# How does one plan a Sweet Sixteen party? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-plan-a-sweet-sixteen-party/619374 "2012-04-20T04:27:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-plan-a-sweet-sixteen-party/619374/1 "2012-04-20T04:27:57Z")
My daughter turns sixteen next month, and she’s beginning to drop hints that she would like to have a sweet sixteen party. How does one go about planning something like this? To put matters into perspective, I’m not talking about the bacchanalias we have seen on shows such as _“My Super Sweet Sixteen”_. The last two birthday parties I threw for her were at the bowling alley, for a group of ten people. I’m anticipating that we’ll be setting our sights a little higher than that. What should be decided first: number of guests, total money spent, venue? Help a Dad out! Thanks very much. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-plan-a-sweet-sixteen-party/619374/2 "2012-04-20T04:38:07Z")
Start with a budget. The more guests she wants, the less expensive the venue and food will need to be. Identify priorities- a DJ? A special cake? A special venue? In order to lock in critical expenses and identify what’s not important. I’ve planned a bar and bat mitzvah and this strategy helps!