Turning 18 is a huge rite of passage.
It signifies the end of the high-school era, and is also the legal drinking age. What better way to transition into semi-adulthood than a huge party. Since most almost 18 year olds could never
financially pull off throwing their own party, it is up to parents to put on the bash of the year.
Photo source: pinterest
Whether parents want to admit it or not, there is a secret competitive vibe amongst 18th birthday parties with everyone trying to be THE party of the year. If your child’s 18th birthday is looming around the corner and you are hoping the throw an epic celebration, then you have found the right article. Read on for 7 hot tips for planning your kid’s 18th birthday.
1) Don’t forget the Gift
If you think dropping some serious cash on the perfect party will suffice, think again.
Your teen will expect creative and thoughtful gifts as well. This could be the perfect time to change in those childish gifts for something a bit more grown up to signify the entry into
adulthood.
Before you jump the gun and purchase a leather briefcase or smart suit jacket, take some time to research clever gifts for men or gifts for women. Buy your 18 year old something they will
remember for a lifetime, as the first gift they received that made them feel like a respected peer to their parents, rather than just a kid.
2) Pick a good venue
Some parents really struggle with the decision to either host at home or book a venue. If we have one piece of advice, it is to book a great venue! A classy venue really enhances the
party and turns it from a birthday party into a true event to remember. While the costs may seem high, the time you will save on prep and clean up is exponential.
3) Be chillaxed, but also parental
18 years old signifies the legal drinking age for your child, but this does not mean everyone at the party can legally drink. If your son or daughter has an early in the school year birthday, the
majority of their friends may still be hanging on to 17 for months to come.
Drinking is inevitable at an 18th bash, but keep an eye out for those under agers trying to break the law and sneak booze. This is another reason hiring a venue is a huge stress reliever. Bouncers and bartenders can take the lead on monitoring who drinks the good stuff and who is stuck with the lemon-lime bitters.
4) Pick a Theme
Themes aren’t just for school aged kids.
Sure you may want to steer clear from a Little Mermaid theme, but there are plenty of good themes for an older audience. A couple fun ideas are a James Bond or The Great Gatsby. Both of these themes provide the opportunity for teens to get super dressed up and you can carry the theme into the food, drink and decor.
5) Entertainment
If you are planning to play shuffle on the favourite playlist from your ipod, please don’t. You may think you are super hip and cool, I hate to tell you, you are not. Parents are not cool, ever. Ditch the ipod and book a band or a DJ. A great bonus of this entertainment is they can also double as the MC to keep the party rolling smoothly.
6) Document It
Smartphones will be snapping photos left and right and Facebook and Instagram will light up with real time footage of the party. In addition to the amateur iphone photo collage, hire a photographer to document the night. Even better, hire a photo booth to place in the corner with fun themed props so kids can go wild and take tons of photos. If you are tight on a budget, here
is a clever way to make your own photobooth!
7) Hashtag It
If you have no idea what this even means, refer to number 5 when I reminded you that you aren’t cool. Hashtag it means create a party specific hashtag that guests can use when tagging on Instagram. This means all photos will end up in one central place rather than a hundred individual Insta accounts. If you are still lost, pull your kid’s bestie aside and ask for help.
There are sure fire ways to make or break your child’s 18th birthday party bash. Even though they may seem like just a kid in your eyes, this party represents something huge to them and they count on you for representing the importance through one heck of a party. Don’t let the stress of planning get you down. Use these top 7 tips to get the planning started and remember to have fun in the process.
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