By: Bianca Varela
Photograph submitted by: Bianca Varela Mrs. Bento ENG 101 Period D Mod 2.1 Lesson 4 Every girl grows up dreaming of throwing a picture-perfect sweet sixteen party. Once she reaches the age of sixteen, she certainly would not give up the dream of having a fun-filled party. A sweet sixteen party celebrates a girl finally growing up and becoming an adult, so it is crucial to put every piece of effort possible into planning the perfect event for your daughter. There are multiple aspects of a party which need to be addressed and planned accordingly to the birthday girl’s desires, including the venue, theme, food and entertainment. Planning a sweet sixteen party well in advance, communicating effectively with event coordinators and entertainers, and organizing separate aspects of the party will ensure that the birthday girl enjoys the event to its maximum potential and remembers it for the rest of her life. Step 1: Choose a Venue: The first thing to do is pick a location for the party to be held. If the girl’s birthday is in Spring or Summer, it is acceptable to have an indoor or outdoor party. Warm weather will serve the perfect recipe for an enjoyable outdoor party. However, the event should be held inside if the girl’s birthday is in the fall or winter. If guests attend an outdoor party in the cold seasons, they will most likely be uncomfortable and won’t be able to enjoy the party to its potential. Also, it is important to think of the distance of the venue from the guests’ homes. You want the guests to be able to travel easily to where the event will be held, so minimum travel time is best. You should also have a rough idea of how many people you will be inviting and make sure that the venue is able to hold that many people. Be sure to ask the venue if they provide catering or entertainment in the price. It is always good to have a budget in mind when choosing a venue so ensure that you get the best fit for you. Step 2: Choose a Date and Time: Of course it is wise to decide on a proper date and time. Most sweet sixteens happen around the date of the girl’s birthday. Weekends are the best option for holding a party because most people are free from school and work. The time of day is important in deciding whether the party will be more casual or informal. Daytime parties tend to be more casual and night time parties are more formal. Think of the birthday girl’s friends and family and whether most would be available to attend the party during the day or night. Keep in mind that some people still work on weekends and may only be available to attend during the night hours. Step 3: Choose a Theme and Purchase Decorations/Dress Accordingly: Depending on the time of day the party will be held, choose a theme with the birthday girl. It could be her favorite color, movie, band or sport. The party girl’s interests should be projected through the decorations and the venue’s overall appearance. Buy decorations which fit the theme and go to the boutique to choose a dress which also fits the theme. Common decorations include lighting, balloons, flowers and table centerpieces. If the party will be casual, the dress may be short. For more formal parties, the girl might choose a long ball gown. Step 4: Develop a Guest List and Send out Invitations: Have the birthday girl make a list of her friends who she wants to invite, they could be from school or sports. Then, include close family members which will be invited. It should be decided whether you want to invite extended family as well. Based on the number of people on the list, make or order invitations which fit the theme of the party. Include date and time, location, dress code, an RSVP date and preferred contact information. Send out invitations in plenty of time for them to plan accordingly, but not so early that the guests forget about it. Sending them out a month to three weeks before the party is acceptable. Step 5: Book Entertainment and Event Organizers: No party is complete without entertainment. Book a DJ or a live band so that people attending can dance their hearts out. Many people also like to book magicians or comedians for a humor-filled day. It is also crucial to decide whether you will be booking a caterer or making home-cooked meals for guests. People often like to book photographers so that the party can be captured in moments to hold onto forever. Keep in mind your budget when you look for event organizers and entertainment. Step 6: Get a Final Head Count for Attendees: If guests have not mentioned whether they were coming or not by the RSVP date on the invitation, it is okay to contact them and ask. It is important to get a final head count so that you can tell the caterers how many people they will be cooking for and to give a heads up to the venue. If you are also giving out favors for guests, you must have more favors than guests in case more people show up than expected. Step 7: Develop a Final Menu: Think about whether you want a buffet-style or sit down meal. Popular buffet-style meals include hamburgers, chicken tenders and other finger foods which can be eaten without silverware. Sit-down meals are more formal and include a main dish along with sides, such as chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It is important to accommodate to any allergies reported by guests expected to attend. Some people also have specific diets which they follow which limit the foods they eat, such as meat and dairy, so it is smart to include meat and dairy-free options as well. Be sure to include a variety of main dishes and sides so that people have a choice as to what they eat. Whatever foods you choose, make sure there is enough to feed all guests attending. Most sweet sixteen parties also have desserts, such as a cake or cupcakes. If you decide to order a cake, it should fit the theme of the party and also be enough to feed all guests. Step 8: Follow up with Caterers, Entertainment Providers, etc.: This will ensure that no major disasters will occur come the day of the party, for example the DJ not showing up or the caterers mixing up the menu. Make sure to remind them of the date of the party and what they are expected to bring and any special requests for the birthday girl. It is also a good idea to get the final price of the service before you receive it to make sure you are paying a comfortable amount. The birthday girl might request songs for the DJ to have prepared to play at the party, or might ask the caterers to write a special message on the cake. Communication is key when it comes to planning a sweet sixteen, and by sending the entertainers a quick email or phone call, any potential mishaps will be easily avoided. Planning a sweet sixteen party well in advance, communicating effectively with event coordinators and entertainers, and organizing separate aspects of the party will ensure that the birthday girl enjoys the event to its maximum potential and remembers it for the rest of her life. It takes time and planning to make a sweet sixteen a pleasant and unforgettable event. By following these steps and making sure to thoroughly organize the party, the sweet sixteen is sure to be a success for the birthday girl and guests. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
Categories |