by Tali Toland

A Sweet 16 party used to be a low-key affair, maybe a few friends over for cake and a cookout. Those days are long gone. Today’s trend is for expensive and lavish birthday parties, and not just when turning 16. “We’re seeing kids who are 13, 14 and 15 having these over-the-top celebrations,” says Deb Steege, director of event design at A Legendary Event in Atlanta. “It’s almost like a rite of passage into teenhood.”

The influence of MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” has no doubt had an influence on growing the business of uber-chic teen birthday parties. “There’s also a show called ‘Top This Party’ on Lifetime that kids are using ideas from,” says Steege. Teenage girls, more so than boys, are using ideas from these parties and getting their parents involved, making them more than memorable. “These parties aren’t like the ones we had as kids – there are usually between 100 and 300 guests at these parties, and the average cost is $100,000,” adds Steege.

“And they’re very grown up,” she notes. The guest of honor usually wants the party to look like a nightclub or lounge that they’ve seen pictures of celebrities in. “Often we’ll customize the décor to mirror the birthday girl’s favorite color or motif – using animal print fabrics to accomplish a jungle-type theme while keeping it upscale,” says Sanders Hulsey, a design sales manager with A Legendary Event. The food and drink also have a very sophisticated feel at these posh parties. “We’re doing a lot of mock-tini bars. Often we create a special drink for the birthday party, with one version for kids and another for adults – with alcohol,” says Hulsey. Passed hors d’ouevres and chef-manned stations are also popular with the teens. “Sushi bars are growing in popularity for Sweet 16s,” says Sherry Farrugia of Resonate Identity Services.

And no birthday party is complete without a cake. “The cakes are always impressive and must be unveiled – usually on stage,” says Hulsey. A hot trend is creating a logo to be used throughout the party – on the invitations, favors, decorations and most importantly the cake. At most parties, the guest of honor is also unveiled – arriving after her guests, in some sort of flashy costume or via helicopter.

Over the top takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to entertainment for many of these parties. Just playing music is no longer acceptable. The biggest trend in Sweet 16 entertainment is the live band – whose fees usually include sound and lighting.

“Teens are opting for bands or internationally known DJs,” says Matt Thomas, an agent and event producer with EastCoast Entertainment. “For those with a healthy budget and big aspirations, entertainment can run between $50,000-$500,000 for a name entertainment in the hip-hop, R&B and pop markets.”

“For a party at the Coca-Cola Roxy we did recently the birthday girl had Soulja Boy perform, and a well-known DJ spin in between his sets,” says Hulsey. “I’d say they spent half the party’s budget on entertainment.”

But, says Thomas, for those on a more moderate budget, a local DJ with lighting and video starts at about $1,500 and can cost as much as $15,000. “Specialty entertainment is popular, too,” says Thomas. “Things like ‘green screen’ photography, which places subjects on a background of anything they can imagine, which can be a lot of fun with a cool, customized backdrop that matches their theme or their dreams.”

 And though these kids are having parties that cost what many people make in one year, they are surprisingly nice and easy to work with. “The kids definitely are the driving force behind these parties, but they aren’t bratty like they seem on TV,” says Steege.

So if you want to treat your little princess to one of these bashes, what do you need to keep in mind? “Well, if you want a venue – which is a must recently – you have to start booking at least six months out,” says Steege. “All venues require an adult presence, and some are more picky with times and other restrictions for Sweet 16 parties.” A similar time constraint comes into play if you’re hoping to book an entertainer. And while all the hoopla may seem frivolous, this trend is certainly gaining popularity, so brace yourselves – it could be a long ride.

No matter how big or small your teen’s soirée, Farrugia offers this rule of thumb: “Set a budget and stick to it! Allow your child a little flexibility and input, but do not be bullied into spending their college fund on a Sweet 16 party!

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