Candy Theme Sweet 16

Has it always been your dream to live in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory? Do you find yourself wishing that you weren't too old to play Candyland? If you're looking for a really sweet way to celebrate your 16th birthday then look no further. Let Party411 help you create your very own Sweet 16 Sweet Shop!

Candy Theme Sweet 16 Invitations
Invite your friends to the sweetest party of the year with a cool, personalized candy theme invitation. Attach a large colorful lollipop or a small bag of candy. Another great idea is a personalized Candyland theme semi-custom caricature invitation with the hostess' face added on Princess Frostine.  Name it Rachel-land (with your name, of course) as the name of the game.
 
Are you looking for something that will double as both an invitation and a party favor? Hand-deliver a T-shirt to each guest. Make sure that the party details are printed on the back of the shirt, while a picture of a giant piece of candy that says, "(Your name)'s Sweet Shop" decorates the front of the shirt. Roll up the shirts and tie each end with ribbon so that they truly look like big Tootsie Rolls.
 
Candyland Sweet 16 party supplies and Decorations
Start your decorations for the moment your guests arrive.  Line the walkway (or hallway to the party) with a peppermint drop walkway.  It comes complete with six 3' candy canes and printed peppermint drop disks.  Too cute!
 
Have a welcome sign near the entrance to the party that points to the party room and say, "(Name of guest of honor)'s Sweet Shop Now Open for Business" or "Feed your sweet tooth this way."
 
A lifesize cutout of the host/hostess surrounded by candy is sweet standing in the doorway as well.  How about adding gingerbread standees next to the cutout?
 
For a really creative way to welcome your guests, write a poem (or we can do it for you) on a large piece of poster board that uses the names of different kinds of candy throughout the poem. Place the actual candies in place of the words for a cute sign to invite your guests into the party in a very sweet way. Something like-- "You're a lifesaver for coming to my party! Don't snicker…I really mean it!"
 
A colorful candy cane arch is also a great idea for brightening up the entrance to the party. The candy canes are over 7' tall and are connected with wrapped peppermint balloons - yum! Another cool decoration to have at the party entrance is a giant colorful balloon lollipop or even a balloon lollipop bouquet. Use a round mylar balloon and wrap it in cellophane for the top of your lollipop and attach the balloon to a cardboard tube!
 
We've also got a great candy theme sign in board for your party!  We always like to decorate the sign in area at a party as well. You'll want to draw people's attention to the area so they are sure to leave a message for the guest of honor! So, don't forget to add balloons to this table or even a few fun pieces of 2' tall candy.
 
As your guests walk into the party area they will see candy heart cutouts hanging from the ceiling! Don't forget to add Hershey’s Kiss Mylar balloons!
 
Sweet 16 Candy Theme Table and menu
Name each table after a fictitious street with the name of a candy: Candy Cane Lane, Milky Way, Rolo Rd., etc. Then use the name on your candy theme seating cards. For example… everyone who is sitting at Candy Cane Lane (table 4, let's say), has a candy cane attached to their seating card to represent the table. You are so clever! Or use a personalized candy theme candy bar wrapper as a seating card.  You can add your guest's name to the front of the wrapper.
 
Choose fun and festive solid color tableware in an assortment of bright colors - red napkins, pink plates, blue cups, etc.  The more the better!  Candy bracelets or necklaces make adorably festive napkin rings to bring flatware and other table decorations together.
 
Want a great centerpiece? Design a candy and chocolate "cake".  Use larger candy bars around the side of a stack of round Styrofoam disks.  Add a slew of candy on the top.  You can even add balloons on the top. Give these to children's hospitals or an orphanage as a gift when the party is over. You'll feel great about it! Scatter miniature wrapped candies around the base as confetti—and what a great look! And you're so charitable!
 
If you are naming each table after a different candy or chocolate, then use that as your centerpiece.  Fill a vase with the candy and be sure to scatter extra on the table.  Have balloons in bright colors coming out of the vase for an extra pop of color.
 
For a more casual look, set up a few very long tables with different kinds of miniature candies such as Hershey Kisses, individually wrapped Lifesavers, Starlight Mints, etc. all over each table. There is also confetti in the shape of Hershey Kisses available and it looks adorable spread out all over the tables. Center a few baskets full of goodies throughout each table so that the guests can munch on sweets all through the evening.
 
How about a personalized candy theme centerpiece with photos of the guest of honor? Add balloons coming out of the 3-sided base and you've got a fun, bright, personalized centerpiece.
 
For dessert, have a "candy bar". I don't mean an actual bar of chocolate, but a large table filled with bags, jars and bowls and absolute mountains of all kinds of candy. Each guest may fill a small bag full of candy from this table. Eat some candy for dessert and take the rest home for a favor. Of course, don't forget the Sweet 16 Celebration Cake and the "make your own sundae" bar complete with candy toppings.  Cover this area with a fun candy heart balloon arch.

And, how about a "Jelly Bean Bar" with different flavors of jelly beans and recipes so people can mix and match their beans for new flavors?  Have a menu of suggestions and sort the candy into different bowls.  Be sure to label what flavor of jelly bean is in each bowl.

This will be such a great party, you'll want to take LOTS of pictures.  So, set up a great Gingerbread castle and take pictures of your guests standing in this candy wonderland!

Sweet 16 Candyland Games and Activities
A piñata is always fun. Take turns swinging at several piñatas filled with candy! Divide the party into teams and have the teams compete to be the first to bust their piñata and retrieve the candy.
 
Another fun game is "Name that Candy". It will help break the ice by throwing people together for some healthy competition. For this game, you will need to split all of your guests into two teams. Give a numbered piece of paper to each team. Across from each number is a "candy clue." For example, the clue for number one could be "mean laughs." The candy that matches this clue is "Snickers." The clue for number 2 could be, "Lip smackers," and the candy that matches this could be "(Hershey) Kisses." The clue for number 3 could be "Cow's that can't lactate," and the candy that matches it could be "Milk Duds." I think you get the idea. The team who matches the most "candy clues" to the correct candy wins a prize. I'll give you a hint about what the prize should be: It's sweet, and sometimes has fruity or cocoa flavoring…
Clues
  1. Mean Laughs
  2. Lip Smackers
  3. Opposite of Dum Dums
  4. Slippery digit
  5. A pooch's enemy
  6. Halfway to 10th Street
  7. Happy nuts
  8. When you make mountains out of molehills
  9. Flexible cubs
  10. Opposite of Dum Dums
 Answers
  1. Snickers
  2. Kisses
  3. Smarties
  4. Butterfinger
  5. Kit Kat
  6. 5th Avenue
  7. Almond Joy
  8. Mounds
  9. Gummi Bears
  10. Smarties

Another common activity at a Sweet 16 party is the candle lighting ceremony. Checkout out the Sweet 16 Candle Lighting Ceremony Guide if you need instructions.  And don't forget to check out our complete list of Sweet 16 Party Games!

Sweet 16 Candy Favors
Your guests will be going home with their bags of candy filled up at the candy bar, but why not give them one more treat as they walk out the door.  How about a personalized candy tin filled with mints or candy?  They'll be able to refill it and will think of your SUPER SWEET party every time they use it!
 
Have a fabulously sweet celebration, from all of the Sweethearts and Smarties at Party411.com!