Start those special snowflakes young!

JCbride2015 · January 2014

emmaxbean93 said:

One question here: Did she get a souped up black BMW and wanted a hot pink glitter one instead? I have seen some of those episodes on MTV and was so shocked at what went on at some of those parties and at some of the BG's attitudes. For my SS 16, I had friends over, ate food, talked, listened to music, ate more and that was it really lol. No new hot pink car, big dress or extravagant lighting/decor. It was one of the best parties I had. (Besides my 18th lol)

We don't get our licenses until age 17 here in NJ, so I'm pretty sure there was no car given. Although considering they could have bought an awfully nice car with what they spent on the party, there is probably a car in this girl's future. And I did even have a few friends in high school who got cars for their 16th bday, even though they couldn't drive yet. I think you can't even get a permit until 16 and a half here, so there's really no point yet.

BG did seem pretty gracious, she came around to each table to say thanks for coming. Hopefully she's the kind of girl who would be thankful instead of picky if she does get a car!

Yeah, my 16th bday, we had friends over my house and watched DVDs. I saved my earnings from my part time job and bought my own car.

Cookie Pusher · January 2014

I had several friends who got BMWs and Volvos for their 16th birthdays - to learn to drive in, of course. They were upgraded to Range Rovers and such for their 17th birthdays. Now I sort of feel bad for not having a Sweet Sixteen party - I told my parents to pay the mortgage instead of wasting it on me. Damn me for being such a good kid!

Chipmunk415 · January 2014

I had classmates (girls) picking at me, saying "why didn't you have a Sweet Sixteen party? Didn't you want to celebrate? Don't your parent's care? They can afford it!"

My response: Didn't want a party, I don't socialize with you guys much anyway, I celebrated with a nice dinner, so what if my folks can afford it, and oh, btw, my options were party with fake girls like you or get a car. I chose the car. (1984 Mustang Hatchback, owned by our mechanic, bought for 2500, no loans, no extra fees and crap, and that Iron Box beat the crap out of 2 cars that rear ended me! That thing got me through high school no problemo!)

Emmy1493 · January 2014

JCBride2014 said:

emmaxbean93 said:

One question here: Did she get a souped up black BMW and wanted a hot pink glitter one instead? I have seen some of those episodes on MTV and was so shocked at what went on at some of those parties and at some of the BG's attitudes. For my SS 16, I had friends over, ate food, talked, listened to music, ate more and that was it really lol. No new hot pink car, big dress or extravagant lighting/decor. It was one of the best parties I had. (Besides my 18th lol)

We don't get our licenses until age 17 here in NJ, so I'm pretty sure there was no car given. Although considering they could have bought an awfully nice car with what they spent on the party, there is probably a car in this girl's future. And I did even have a few friends in high school who got cars for their 16th bday, even though they couldn't drive yet. I think you can't even get a permit until 16 and a half here, so there's really no point yet.

BG did seem pretty gracious, she came around to each table to say thanks for coming. Hopefully she's the kind of girl who would be thankful instead of picky if she does get a car!

Yeah, my 16th bday, we had friends over my house and watched DVDs. I saved my earnings from my part time job and bought my own car.

To bolded 1. Oh wow, it's 16 here in Texas so I always just assume lol. I got mine at 16 but had to attend drivers ed with this really old man who couldn't hear squat.

To bolded 2. Well that's good! I know not all SS 16's are horrible, but every time I think of them I think of the irate version MTV spits out to get views. I know it's all probably scripted, like-so Bride-zilla's (Or I hope to Heavens so!)

And yes, sometimes a more smaller-toned down party is what I prefer. I never liked big crowds anyway haha.

