Outdoor Tween Girl Birthday Party for under $100!
My twin girls just turned 11, and they really wanted to have an outdoor party and invite all of their friends to celebrate. Since we were just finishing up some backyard projects, like our stone patio, it was great timing.  It turned out to be a huge success–all the girls had a wonderful time, and I spent less than $100! So…I thought I’d share our Outdoor Tween Girl Birthday Party with you!
It was seriously SO fun. Â Watching them actually brought me back to my own childhood, and I just enjoyed seeing them be so happy and carefree. Â We kept it simple–that’s totally my style, and I just love having a super cute party but saving time and money at the same time. I see beautiful pictures of the most amazingly detailed parties, and while I appreciate them, and think they’re awesome, it’s just not me. Â Afterward, my girls came up to me and told me it was the best party ever, and that was all I needed.
I spent less than $100 for 10 girls, and here are the details:
OUTDOOR TWEEN GIRL BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR LESS THAN $100
Invites: Â $0
I designed the invites in Photoshop, printed them on cardstock, and cut them out. Â My girls handed them out at school, so we didn’t have postage costs, either. If you don’t have Photoshop or a way to design them on your own, there are a bunch of free printables out there you might like.
Decorations & Tableware: Â $30
Target is my go-to store for party decor and tableware.  My girls chose the colors light link, gold, and aqua, and they had options in all of those colors.  We mixed and matched patterns (stripes, polka dots, etc.) and found coordinating plates, cups, napkins, paper straws, and hanging fans. All totally adorable! I also used all kinds of pink ribbon from my ribbon collection to tie on to the backs of all the chairs, and around the top of the patio umbrella.  Totally simple, but made such a huge difference.
Cake: Â $15
I bought the cake at Sam’s Club, and it served 12-16 people.  Their cakes are SO yummy, and are totally reasonable.  Many times I’ll make my kids’ cakes, and you could save a few more dollars that way if you want to, but this time I wanted to buy it.  I loved it, and so did the girls.  The colors matched our theme, and it went perfectly with all of the decor. Well worth it!
Food: Â $40
The girls wanted to BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers, and we also served chips, watermelon and lemonade. I’ve learned it’s best to keep it simple at parties, because kids are usually too excited to eat much. Â We also bought all the stuff to roast S’mores and Starburst.
Games: Â $0
Honestly, they just played! Â They jumped on the trampoline, went on the zip line, and also played Capture the Flag, Badminton, and Bocce Ball. They caught fireflies in jars, then after a bonfire and S’mores, ended the night by telling ghost stories under a blanket. Â It was magical. Nothing fancy, all things we already had, and these girls had a ball.
After the guests went home, the cleanup was really quick, which is always a bonus. Â All in all, the girls had a blast and were happy (which is the best part), I stayed within my budget of $100 ($85 TOTAL), and it was adorable. It was a perfect night!
Kierste Wade is a published author, blogger, and mom to six. With more than 20 years DIY and project experience, she has been sharing ideas on her blog since 2009. Focusing on simple and doable projects, she loves to share attainable ideas for all things home, holidays, and family. Kierste has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, American Farmhouse Magazine (print and online) Taste of Home, Country Living, and more.