For the bigger events, the girl’s family may rent out an event venue like a hotel room or party suite, yacht or ballroom. For music there is either a band or DJ. Dress code can range from totally casually to very dressy. Parents will sometimes hire hair stylists and makeup artists to help the birthday girl, friends and family with hair and makeup before the party and for “refreshers” throughout the party.

For the average sixteenth birthday party, the cake has 16 candles. For the Sweet 16 event, each of those candles symbolizes something and is ritualistically lit by specific people.

The first candle is lit by the girl’s parents.

The second candle is lit by the siblings (or grandparents, if the birthday girl is an only child).

Candles 3-6 are lit by the rest of the family.

Candles 7-14 are lit by friends.

Candle 15 is lit by the girl’s best friend or friends.

Candle 16 is lit by a significant male, such as a boyfriend or good friend.

An optional 17^th candle can be lit for good luck as on regular birthday cakes.

Other ceremonial components:

Shoe ceremony—Birthday Girl sits on chair wearing flat shoes. Father/stepfather or other avuncular figure such as an uncle, grandfather, older brother or older cousin will bring a high-heeled shoe on a pillow to her. He takes off the flat shoe and replaces with the heels. This symbolizes the girl’s transformation from a girl to a woman.

Tiara ceremony—This ceremony is similar to the shoe ceremony, except the mother performs it. The tiara is placed on the girl’s head, again symbolizing her transformation to womanhood.

Father daughter dance—A regular ritual for any event for a girl.

Video montage— The addition of video to parties started with the advent of technology and is considered part of the room decor. The video montage for a party (sometimes created in PowerPoint) is composed of photos and sometimes titles and/or screens with a message or poetry, sometimes put to music. It tells about the girl’s childhood and growing up. It is broadcast on one or more screens throughout the party.