NJ Creative Sweet Sixteen Photography

The term "sweet sixteen" has been used since at least 1883, and sweet sixteen birthday parties have been held at least since 1923.

Candle-lighting ceremony

Each of the 16 candles holds a special meaning:


1. The first candle is for the girl's parents.
2. The second candle is for the siblings. (If there are no siblings, then this candle can represent the grandparents.)
3. Candles 3, 4, 5 and 6 are for the rest of the family members.
4. Candles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are for friends.
5. Candle 15 is for the girl's best friend or friends.
6. The 16th candle is for a significant male, such as a boyfriend or good friend.
7. Some add a 17th candle which represents good luck or a loss.

Shoe ceremony

The shoe ceremony is common at sweet sixteen parties, although they are more often seen in Quinceañeras. In this ceremony, the birthday girl sits down in a chair while her grandfather, uncle, godfather, or father approaches her with high heels on a decorative pillow. The girl would traditionally be wearing flat shoes, such as slippers, and the father ceremoniously helps her into her new high heels. This is symbolic of the girl transitioning into a woman.

Tiara ceremony

This ceremony is similar to the shoe ceremony, except the father/grandfather approaches with a tiara instead of shoes. He places it on the birthday girl's head to symbolize her becoming a woman. Sometimes this is combined with the shoe ceremony, so that two people approach the birthday girl, one with a pillow with high heels, and the other with a pillow with a tiara.

Father-daughter dance

The father-daughter dance is a tradition that is also frequently performed at weddings. The girl and her father dance to a slow song while everyone sits and watches.

Video montage

At high end sweet sixteens, a DJ often brings along several televisions or a projector to show a video montage set to music of the birthday girl containing pictures starting from when she was a baby and getting older, usually ending with pictures of her in her sweet sixteen dress. This is either made by the DJ with photos provided from the family of the birthday girl, by the parents, by a sibling, or by the birthday girl herself. The guests can either sit down and watch this montage, or it could be playing in the background while the guests dance.