Themes for a 15th Birthday

You can incorporate just about any of your teen's passions or hobbies into a birthday party theme for a customized party they are certain to enjoy. Whether you decide on music, movies or the beach for a theme, infuse every aspect of the party with that theme, from the invitations and decorations to the activities and party favors.

Music

Host a 15th birthday party around a music theme. Focus on one particular singer or music group, or allow the theme to have a wider focus. Write the party details on blank CD cases and hand-deliver them to friends. Turn the party room into a dance club with a good sound system, twinkling or black lights and have each guest come dressed in white to provide extra entertainment. Serve finger foods such as vegetables and dip, fruit platters, small sandwiches or miniature pizza slices. Rent a karaoke machine to let a brave party group perform to their favorite songs and, if the budget allows, rent a video screen to play videos along with the music. Record the event with a video camera and send each guest home with a DVD copy of the special day.

Movies

Many teenagers are movie fanatics. Arrange a birthday party centered around their favorite movie or a variety of their favorite films. Use the back of miniature movie posters for invitations. Arrange the party room like a movie theater with regular chairs or bean bag chairs in front of a big screen television, miniature lights lining the walkways and movie posters along the walls. Serve typical movie theater fare, such as nachos and cheese, hot dogs, popcorn and candy. Plan activities, such as movie trivia and movie charades, and end the evening with a showing of the group's favorite movie. In place of traditional party favors, provide each guest with a pair of passes to the local movie theater.

Beauty Spa

Treat a group of beauty loving teenagers to an indulgent day at a home spa. Instead of traditional invitations, write the party details on a simple card and attach it to a beauty mask or travel-size bottle of bubble bath. Decorate the party room in soft pastel colors with comfortable lounge chairs, beauty stations with makeup, nail polish and hair implements. Set aromatherapy candles along ledges and play soft music in the background. Serve simple foods, such as tiny sandwiches, and offer decadent little desserts such as chocolate-dipped strawberries. During the party, provide each guest with a complete makeover or have a professional mobile spa provide the services. Use small makeup bags in place of loot bags and fill them with nail polish, emery boards and body lotions.

The Beach

Host a beach-themed party at the beach or in your own backyard during the warm summer months. Be a little creative with the party invitations and write the details on deflated beach balls and hand them out with a note to inflate for party details. Set up some beach lounge chairs or some towels for seating around the backyard pool or along the sandy shore at the beach. Prepare a barbeque meal in the backyard or at the beach, if permitted, fill an emptied watermelon with a variety of fruits and serve virgin pina coladas. Organize a game of beach or pool volleyball, have swimming competitions and then settle around a campfire in the evening. For party favors, purchase an inexpensive pair of sunglasses for each guest, or embroider the party date on the bottom of some inexpensive beach towels.