Winner update: 8/16/12: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks so much to everyone that entered! And the lucky random winner is… Commenters #25 – CAROLYN HORTEN Congrats!
*****
{HWTM contributor Tonya Coleman here from Soireé Event Design.} One question I get the asked all the time is: “My teen wants a party… What do I do? Help me please!” As a mom of a 16 year old, I know that planning a teen event is hard. Let’s just say – you must AMP UP the cool factor!
I teamed up with PBteen to show you how to take items from your teen’s room and use them in your party design to throw a fabulous teen party. {Be sure to go to the end of the post for details on a cool PBteen GIVEAWAY!} When I begin to design a teen party for my clients, I always ask to see the teen’s room. You can get an idea of what style they like, what colors they love and what things they’re into to get you started on the party’s look and feel. I’ll walk you through a music theme that is one of my most popular themes & give you 5 tips for creating the look….
TIP #1: MUSIC IS KEY!
Here I designed the entire party around music by pulling in several instruments and using them in unexpected ways. Make sure your teen creates a playlist of all of their favorite songs ahead of time and have them playing during the party. (You can also have the playlist burned on cds to give away as party favors.)
TIP #2: SETUP A PHOTO BOOTH
The easiest activity and teens love it! One more excuse to pull out their cell phones and begin to flick away! Provide a cool backdrop (this one which happens to be a PBteen shower curtain) and funky props and let them do the rest! As a cool momento, place a cork board close by the photo booth and have the teens take photos on this cool retro Polaroid instant camera where they can write a message and post it up on the cork board. This PBteen guitar is the perfect prop to really get cool photos of the teens “rockin’ out!”
TIP #3: SWEETS BARS!
The wow factor and must-have at any teen event is the infamous Sweets Bar. Fill the bar with all of your teen’s favorite sweets and decorate it with the theme in mind. Here I used the drum set from PBteen and used it as a S’mores Bar!
TIP #4: SETUP STATIONS FOR FOOD, SNACKS & DRINKS
Here I created a self-serve nacho bar & drink station. For the drink station, offer sodas in glass bottles for a retro vibe. How fabulous is this bulldog lamp from PBteen! This piece was the inspiration for the whole party design. I added rhinestones and created a one-of-a-kind piece! To continue with the music theme, I pulled in the seat from the drum set and the wire guitar wall art on the nacho bar. Put some cooked taco meat in one crock pot and nacho cheese in the other to stay warm and put some chips in a bowl. Budget friendly and super easy! Others options are hot dog stations, pizza bars and snack bars.
TIP #5: CREATE HANGOUT AREAS
Teens just want to hang out. Give them one or two areas to chill; set out a few video or board games, bean bags and you’re done! Also popular are beauty bars and outdoor lounge tents. PBteen has tons of lounge furniture including teen-friendly bean bags that would be perfect when creating a “hangout area”. Incorporate some music room decor items like this headphone wall art and amplifier to pull in the theme.
As a rule of thumb: less is more! Teens don’t want to feel like their party is “kiddy” with an overdone theme. The key is to setup everything ahead of the guests arriving and then leave them to have fun!
For more design tips, click here to check out my blog “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Party Planning”.
*****
PBteen GUITAR & AMP GIVEAWAY
Here’s your chance to win an electric guitar and portable amp from PBteen as shown in the top pic in this post. The giveaway retails for $288! Good luck!
To Enter:
– Post a comment below, mentioning what was your favorite creative use of a room item in the post.
– Giveaway ends Monday, August 13th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced here after they’ve been notified and accepted the prize. Good luck!
*****
VENDOR CREDITS:
– Event Styling & Design, Photography: Soiree Event Design
– Drum set, wire guitar, bulldog lamp, headphone wall art, polaroid camera, electric guitar & amp: PBteen
The Look For Less: Back to School Party Design Challenge
The Look For Less: “Ice Age” Movie Inspired Snowball Bar
The Look For Less: Lalaloopsy Party Button Backdrop
Get the most out of your Printables! {+ Pop Star Party}
A “Mommy & Me Playdate” for Mother’s Day
168Comments
All very well done from the photo booth & props, super cute dog lamp with rhinestone headphones, to the drum set as sweet bat. But what really catches my eye is the sweet bat drum set.
I love the photo booth. That would be my daughter’s favorite thing … she is such a photo dive.
I like the drum kit s’mores bar! Very creative use of drums to incorporate into the party!
I LOVE the bulldog lamp!! So adorable!
My fave is definitely the photobooth set up!
the poloroid photo booth is cool but I loved the smore bar. The way the marshmellows were displayed was awesome. GREAT ideas!
I love the photo booth!
I love the dorm chair as a nacho stand! Everything was very creative.
Using that drum set as a serving stand was brilliant!! I love it ;)
Love the table set up for the photo op!
I love the table set up for the photo op!
I love the photo booth idea and using instruments like the electric guitar for props. This was what my friend did for her housewarming party too! It creates memories.
The drink setup was most favorite part of the entire setup– the glass bottles really tied the set together, along with the combination of the black and white spiral straws. The lamp also adds its own creative feel towards the spread– this layout would be the perfect party for any teen- whether it be boy or girl.
Fort Meade, Florida
c/o 2016 (:
I loved the sweets bar! Given that there are soooo many desserts out there this would be a good time to include some sample sizes of your favorite types.
I think the most creative use was the drums as tables. It's a useful station that is gorgeous. I think teens would find it to be genius as it combines practical with useful. My daughter would love this party.
I so love the drums for displaying food I am going to have too use this idea for one of teens birthday and the photo booth my lil diva would have a blast with this.