send help! party for 16 year olds

[MuffinDoing]

i have been bounced into agreeing to host a 16th birthday for my DD in our house. No horror stories please ( it's too late for me now!!) but any sensible advice most welcome. What can i get to keep them entertained - karaoke? are photo booths extortionate ? Drinking - do i buy weak beer for them? Oh lord, why did i say yes......

OK, I won't give you my horror story but I will say what would have made it not so horrible.

The guest list.

See it. Agree it. Write it down. Have adults (not older teenagers) on the door to monitor.

Not on the list? Not coming in. NO exceptions.

If it's just 12 for pizza and karaoke, crack on. But stick to the list.

If they want more of a 'party party', do not invite more than 30. NO exceptions. No matter how big your house is.

If it's a marquee in the garden or a venue away from home, you can up the list. But there will be vomiting.

Good luck!😁

This will be ok! I had a party at home for my ds then 16 - 20 teens with some alcohol, pizza crisps and donuts- tryst that your dd has good friends with like-minded parents and you will be fine!
My youngest daughter is also about to turn 16 and has a party to go to tonight - the girls mum has text to say there will be weak cocktails but that each child should adhere to their own parents rules - plus it’s only from 6-10 so not too late.
tips
-make sure you stay in the house
-plenty of food! Crisps /pizza/donuts/sweets
-get a good playlist going and hope they’ll dance or as you suggested maybe a karaoke!
-have rules and stick to them - agree a guest list and an end time!

Agree you need adults as bouncers to stick to the guest list. Social media can cause issues.
Don't allow backpacks in. They will be full of vodka.
Karaoke is a great idea. Amazon sells machines cheaply
Photo booths can be expensive. Gather together the fancy dress stuff they come with and have a dedicated corner with a photographer. You could buy a cheap Polaroid camera, or use a phone and buy a cheap photo printer.
We hired an inflatable disco thing for the garden, but I wouldn't bother again.
Good luck!

Why would anyone pay for photos when they all have phones?

A polite note through the door of your neighbours might be a considerate idea

Thank you all , I was thinking a gust and and "bouncer" might be wise so we'll definitely do that! And maybe (very) weak cocktails and no bags

All great ideas x

We let my DD have a 16th. We agreed a guest list and monitored from our summer house via the Ring doorbell. We didn't provide alcohol, but there was alcohol brought in. Agreed an 11.30 endtime knowing that it would be pushed to 12 (it was) DD had a few mates stay over after the party and they all pitched in to clear up before we came back into the house. A few random beer cans found later in random places and a not so brilliantly cleared up vom, but all good other than that!

No alcohol, it’s illegal surely?

deff adult on door and if you have a side entrance keep an eye on that as well, guest list, once they are in the house, don’t let them keep popping in and out, keep an eye out for balloons, as for someone saying ,no alcohol, lol, it’s better to know what they are drinking then them hiding it
warn the neighbours
good luck

Do not buy any type of alcohol, weak or not. These days you are responsible for any consequences, even if they happen after the kids leave your property, if you supplied alcohol.

If kids smuggle a bit of beer, I'd let that go. But do not supply. No way.