My super sixteen

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Some teens are sour on the traditional sweet 16 parties — with their elaborate chocolate fondue fountains and personality plus disc jockeys; opting instead to gather a few friends for a getaway at a fabulous resort or cool destination.
“The over-the-top, extravagant sweet 16 bashes are sure fun, but the monotony of glitz and too much glam has teens taking the road less travelled,” says Pallavi Shethi, a party planner from the city. “Being different and thinking outside-the-box is the new cliché. After hitting 16, these teens seem to imbibe an immense sense of independence and even responsibility, to an extent. Recently, I had an order for a sweet 16 where the kid wanted the party to be held at an orphanage.” City getaways have always been popular for such celebrations, particularly for suburban dwellers. Explaining the new rage of fusing birthday bashes with quick getaways, Anmol Dua, a 17-year-old surfer, says, “The typical gooey bash with the humongous cake and serial light patterns, with a DJ thumping out loud screeches on the stereo, is so not cool anymore. Being an outdoor person and an avid nature lover, I chose to take my birthday bash to the woods. My parents booked a beautiful cottage in Coorg and I, along with a set of 14 friends, backpacked and took off for the most adventurous bash of the year.”
While finding the perfect theme that reflects your personality may not be easy, breaking out of the shell into the adult world is what makes sweet 16 distinct. Gen Y teens are proving that they are different by rejecting the idea of unnecessary pomp and show.
“Given the present chaotic scenario in the society, our teens have become thoroughly informed and immensely responsible as individuals. They understand the dire need of our society, and they’ve learnt to strike a balance between having fun and being conscientious, which is a very positive change,” says Prerna Hiradhar, a literature professor.
On the flipside, we still have teens who stick to the usual, old-school celebration. “Ever since I was a kid, I have yearned for an exquisite birthday bash for my sweet 16.”
Growing up watching all my cousins churning out extravagant bashes, the thought of turning 16 always mesmerised me,” says 18-year-old Prerena Erms, who had a Tinker Bell-themed birthday party. She adds, “We had a ball, it was the best night of my life. With the venue matched to perfection to the theme, my favourite DJ on the turntable and all my besties by my side, it was just amazing. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to the kid in me and step into the magical phase of my adult life.