Use candles in innovative 16th birthday centerpieces.
Sweet 16 is one of the most important birthdays a girl will celebrate. Her party should be a special theme or, at least, be fancier than parties she's had in the past. Even if you don't throw a huge blowout, you can create an elegant atmosphere with creative centerpieces. Many elegant centerpieces can be simple and homemade. Does this Spark an idea?
16 Candles
This centerpiece is beautiful and very simple. Fill a small terra-cotta pot with white gravel around the base of a twiggy, strong tree branch. Hang clear plastic ornament globes from the branches with battery powered tea lights inside. Try to use 16 globes on each branch. Spray paint the branch and pot silver to make everything uniform and go with the other colors in the party. Change up the spray paint colors according to your party theme. Neon colors or pastels would look just as fresh and cool.
Floating Candles
Combine flowers, candles and water in an elegant fashion in your centerpieces. Fill wide, shallow, clear glass bowls with water. Pour a handful of decorative vase stones or glass pieces into the bottom of each bowl. Place a few silk or real flower blooms in the water so they float upright. Add a few floating candles. Light the candles just before the party begins. You can also substitute blooms with flower petals. Use rose, sunflower or daisy petals. A few drops of food coloring in each bowl adds another dimension of color to the piece.
Cookie Tiers
For a dessert-themed party, or simply to keep your guests energized, set up a tiered cookie platter in the center of each table. Fill the platter with sugar cookies dusted in edible glitter and M&M cookies full of pastel candy pieces. Add a few mini cupcakes topped with appropriate colored frosting or fruit muffins with coloring added to the batter. Fill clear plastic votive holders with jelly beans, chocolate candy pieces, licorice bits and butter mints. The guests at each table may split what's left over when the party ends.
Tags: candy pieces, clear plastic, each bowl, each table