12th birthday party - suggestions please

[lesley2460]

I am a single mum of two dd's 13 and 11. The younger one is 12 in March and have told her we are done with huge expensive parties. Can't face a massive sleepover but she wants to do something with at least six of her friends, something a bit different. She wanted to go to Bristol or Exeter on the train then shopping and lunch, but I have said no, too many for that - one or two would be fine. Can't seem to come up with anything other than the usual swimming, bowling, cinema things which we've done so many times before. I need some inspiration!!

What about a photo shoot?

They decide some themes, bring the clothes and obviously plenty of slap straighteners, curlers whatever. Then they titivate to their heart's content and then you/ they / someone you know who is good at this stuff/ proper photographer take photos, which you then email around after the party.

Then they can have pizza from Tesco / wherever, birthday cake and push off home.

For her 12th birthday my dd2 took 6 friends for dinner in the evening to local chinese resturant (it does a nice buffet).

She had a table for her & her friends - got birthday cake with firework on it at the end.
They all enjoyed the 'going out' on their own.

(Rest of family were at a table at other side of the restaurant - only there to pay the bill!)

Thanks - some really good ideas there, really like the photo shoot idea and will see what a 'proper' photographer costs. Not going to let my girls read these threads or they'll want to do all of it

Chinese buffet is a possibility as we have an 'all you can eat' local one - cooking party sounds good fun but worry I'd be the one left clearing up

My soon to be 12 yr old is planning a "beautician" party; the beautician is going to come and do their nails/faces etc. Friend did the photoshoot one and got all her old evening dresses out for the girls (13 year olds) to put on for the shoot, looked fab. Do not need a professional photographer, bet one of your friends is a good photographer and perhaps she would come in return for a bottle of wine! In the case of my friend she had the pics made into a calendar for all the girls, just so lovely.

DD2 had a murder mystery last year, which went down a storm and her friend loved it so much she did one too. DD wants another one this year. They dress up as a given character and it all fits around a 'dinner party' so a bit 'grown up' feeling.

I know someone who had a Primark party - took DD and 3 friends to Primark, gave them all 20 quid to put together an outfit and then had a fashion show back home with Pizza and Icecream - kids loved it

My dd is having a girlie pamper party at home for her 12th birthday. Mobile beautician will do 1 treatment per little madam (choice of mani, pedi, teen facial, or neck/back massage), also party bags with lip gloss, hair scrunchies etc. I will provide pizza and mocktails! Job done

We did Pizza Express on Tesco vouchers.