acceptable and what you are offering your students! Most schools I interview charge between $9 - $30 per person.

NOTE 2:  Change it up Add a Photographer, Screen, Plasmas, Photo-booth, Up-lighting, Dancers, Better food, a Theme, ANYTHING to change it up from what has already been proven to fail!

Cher

For Awesome Disc Jockeys, Decor, Screen Rentals, Planning Ideas & more Click this link

Planning a Crazy Super Sweet 16 Party

Planning a Super Sweet 16?

Ideas for an over the top Sweet 16 party

 

Planning an MTV style bash?  Want an over the top, blow out Sweet 16?  It will be awesome, but can be a lot of work.  You should seriously consider hiring a professional event planner for your event or an entertainment company that provides planning assistance.  They will be able to manage all of the different vendors for your big day.  Here are some elements of the party you will need to consider during your planning.  Having a list of ideas will certainly help you & your planner plan the party of the decade!

 

Location! Location! Location!

 

Start by choosing a cool location for your party.  You can work around your theme, if you're having one.  Are you a movie buff?  Rent out the lobby of a local theater.  Love dancing?  Rent a dance club for the night.  Here are some ideas for fabulous party locations

• Hotel - many have fabulous ballrooms

• Night club

• Theater lobby

• Outdoors - if your home is big enough, use a tent. 

• Museum - most will give you access to all the exhibits

• Mansion - see if a local historical society will rent one

• Auto dealership - you're turning 16, right?

• The Mall - seriously, you can rent out space in the mall after they close

• Barn - great for a Western/Cowgirl theme

• Sports stadium

Sweet 16 Invitations

 

No ordinary boring invitation will do here!  The invitation will set the tone for your party, so they need to be great!  There are great options out there now for invitations that play music when you open them or that light up.  Make a DVD virtual invitation that guests have to watch to get the details.  Or send a box with your invitation and a treat - candy for a candy theme, etc. 

 

You can have your invitations hand delivered as well.  This can be like a mini event!  If you're having a princess theme party, then have a knight deliver the invitations by horse and carriage.  Having the party at a car dealership, then have someone deliver the invitations in a sports car. 

 

Sweet 16 Decor & Party Supplies

 

I'm a big fan of Up-lighting at a party.  You'd be amazed at all the options out there and how much lighting can increase the feel and ambiance of an Sweet 16.  Your Entertainment/DJ can help you wash the walls of a party room in as many colors as your like.  You can have your name projected onto the ceiling in a monogram or moving across the walls and dance floor.  Each table can have a light directed over it as a spotlight.  They even have tables that light up and change colors.  Go all out with lighting.  You won't regret it!

 

For a very modern party element, choose an area to set up a club VIP lounge.  Rent couches (to match your theme/colors) and set them up along with small tables, cool rugs and lamps.  This will turn into your event's VIP area.

 

  Life size cutouts of you in different poses around the room are great fun and make for great photo ops. Or enlarge photos of yourself at have them hung around the room. If you have a

Movie or Hollywood theme you can have cutouts of movie stars around the room as well!

 

  Use your centerpieces & theme as inspiration for other decor.  If you're having a tropical theme, have rented palm trees and Tiki huts around the room.  If you're using balloons, then fill the ceiling with floating balloons.  You get the idea - it's just as important to decorate the room as it is to decorate yourself!

 

Sweet Sixteen Table Decor

 

You will, of course want a beautifully set table at your party.  Choose linens that match the  colors of your party.  Floor length linens are a must for your tables.  Chair covers add elegance too & will wow your guests as they walk in the room.  Ask your event planner about spandex linens that stretch over tables and chairs.  Very New and Clubby!

 

No paper goods allowed at this party!  Choose linen napkins & use real dishes & silverware.  Add a fun napkin ring to your napkin like a bling necklace your friends can then wear.

 

The sky is the limit with centerpieces.  Use something that reflects the theme of the event and you!  Flowers can be gorgeous, but aren't the only way to go.   There is no reason you can't do balloons.  Just use a larger bouquet with an assortment of fun shaped balloons and Mylar balloons.

 

Sweet 16 Menu

 

You and your caterer can come up with a fabulous meal for your party.  You'll first want to decide if you're having a sit down meal or stations.  For a formal event, sit down is nice, but stations are always a great way to get people up and walking around.  Plus they will give you & your guests more time to dance!  Make sure either way you have plenty of servers (and stations, if you're having them) so people aren't waiting for their food.

 

Along with plenty of servers, make sure you have more than one bar available.  Set up a light up bar it's cool -and have a signature drink that your caterers invent just for you!  Non-alcoholic of course, but still served in cool glasses. 

