• A sixteenth birthday is a great reason to celebrate with a big party.birthday party image by Liz Van Steenburgh from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  A sweet sixteen birthday party should be an occasion that your daughter will never forget. However, to make sure she remembers only good things, you'll have to be well organized in advance of the party, ensuring that everything happens smoothly. If, like many people, you don't have the budget for a party planner, a good checklist can help you make it through the party successfully.
  
  

Guest List

• Ask your daughter what kind of party she wants and construct a guest list accordingly. Although you may wish to have your friends present, she may want only her friends to attend. You may envision a smaller affair, while your daughter wants to invite 150 guests. Figuring these things out early will make the rest of your planning easier.
  
  

Theme

• Not all sweet sixteen parties need a theme, but it can make them more interesting and easier to organize. If you do choose a theme, pick something you can generate a lot of ideas around and something that falls within your budget. Decorate with your theme in mind---or, if you choose not to have one, you can go with traditional balloons and crepe paper.
  
  

Invitations

• Once you and your child have selected a theme, invitations should be easier to arrange. You can make them yourself on your computer on a lightweight cardstock, buy pre-printed invitations or have invitations printed at a copy shop, depending on your budget.
  
  

Presents

• Plan your daughter's present well in advance of the party so that you don't have to scramble on the big day itself.
  
  

Location

• For smaller parties, you will probably feel more comfortable hosting them in your own home. However, if you are inviting more than 20 to 30 people, you might consider renting a reception hall or even having the party in a park, if the weather is nice. By doing so, you save yourself the hassle of clean-up, though it may be an expensive option.
  
  

Food

• For food, you can select simpler fare that you prepare yourself; alternately, you can hire caterers, waiters and other staff to make your job easier. Again, this last option is significantly more expensive, but may be worth it for larger parties of people.
  
  

Thank-You Cards

• Make sure to purchase plenty of note cards for your daughter to write thank-you letters for her presents. It's important to write these before she forgets who gave her which present, so buy cards ahead of time.