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Remember the first rule of having a teen party; The teenager knows what they want better than you do. Every teenager is different, they have their own ideas and wants. Listen to them when they tell you. The happier they are, the better the party will go!
When planning the party, give a set time to arrive, but don't set a "party-over" time. Now, if you're not too keen on this idea because you don't like the idea of the party going on too late, just set a time that the kids have to be out of the house. The more flexible the party, the better.
Enlist help! Have every kid bring a bottle of pop or two, or have guys bring pop and girls bring chips (guys usually tend to forget, though: be forewarned). I know my mother would get a little mad about how much these parties would cost, so it really helps out to have kids bring stuff. Also, have your teen invite some of their close friends over early to help set up. Chances are, their friends are more than willing.
Finger food is the best to have at the party. If you order sheet pizza, cut the pieces a bit smaller. Put out TONS of candy - teens love grazing. Chips and candy go the fastest, and pizza always does well. Keep the food simple, and make sure to have lots of drinks. Just remember to keep the portions small - no one wants to be walking around with a plate of food!
Have people bring CD's! At the parties I've had, the stereo is just overflowing with CDs. We love music, especially our own. Just have the stereo be easily accessable so that the CDs can be replaced easily. And let them turn it up! Don't be afraid of volume! Obviously, you can have some sort of limit there, but be flexible.
Party games aren't necessary. People just mingle! At first, everyone is a little nervous, and just sits around. But give them time. It's actually harder to try and get everyone organized to play a party game.
Put out plenty of chairs and stuff to sit on.
Don't hang out with the kids! Check in every so often, but don't linger and watch everyone.
Have a few people sleep over if you'd like help cleaning up the next morning. There will be a mess!
If you live close to other houses, you won't be able to put the volume up!..The neighbors will complain and the party will be ruined.
If everyone picked up after themselves, the clean up after the party would be minimal.
Have large plastic bags available near the tables, so that it will be easy to put empty bottles right into the garbage, as well as empty paper plates and napkins.
A fun activity that you and friends can do, is go on a Polaroid scavenger hunt. It's just like a regular scavenger hunt except each group gets a Polaroid camera and film. Then you take pictures of things like how many people you can fit in a phone booth.
-Don't stress!
As for decorations...
Whether you're a child, or an adult, every party needs a theme. You can go with a Hawaiin theme, or chinese theme, or an adult tea party fo women only. For kids, there are so many ideas out there, from Sponge Bob and Jimmy Neutron, to princesses and pirates. Go to your local party store for ideas. Then find invitations to go with your theme.
Decorations: streamers, balloons, candles, even glass beads and sand for a pool or beach party. Just think of your theme, glass beads are sea bubbles, small pebbles spray painted gold is the treasure for a pirate party, nuts and bolts in a vase with a candle holder or a bowl of toy cars on top of it makes for a racing party any little boy, or girl will love.
You can serve food to your theme, (Chinese party and chinese food) or you can serve a little of "everything", to please everyone.
Games always seem to be the hit of the party, many party stores have tons of party games on their shelves. Find one or a few, that you could picture the guests playing.
Goody bags or partying gifts for kids, you can give them stickers, crayons, bubbles, toy cars, plastic tiaras, yo-yo's, etc. For adults, you can give journals, small baskets of mixed gifts, picture frames, or whatever you think your guests will like.
Place settings- place cards are easy to make. Use a seashell with each guests name painted on them, use walnuts(with the card sticking out of it) small terra cotta pots, or a small handful of sand that holds a place card. Think about your party, and the ideas that you can come up with.
Tips
You can look in books at the library or book store, or surf the internet for more ideas.
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