Tips for Planning the Perfect 18th Birthday Party

Eighteen is a big milestone in any young person’s life, so it is only right that you plan a fantastic party for your son or daughter. Of course not all teenagers want a party for their 18th and if this is the case, you need to respect their wishes and perhaps downgrade the celebration to a family dinner. But if your teenager is happy about the idea of having a birthday party, here are a few tips to ensure things run smoothly.

Talk to Your Teen

Organising a surprise party for a teenager is likely to end badly. Imagine how they would feel if they walked into a room and found it full of all their friends and family, only unlike everybody else, they were not dressed up or wearing makeup. Yes, you guessed it: it would be the equivalent of social suicide. So do everyone a favour and have a long, detailed discussion about what their expectations are and what type of party they are hoping for.

Book a Venue

Having a party at home is OK if you don’t plan on inviting too many people, but since most teenagers have at least 500 Facebook friends plus dozens in real life this probably won’t be a sensible idea. Hiring a venue for the party means you can leave someone else to clear up the mess and you won’t be picking crisps out of the carpet for weeks.

Organise the Entertainment

Entertainment is essential. Teenagers have a low boredom threshold and unless you provide some form of entertainment they will just make their own entertainment, which might not be age appropriate. Music is very important – you can either hire a DJ or book a local band in keeping with your teen’s musical tastes. Either way, the kids will be more than happy.

Food and Drink

You will also need to supply food and drink. If you have booked a venue for the evening, food and drink may be provided as part of the deal. If not, think about what type of food the guests will enjoy and how many you will be feeding. Snack foods are best. Simple things like sausage rolls, sandwiches and pizza always go down well, but don’t forget to bring a birthday cake.

Drink is a tricky one. Many of the guests will be legally allowed to drink, but not all, so you need to supply some non-alcoholic drinks, too. Once again, the venue might provide drinks, perhaps in the form of a bar where guests can purchase their own liquid refreshment. Alternatively, book a pop-up bar service from a company such as Liquid Chefs. They supply the drinks and you can enjoy a hassle-free service.

Supervision is Essential

One thing you must do is supervise the party. Parties without parental supervision have a nasty habit of getting seriously out of hand. All it takes is a casual invite on social media and before you know it, 500 teens have turned up looking for fun and the neighbours are in an uproar. So stick around, keep an eye on things, and try not to feel too old.