CLI242009 · January 2014

emmaxbean93 said:

JCBride2014 said:

emmaxbean93 said:

One question here: Did she get a souped up black BMW and wanted a hot pink glitter one instead? I have seen some of those episodes on MTV and was so shocked at what went on at some of those parties and at some of the BG's attitudes. For my SS 16, I had friends over, ate food, talked, listened to music, ate more and that was it really lol. No new hot pink car, big dress or extravagant lighting/decor. It was one of the best parties I had. (Besides my 18th lol)

We don't get our licenses until age 17 here in NJ, so I'm pretty sure there was no car given. Although considering they could have bought an awfully nice car with what they spent on the party, there is probably a car in this girl's future. And I did even have a few friends in high school who got cars for their 16th bday, even though they couldn't drive yet. I think you can't even get a permit until 16 and a half here, so there's really no point yet.

BG did seem pretty gracious, she came around to each table to say thanks for coming. Hopefully she's the kind of girl who would be thankful instead of picky if she does get a car!

Yeah, my 16th bday, we had friends over my house and watched DVDs. I saved my earnings from my part time job and bought my own car.

To bolded 1. Oh wow, it's 16 here in Texas so I always just assume lol. I got mine at 16 but had to attend drivers ed with this really old man who couldn't hear squat.

To bolded 2. Well that's good! I know not all SS 16's are horrible, but every time I think of them I think of the irate version MTV spits out to get views. I know it's all probably scripted, like-so Bride-zilla's (Or I hope to Heavens so!)

And yes, sometimes a more smaller-toned down party is what I prefer. I never liked big crowds anyway haha.

To bold #1 - Same in CA. You get your license at 16. At least I did when I lived there, not sure if that has changed.

Cookie Pusher · January 2014

In NJ, you don't even get a full license at 17 anymore - you get a provisional license. You can drive, but you can only have 1 non-family member in the car with you and they restrict the hours you're allowed to drive alone. You also have to put these ridiculous red stickers on your license plates so cops will know you're a provisional driver. These restrictions last until you're 18. Also, they've changed the licenses themselves to they are vertical if you are under 21 and horizontal when you're over 21.

KeptInStitches · January 2014

In ND, you can get your permit at 14 and your license at 14 years 6 months. There are very few people in town who do (usually teens get their licenses at 15-17), but in the rural areas it's very common for kids to have licenses young so they can help on the farms.

CLI242009 · January 2014

Cookie Pusher said:

In NJ, you don't even get a full license at 17 anymore - you get a provisional license. You can drive, but you can only have 1 non-family member in the car with you and they restrict the hours you're allowed to drive alone. You also have to put these ridiculous red stickers on your license plates so cops will know you're a provisional driver. These restrictions last until you're 18. Also, they've changed the licenses themselves to they are vertical if you are under 21 and horizontal when you're over 21.

I actually support this and wish all the states had something like this. Unless you're coming home from work or some kind of family emergency, there's no reason for someone who's still in high school to be out so late on a school night. That's just me though.

AlexisA01 · January 2014

JCBride2014 said:

I went to a Sweet 16 recently that was the most over the top thing I've probably ever seen. Judging by the expectations set by this party, Birthday Girl is going to grow up into the speshulist snowflake bridezilla ever. I couldn't really even understand what was happening as I witnessed it.

- Fi and I were vaguely included on his parents' invite through word of mouth. We have had our own household for 5 years.
- Fi's first and last name were both misspelled on the escort card. This is HIS family. His first name is probably the #1 most common first name for men in the entire country. I was listed only by first name.
- At a wedding hall, about 125 people present, super over the top decorations, pictures of BG everywhere, uplighting, the whole nine yards
- At least it was well hosted: open bar and buffet dinner
- The BG had attendants, like a bridal party (I've seen this at a couple other Italian sweet 16s and still don't understand it). The girls wore matching white mini-dresses (slutty looking) and the boys wore shiny white pants, white shirts, and shiny ice blue vests. They all had matching porcupine hair and orange skin, because, New Jersey yo.
- BG's friends seemed to have had a plan to wear the tightest black mini dresses, with midriff cutouts obviously, that they could track down. All the girls were running around holding the hems of their dresses to juuuuust cover their butt cheeks.
- The DJ was so loud we couldn't hear ourselves talk. Said DJ also spent a lot of time yelling things like, "Shake that butt! Shake that butt!" to the crowd of 16 year old girls grinding on 16 year old boys.
- By the end of the night, BG was vomiting in the bathroom and most of her friends were wasted because, of course.

