Sweet Sixteen Party Favor

Planning

The size of the party combined with your budget will largely determine the extent of the sweet sixteen party favors you purchase. If your teen wants to throw the biggest party of the year and invite half the school, then you're going to be thinking of an entirely different realm of favors than if she is hosting an intimate gathering with four friends.

Always get the birthday girl's input before deciding on sweet sixteen party favors. The best way to get a feel for what her friends would enjoy is by finding out what she would enjoy. If her ideas are too expensive or impractical, steer her toward similar alternatives. For instance, if screen-printing t-shirts for each guest isn't in your budget, maybe it would be possible to buy everyone a white t-shirt for tie-dyeing.

Are Favors Necessary?

Once partygoers reach a certain age, the desire for commemorative toys and trinkets decreases. Consider putting the money you would have spent on favors towards a fun activity, extra decorations, or extra food. Most teen boys would choose an extra slice of pizza over a personalized pen any day. However, for many party planners, it just isn't a party without a gift for the guests. Sweet sixteen party favors can also help to highlight the special nature of the occasion, and let the birthday girl know her party will be remembered after that night.

General Sweet Sixteen Party Favors

• School spirit items - Help guests show their school spirit by purchasing pom-poms, stickers, pens, pencils, temporary tattoos, key chains, buttons, or water bottles featuring their school colors and mascot. Some high schools offer a school store that stocks spirit items, booster groups often sell them at sporting events, or you may also find them at locally-owned businesses.
• Key chains - Since a sixteenth birthday often means driving, a key chain is both symbolic and useful.
• Temporary tattoos - Teenagers can flirt with the wild side by applying washable designs.
• Candy - Guests of all ages love a sweet treat. You can even order personalized candy bar wrappers and mint tins.
• Glow products - Teens always enjoy glowing bracelets, glow ropes, and glow sticks. Glowing guests also add to the party atmosphere.
• Disposable cameras - Let guests capture their favorite memories from the night with disposable cameras. You can let them take the cameras home or develop the images yourself and present the photos to them later.

Themed Favors

If you're planning a themed party, turn to the theme for favor inspiration:

• After a spa night for the girls, send everyone home with nail polish, emery boards, and scented lotion.
• Teenagers aren't too young for a little nostalgia. With the right crowd and the proper presentation, you can use the same party favors as you would at a kid's birthday party. Raid the party favor aisle at your local party store for bouncing balls, cardboard gliders, plastic tops, and more. Combine the idea with a carnival theme or games that are a throwback to the birthday parties of their elementary school days, like water balloon tosses, pin the tail on the donkey, and the clothes pin drop.
• Plan a Hawaiian luau, and send each guest home with a lei or other floral accent.
• A formal sweet sixteen celebration requires formal party favors. Instead of glow bracelets and candy bars, look to wedding favors for ideas. Personalized glassware, picture frames, and trinket boxes can provide the necessary touch of class.
• When you plan an activity-based party, such as an afternoon at a roller rink or a miniature golf course, there's usually no need to give the guests additional party favors. You may want to provide extra tokens for arcade games, a turn in the photo booth, or candy from the snack bar instead. Take inspiration from the location in selecting these extra treats.