Can you help me plan an 18th birthday party?

[Tokelau]

DD will be 18 in a few weeks. She has just decided she would like a party with her friends. All the parties that I have arranged in the past for her were a meal out, or an activity. She now wants a party with music and dancing and I’m a bit out of my depth!

We’ve asked friends and had some advice there.

This is what I’ve planned so far:

I’ve rented a room with a bar in a local rugby club. They have speakers so we’ll use a phone or laptop to play music. I will probably get a load of party food from M and S, Greggs or subway, maybe get pizzas delivered, unless someone can recommend something else. We can’t bring drinks, they all have to come from the bar. We have bought 40 metres of fairy lights, and will get tablecloths, banners, balloons and a helium canister. She is keen on having a photobooth, but I need to look into this, as it may be too expensive.

Have I forgotten anything? Any other ideas?

Also, she has no idea what she wants as a present. She’s not into jewellery, and doesn’t really ask for anything. What have other people bought for their 18 year olds?

Have someone 'on the door'.
Pay the rugby club to provide/keep topped up large pitchers of non-alcoholic beverages so that they're free and readily available to the guests. That way, guests are less likely to pay for alcohol and if they do, it's more likely to be diluted in their body and therefore you're less likely to have drunken behaviour/teenagers being sick!

Present ideas:
Watch
A weekend away/spa day
Pandora keyring
Personalised monopoly board
Swell water bottle
Engraved photo frame
Cocktail making experience

Thanks, Ricekrispie, some good suggestions there.

My friend for her wedding just got a load of props and set up their own photo booth that way.
Not professional but probably saved on a heck of lot of money.

Photo booths are great fun if you can get one. They usually print off copies and stick them in a book and the guests can write birthday messages under the photos, which is a lovely keepsake of the event.

I like the idea of pizzas and a few sides rather than a load of different party food. For that age group they’ll probably just want to grab something quickly and then get back to the dance floor. Or you could look into a food truck outside, burgers, chips etc.

You must print off lots of photos of her when she was younger and pin them up all round the room - she’ll say no way but it’s a rite of passage and is actually quite sweet!

We bought DD a decent set of matching luggage...

Second the photo booth.
Like this -
www.thegreatestshowbooth.fun/