Inexpensive Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas

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Your favorite teenage girl will love these inexpensive sweet 16 birthday party ideas for invitations, decor, food and more!

sweet 16 Birthday party ideas

It’s hard to believe it’s been over four months since my youngest daughter turned 16!

A sign on a wooden table

She is turning into an amazing young woman right before our eyes. I cannot imagine our lives without this tenderhearted, compassionate young lady. (She has since had her braces taken off and is even more beautiful!)

A woman smiling for the camera

Since she is approaching 17 at an alarming rate I knew I needed to carve out the time to share these inexpensive sweet 16 birthday party ideas with you.  So here are the details!

Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas

Because we love a good party here at the Walden home, Stephanie and I began planning a few weeks in advance.

Font

She’s very much a people pleaser so this was a good exercise in helping her learn to express her own opinion and style. 

I didn’t want to influence her but she is surrounded by all things shabby chic and handmade so she naturally went that direction.

These chalkboards are the perfect size for birthday wishes and can be used for so many other occasions and greetings.

A close up of a sign

We chose to use plastic white table covers from the dollar store with a burlap runner and strip of lace down the middle (from my ribbon stash, of course!)

A vase of flowers on a table

I didn’t do anything to the burlap except cut it and pull the threads on the sides for a casual feel. 

Inexpensive Sweet 16 Birthday Party Ideas - Marty's Musings-

I bought four bunches of fresh flowers at the grocery store to go in these jars my daughter painted and distressed. 

A vase of flowers on a table

We used pink tulle on the tables

Party and Birthday

and the birthday girl made these tulle and burlap flowers. Can you tell she loves Pinterest, too?

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A pink umbrella

Our favorite frozen family punch was served in a punch dispenser and raised with an old rustic brass pot I found at a yard sale and served in pint sized mason jars.

A vase of flowers on a table

We served a simple meal of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with the best ever homemade hamburger buns you’ll ever taste!

Food on a picnic table, with Party and Birthday

My daughter’s small group leader came over and helped her make the cupcakes and decorate them.

A bowl of fruit, with Party and Birthday 

The little bows were adorable. Thanks, Hannah!

A cake with a dessert on a plate, with Party and Birthday 

 The birthday girl had a wonderful time with friends and family showering presents and love.

 Party and Birthday

I made her a 16th birthday scrapbook album like I’ve done with all my older kids using one picture from each of her 16 years. Even though she was adopted at age two I still have a small handful of pictures that we were given. 

A woman holding a cell phone

Included in the album was a letter to my daughter with all my hopes, dreams and wishes for her young life.

It was a memorable party!

Want to see more of my easy and frugal party ideas?

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Decorating Tips and Hacks
Get my FREE guide: How to decorate your home for practically nothing!
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3 Comments

  1. What a lovely party! I love the punch station and I want to steal that bowl! ha ha!
    Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays, I hope you will join us next week.