11 Awesome Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas (2024) (2024)

4. Set up or rent a photo boothto capture the special moments

Teens won’t be able to resist a selfie station. For a cheap, do-it-yourself option, set up some PVC pipes and fabric for a cool backdrop. Or, rent a photo booth and let the memory-making begin! For some added fun, purchase foil number balloons so guests can hold a “16” in their photos. You can also throw in props like hats, signs, and silly glasses.

You can also opt to book a Peerspace venue that is perfect for hosting a party and that happens to be wildly photogenic.

A savvy idea can be to book a multi-set production venue, like this Dallas space, that offers your teen and their friends multiple backdrops to pose in front of. The host even offers add-on options like a cop outfit and a jail jumpsuit, in case your kid and their friends want to get extra creative!

Share the photos with everyone digitally or print them out as favors. Come up with a unique hashtag just for the party like #MySweet16Soiree so that everyone can tag their photos with it.

Get started with these 12 fun Sweet 16 photoshoot ideas!

5. Embrace their childish side with a pajama party

What is a pajama party doing on a list of Sweet 16 party ideas? Well, their Sweet 16 party might be the last chance your teen has to throw a pajama party — until they’re living in their pajamas in college, of course.

Play some relevant movies (like Sixteen Candles or 13 Going on 30), pop some popcorn, break out the board games, and get cozy. For more fun, make it a fashion contest and award a guest with the best pajamas a prize, such as a cute throw pillow or coffee mug.

Host the sleepover in a stylish and fun Peerspace mansion, castle, cabin, beach house, or whatever you prefer. Bonus: if the Peerspace venue comes with a private movie theater (and many do!) you can have a truly exceptional movie night! Plus, the teens will love all the incredible photo ops that come with staying in a fresh, stylish space. And you’ll love the fact that you don’t have to clean up after. Everyone wins!

How much does it cost to rent a movie theater room? Get all the details here!

6. Curate a dynamic playlist

What’s a party without music? Book a local band or DJ for a private birthday concert! Snoop on your teen’s Spotify playlists to get a sense of their music taste so you can surprise them with the perfect entertainment.

If you book a Peerspace venue, you can use the platform to find a venue that allows you to book a DJ or band for the party.And remember, if you are going to have music, you may need space for a dance floor. Consider this when setting up your house for the party, or simply book a performance venue through Peerspace for the best of all worlds.

We especially love this fully-equipped event space in Franklin Township, NJ for this idea. It is dance-party-perfect thanks to its LED infinity dance floor, leather seating, DJ booth, and sound system.

Now that you have the music sorted, you just need our 8 great dance party ideas to impress the teens!

7. Carry on the 16-candle tradition

One Sweet 16 tradition involves choosing 16 people and dedicating a birthday cake candle to each by sharing kind words about them before lighting the candle. Give this tradition your own spin and give out some superlative awards, or take inspiration from The Office and give out Dundy-style awards (if your guests can handle a roasting).

You can get custom trophies from Oriental Trading or create your own plaques with small chalkboards and colorful neon chalk markers. Be sure to have plenty of sparkling cider on hand to toast all 16 guests at the end!

Discover more creative birthday party ideas here!

8. Throw an elegant Sweet 16 tea party

If you can find a local tea room that hosts parties, planning will be a breeze. If not, don’t worry. You have access to tea cafe rentals through Peerspace, after all!

If you’re in the New York City area, you can book this cute and spacious teashop in Bedstuy, Brooklyn. It has space for 50 guests and, along with an array of delicious teas, has modular furnishings so you can move the seating around to suit your vision.

A Peerspace reviewer summed up their experience here thusly: “The first thing I want to say this place is amazing. Jamila was gracious, attentive and had magnetic energy. The vibes were immaculate. The staff was wonderful, they helped out with anything I needed. I’m very grateful for it.”

To help create the perfect tea party atmosphere here, use cloth tablecloths instead of plastic, place flowers on every table, display desserts on three-tiered cake stands, and serve tiny sandwiches and bite-sized desserts like macarons. Encourage guests to dress up in their best clothes (it’s not a tea party without fancy hats!). For a zany party, go for an Alice in Wonderland theme and use whimsical decorations.

To host the perfect un-birthday birthday party, check out our guide here

9. Celebrate with a four-legged friend

Who doesn’t want to cuddle up with a new fur friend at a party if given a chance? And as you may have noticed, cat, bunny, and even rat cafes are popping up in cities all over the country. Make the most of this phenomenon and take your Sweet 16 party to an animal cafe! If you can find a pet cafe in your local metropolitan area, book it for your animal-loving teen! It is a unique idea and one with endless photo opportunities.

And don’t worry — there’s always a separate room designated for cake and coffee, so don’t expect a well-intentioned creature to hop in your lap in a bid to share dessert with you. Some cafes even offer party packages complete with custom animal-themed desserts.

10. Create endless summer vibes with a pool party

People of all ages love pool parties! But it’s an especially fun idea for a Sweet 16 party since it gives your teen and their friends plenty of photo ops for their social media pages (and yes, that very much matters to them!).

One perfect option is this sun-bathed home in Los Angeles with a super sweet pool area. It’s a hilltop property consisting of three stories and gorgeous decor and furnishings. Outside, enjoy the backyard with a pond, a fountain, a waterfall, and that stunning pool.

Plus, when you have an outdoor party, you can enjoy other activities. It’s the perfect opportunity for playing lawn games, barbecuing, bonfires, and lounging in the sun. If their birthday is in the colder months, then consider booking a Peerspace venue with an indoor pool or one with an outdoor heated pool.

Our pool party ideas guide helps you pull off an epic party your teen will never forget!

11. Have a mocktail-crafting party for delicious, NA sips

When your teen reaches the age of 16, you want to ensure they’re making smart choices for themselves. One of those is that they abstain from alcohol until they reach the legal drinking age. Make that easier for them by showing them how delicious mocktails can be!

This idea is easy to pull off when you book a Peerspace venue like this renovated historic downtown wellness bar in Austin, TX. It is an all-ages space that can provide you with non-alcoholic drinks crafted by expert bartenders. Best of all, this stunning venue can also provide mocktail-making classes, as well as yoga, tarot reading, and sound bath classes. Sounds like a fun and wise Sweet 16 party to us!

Peerspace makes it easy to pull off Sweet 16 party ideas!

Turning 16 years old means many things — like driver’s licenses and first jobs — and this special birthday calls for a spectacular party. Make your teen’s 16th one to remember by being a little bit extra. Choose one of these suggestions and run with it. Or combine a few of these Sweet 16 party ideas for one epic bash.

As long as you follow these ideas and book an epic venue on Peerspace, you’re guaranteeing a party to remember. And with the assistance of your venue’s dedicated local host, it’s easy to put all the pieces of the party puzzle together without breaking a sweat! Trust us, your teen will be grateful and have a blast on this special day.

Find unique Sweet 16 party venues on Peerspace

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