 

Light up Martini glasses and other LED bar-ware is hot!  (I'd also put a light up coaster at each place under the water glass to help make the entire room glow.)  It's these small touches that will make your event extra special.

 

Dessert

 

Here's another great place to go all out.  Start with a fabulous theme cake.  This isn't the place for an ordinary sheet cake.  I'm talking about a wedding cake style theme cake that is all about you!  Look online for ideas and bring them with you when you go for a tasting. Here's a picture of a great example of a Princess theme cake.

 

Set up a dessert buffet around it that you're guests won't possibly miss! Cakes, cookies, Chocolate Fountain, the works. 

 

A candy buffet is also great fun.  Fill assorted size jars with a variety of candy.  You can choose candy that fits your color scheme or just go all out and buy all of your favorite sweets.  Set out plastic bags and scoops and let your guests fill their bags.  Or give out a personalized bubble jar for your guests to fill with sweets.  The jar serves as a great favor and a reminder of your big day.

 

DJ & Entertainment

 

The DJ will either make or break the event, so make sure you get a young one that is good! .  You'll want a great Club Style DJ for your event.  Hire a great DJ who can bring dancers, lighting and a big screen or better yet Plasmas to show videos.  Many can even show a live feed of everyone dancing at the party.  Your guests will love being on camera.  Most Disc Jockeys can supply you with an assortment of dance floor giveaways like glow jewelry, LED wearables, hats & glasses.  It doesn't matter how formal the party, as long as there is dancing, these "cooler" items will be appreciated and used! Stay away from the cheesy plastic hats and cheap leis that you see at weddings.

 

  Be sure to have your entertainer plan to bring their photographer on staff, so they can capture all the fun and display it on the Plasmas Live and online to keep the memory alive!

Now, if you can swing it, get a big name singer or artist to perform at your event.  Your parents may want to surprise you with this, so make sure to drop hints about who you love!

 
For a theme party, you may want to add extra themed entertainment.  If you're having a Fashion theme, then why not put on a fashion show.  Or, if you're using an Arabian nights theme, go all out and get a belly dancer to perform.  For a luau, hire people to serve drinks in grass skirts & dance.

Also lets not forget to do a "Thru the Years" custom photo montage of baby photos, family & friends - make use of those screens & plasmas!

 

Sweet 16 Favors

 

You're guests will already love your party, but be sure to thank them for coming with a special unique favor.  You can theme it to your party or choose something that's very popular right now.  Whatever you choose, have it wrapped & set at each place for your guests.  Or, have someone assigned to pass them out at the party. Here are a few ideas:

• 4x6 Color Photos of Guests as they arrived with a Custom Frame (Your Name & Date?)
  

• Gift cards for music downloads - for their Ipod.  

• Coach key-chains - they are turning 16 too!!

• Personalized Sackpacks.  Very cool

• Gift cards for the mall - for your mall theme party.  A gift card is always a great gift.

• Personalized rhinestone bags - give out one to each guest with their initials or their full name! 

Please Re-Tweet this and Leave us Comments or Ideas below!

Cher!

Super Sweet 16 Club Style Dj's & Uplighting here!

Article adapted from other sources

Super Sweet 16 Party? or Just a Party?

Sweet sixteen parties have changed from just a few years ago.  It has developed into a "right of passage" much like a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.  Some teens almost expect a extravagant event, that Trumps their best friends.  And some teens are more reserved and want a simple event but still want a great DJ and a lot of dancing!

Many of these events have turned formal with Courts, Introductions, Father Daughter dances, Candle Ceremonies, Gown changes, Photo Montages & more!

After a few years of MTV's My Super Sweet 16 girls have seen that sweet sixteens are bigger and better these days!  They actually trump most weddings & school proms in size, elaborateness, decor, & price tag!  Gone are the days of games & the Macarena a few blow up guitars & cheap leis!

Most teens expect centerpieces, decor, up-lighting, red carpets, limos, tuxes, flowers, plasmas, and Club Dj's if not celebrities!

BUT....

Some teens feel awkward about having a formal party... who to ask...who not to ask...what if the "right" people don't come...what if the "wrong" people  show up and cause trouble?

Some teens dream of the day, others shrink in horror and are paralyzed by the thought.  Whats the solution? Let the about-to-be sixteen girl make the decision!

If your teen says no, offer the option of an informal fun party with a theme that everyone will enjoy... or a backyard bash for just close friends.

Remember - the goal is for the birthday girl to have a memory to cherish.
Build a budget that is both reasonable & affordable for you!  Remember though Friends are there to dance so make sure you put priority on dancing & Clubby Djs and move the decor down lower on your list!

If you are totally dead set against a party then maybe a day at the spa is for you - what ever you do have fun!

Cher!

Click here for DJ's for your Super Sweet 16 or your Backyard Sweet Sixteen!