Of course FMIL thought it was beautiful and special. Gag. Fi said he has changed his mind and wants to never have children.

This was essentially a wedding without a groom. We even had a full-on Viennese dessert hour afterwards. Just goes to show that a party can be expensive and well hosted... but there's no accounting for taste.

ETA: forgot the biggest actual faux pas that occurred. There weren't enough chairs at our table. Really? You spent probably $20k on a birthday party and didn't count chairs?

sounds like a few of my friends' sweet 16.

wajohnson09 · January 2014

Sheesh. For my 16th birthday my bf took me to Burger King and a movie and I thought I had it made.

I should demand a repeat sweet 16, keep up with the repeat engagement trend!

tmclawchick · January 2014

cruffino said:

I am Italian and live (born and raised) in NYC. This kind of party is very normal among some people in my circles. I went to one a couple years back where the birthday girl had a grand entrance......she rode a glass elevator up through the floor of the dance floor, then hovered above us for a minute, then came back down and exited the elevator onto the dance floor. And all the other teenage girl attendees were in slutty spandex dresses and sky high stripper shoes they couldn't walk in. It was a delight.

This is what I'm expecting for FSIL's Sweet 16 (they're in NJ). Their party budget is our wedding budget. Blah....

Vivandiere8 · January 2014

Man..... When I turned 16 the special thing that happened that day was my Dad bought me two beautiful necklaces from a nice jewelery store (up until then almost everything I owned was probably from Clair's). I still have the silver one shaped like a dream catcher to remember my Native American heritage. Then I had a typical sleep over with my friends involving pizza, candy, movies, and staying up all night talking. At the time I thought it was a great sweet 16. Didn't know I was missing out on such a special snowflake day!

Cookie Pusher · January 2014

I feel like we should all demand do-overs from our families. WE DESERVE IT!!

KeptInStitches · January 2014

I really deserve it - I didn't have a sweet 16 party at all! I might have gotten to pick what we had for dinner that night.

pinkcow13 · January 2014

Oh lord... sounds about right for a NJ/NYC area sweet 16. I attended my cousins sweet 16 a few years ago, it was in Brooklyn. There was alcohol there for the adults, but of course the bratty 16 year olds were trying to sneak some in. At some point my other cousin, who is my age, yelled at one of the boys, grabbed the bottle from his hands, and threatened to tell his parents. The worst part of the sweet 16 was the dancing though. OMG the dancing. It did not look like dancing, it looked like these kids were having babies on the dance floor. There was a girl at one point who was upside down practically! She was twerking upside down on some boy. Ugh.... my older cousin [BG's mom] was so disappointed, and horrified. BG actually behaved herself, but still....it was pretty bad that night...I was definitely sipping on something that night to get through it....

hikebikebemerry · January 2014

Can I combine my Sweet 16, HS Graduation, College Graduation, and Engagement party into one GIANT party? I didn't get those, so I MUST HAVE THEM.

Cash gifts only, plzzzzzz!!! Cash bar (Ice cubes will be hosted). Wear shades of peach, so that it fits with my vision- because I'm such a "Peach"!

JCbride2015 · January 2014

pinkcow13 said:

Oh lord... sounds about right for a NJ/NYC area sweet 16. I attended my cousins sweet 16 a few years ago, it was in Brooklyn. There was alcohol there for the adults, but of course the bratty 16 year olds were trying to sneak some in. At some point my other cousin, who is my age, yelled at one of the boys, grabbed the bottle from his hands, and threatened to tell his parents. The worst part of the sweet 16 was the dancing though. OMG the dancing. It did not look like dancing, it looked like these kids were having babies on the dance floor. There was a girl at one point who was upside down practically! She was twerking upside down on some boy. Ugh.... my older cousin [BG's mom] was so disappointed, and horrified. BG actually behaved herself, but still....it was pretty bad that night...I was definitely sipping on something that night to get through it....

