For many young girls, having a sweet sixteen party is probably the second most important party they will have, next to their wedding. Most girls start to count down the days until their sixteenth birthday as soon as they hit their teenage years. A sweet sixteen party is an once-in-a-lifetime event, so you want to make it right. Here are some tips to get you on your way to the best birthday party ever.

Date and Time- The first step to your sweet sixteen party is to set a date. Remember, many of your daughter's friends are also turning sixteen. Make sure your party does not conflict with any of her friends. Also, make sure you do not schedule your party around any holidays that may keep family and friends away. My best suggestion is to schedule the party on a weekend before or after her birthday if that is possible.

Venue- Your daughter's sweet sixteen party is a big deal. You want to make her day nothing but fabulous, but you need to be budget minded also. Be creative when selecting the venue. You should consider using your home, banquet hall, restaurant, park, community center, or a neighborhood clubhouse. Whatever you end up choosing, make sure you stick to your budget.

Guest List- Decide the number of guests you want to invite. Some girls like big parties and invite a lot of friends while some girls want something small and quaint. You want to take into account your budget when deciding how many people you can invite. Once you decide on a number, you can start working on invitations. I recommend sending them out a month before the party. If you want to save some money, you can make your own invitations. I also recommend going online and creating your invitations. There are many great websites where you can make invitations right from your own home.

Theme- Picking out a creative theme will make your daughter's party more memorable. Possible themes include Hawaiian, Hollywood, and Mardi Gras. You can also choose a movie theme, or host a red carpet event. You can be creative and have your guests wear a theme appropriate outfit, or optional change of clothes for the second half of the party. Just make sure that the birthday girl approves her theme. After all, it's all about her!

Food- Food is a must for these growing teenagers! Be sure to have the birthday girl's favorite food at the party. Also, have food to go along with the theme. If there is a very popular restaurant that everyone likes, have them cater the party. Make sure to have some healthy snacks as well. You want to make your guests happy and healthy at all times.

Be sure at the end of the party to honor the birthday girl. You can make her feel special and have a couple of close friends and family members say something nice to her. Make her sixteenth birthday one that she will never forget!