If you're going to be throwing your teen a sweet sixteen party, you've got your work cut out for you. There's a lot of work that goes into throwing a party that your teen will remember. Gone are the days when you could just send out invitations, and serve cake and ice cream. Today's sweet sixteen parties have to go over-the-top. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't maintain some control over the festivities. You want your teen's sweet sixteen party to be fun, but you also want it to be safe, and you don't want to go into debt for it. Here are three ways to throw your teen an awesome party that won't break the bank, or lead to safety issues:

Insist on a Budget

Now that you're planning your teen's sweet sixteen party, you want to give them everything they want, within reason. To make sure you keep control of the finances, it's important that you insist on a budget. First, determine exactly how much you can comfortably afford to spend on the party. Second, have your teen make a list of all the things they want to include in their party. Be sure to have them list everything in order of importance, with the most important items on their list located at the top. Third, do some research and assign a cost to each item on your teen's list. Finally, sit down with your teen and remove the items that don't fit into the budget.

Hire a DJ

When it comes to a sweet sixteen party, the one thing you can't cut corners on is the entertainment. You've got to hire a sweet sixteen DJ. Not only will the DJ control the mood and tempo of the party, but they'll also have total access to all your teen's favorite music. When you hire the DJ, be sure to provide them with a list of requirements that they can use when designing their playlist. For instance, if you want to avoid objectionable music, be sure to request that they leave off anything with suggestive lyrics.

Enlist Additional Chaperone's

Whether you're planning a small party with just a few friends, or you're expecting a large crowd, you need to make sure you have sufficient chaperone's on hand. Try to have at least one chaperone for each five teenagers you'll have at the party. This will ensure that you know where the kids are at all times. If you have a liquor cabinet in your home, it's a good idea to lock that up before the guests arrive. That will give the chaperone's one less thing that they need to monitor.