Bahhhhh hahaha I almost spit out my food!

At this party, the 16 year olds were twerking on the adult DJ. And he was yelling things like, "Shake that butt! Shake what your mama gave you!" There were multiple DJs actually... and some sort of stage that the girls were up on with the DJs. Ewww.

pinkcow13 · January 2014

Ugh that is so disturbing on sooo many levels. I guess, gotta start them young!

hellohkb · January 2014

I don't understand an over the top sweet 16. My FI and I were dating for a few months so we just hung out. It was a good day.

netskyblue2 · January 2014

Wow. I didn't even know stuff like this was a real thing. I got to have 3 friends spend the night for my 16th birthday (big deal since it was a school night!), and the relatives came over for cake on the Sunday following.

Gizmo813 · January 2014

I grew up in Jersey, and I live in Jersey. This so doesn't surprise me. It's disgusting, and unnecessary. Ugh. I think the Jersey princess is the most vile variety of princess.

My "sweet 16", decades ago, was a sleepover with a bunch of girls at my parents' house. My mom hired a makeup artist to come and give us makeovers. I remember it being a lot of fun.

16 year olds are still, technically, children. I don't understand why some parents find this so difficult to remember.

Cookie Pusher · January 2014

Most of the girls I went to HS with didn't have big Sweet Sixteen parties, but the ones that did sure went all out. There were at least a handful held at Berkeley Plaza - which is a pretty popular wedding venue near here!

Gizmo813 · January 2014

@CookiePusher - Berkeley Plaza was my 2nd choice wedding venue.

I can definitely see why oh-so-entitled girls would love to have their Sweet 16s there. Spiral princess staircase, uplighting, crystal chandeliers. Sweet 16's around here are like weddings - without the groom.

I just don't get the open bar part. What kind of parent thinks, "My daughter is turning 16. Let's throw a huge party with an open bar."?

Cookie Pusher · January 2014

Gizmo813 said:

I just don't get the open bar part. What kind of parent thinks, "My daughter is turning 16. Let's throw a huge party with an open bar."?

I never understood that either. I guess it makes sense if there's a ton of adult family, but not when it's pretty much just a party for the kid's friends. Of course, I've never planned a fancy party for non-adults, so I have no idea if having an open bar is the only way to have alcohol for the adults at an event like this. Somehow, though, I doubt it.

delujm0 · January 2014

Just for the record...

I am an Italian-American girl from NJ and I had a Sweet 16 party. It was in my parents' backyard. There was a catered buffet and a DJ, but no alcohol to speak of, because WHY WOULD THERE BE?? I think there was also a single cake. I had about 30-40 friends and my relatives, as well as some of my neighbors/parents' friends in attendance. I'd be absolutely shocked if the whole enterprise cost more than a few hundred dollars, even though i'm sure my parents "could have afforded" more.

Not for nothin' as they say where I'm from, but I moved to NC for college, and never went back there. There is way too much showiness and "LOOK AT HOW RICH I AM" going on up there that I don't want my future children involved in. Just this past weekend, I had to explain to my little sister (who refuses to ever move more than 5 miles from where we grew up) that no, she does not "need" her school-teacher boyfriend to buy her a 2 carat engagement ring. She actually said "i don't care about inclusions or anything i just want it to be big." Quantity over quality reigns supreme, as does being in debt. I can't believe we were born of the same parents and raised in the same household sometimes. Also, i cringe for the MOH duties that wedding will bring upon me.

sarahufl · January 2014

wow, this sounds....special. I am from North Florida, I got an old Buick that I had to share with my brother and sister for my 16th birthday. And I was just so happy to have a car!

My wedding won't be as fancy as this party sounds and I am completely fine with that.

Start those special snowflakes young!

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