What an important milestone! It would be a real shame not to celebrate your kid's sweet sixteen in style. It's easy to give this event the gravity and magic it deserves when you have the perfect venue. And that's exactly where Giggster comes in.
Washington DC's historic monuments include Capitol Hill and the White House, which make for fantastic photo ops. But it also has some quirky attractions like the International Spy Museum, and this eclectic spirit is reflected in the Sweet 16 venues you'll find in the city. You can book a big banquet hall complete with DJ booth, or choose the party room of an elegant restaurant near Logan Circle. A rooftop deck with a stunning view of the city could make the perfect place for your celebration or a beautiful house with a full kitchen where you can make delicious mocktails and snacks could suit you better.
Whatever appeals to you, you can make things easier on yourself by using the Giggster app. With hundreds of rooms available to host birthdays and Sweet 16s with family and friends, we can make your next event an unforgettable memory for your family, friends, and other guests.
Washington DC is steeped in history, but it's also a place with a vibrant modern atmosphere and plenty to do. As the nation's capital, it has some of the best museums in the country, but there's also lots to keep the kids occupied. Your quest to create the most fun event possible begins with finding the perfect spot to host your celebration on the Giggster app.
You want to get the atmosphere for your party just right, and if possible, tailored to your kid's interests. A private room in an upscale hotel might sound good to you, but for the kids, a beautiful house in the woods with a pool might be just as much fun. Giggster has an eclectic range of different venues so you can find something tailor-made to your child's tastes.
What's a party without food and drink? If your kid loves to eat, you can rent out a restaurant with a full commercial kitchen and have the event catered. Alternatively, Giggster also has houses and banquet halls that come with their own kitchen, so you can self-cater the event and make exactly the food your kid and your guests like to eat.
Make the most of Washington's warm summers with a stunning rooftop deck. Or, if your kid is the outdoors type, you can rent a catamaran houseboat that can be moored at the Navy Yard or amid the scenic beauty of the Three Sisters Island group.
Keep it classic but fancy by renting an estate and spending the day living lavishly. Treat everyone to luxurious surroundings complete with voice-controlled lighting, modern furniture, and a deck with an impressive view.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Washington DC has so many great venues to choose from, from private homes to rooftop decks to restaurants and banquet halls. Giggster can help you find a venue that's tailor-made to fit the theme of your party and will give your child a memory they treasure forever. With 237 venues to choose from, including fun places like Urban Condo Downtown DC, you're bound to find the right place for your party.
Hassle-Free Booking: Finding the right party space for a major event like a Sweet 16 in Washington DC has never been easier. Giggster gives you access to an incredible range of different party venues, from banquet halls to swanky hotels to private homes, and you can sort by price, availability, and lots of other parameters to make sure you get the perfect deal.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: You can cancel your booking in the first 24 hours of receiving confirmation, so if your plans change, you can change your booking as long as there are more than 48 hours before your event starts.
Platform Protections: For ultimate peace of mind, Giggster offers robust protection through our platform on every booking, so you don't need to worry about unexpected cleaning fees or accidental damage. Plus, for ultimate peace of mind, you can book additional coverage during the booking process with just a few clicks.
Washington has so much going for it as a venue for parties. Not only does it have hundreds of great venues, but this is a city that is used to hosting events, so you'll find tons of caterers, decorators, and everything else you need to make your party incredible.
However, nowhere is perfect, and there are some things you should be aware of before planning a party here.
Advantages
You can get a room overlooking the awe-inspiring national monuments of the nation's capital, or take a cruise along the city's waterways, including the Potomac River. Giggster has party venues to suit all tastes, all of them easily bookable through the Giggster app.
DC is easy to reach from most places on the East Coast, with excellent road and rail connections to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and other major cities. Its International Airport also makes it easy to get to from across the United States and beyond, so if you have family and friends from out of town, they won't find it hard to get here.
It's supposed to be a party, not a school trip, but there's no denying that a visit to the nation's capital can be an inspiring experience for kids. The incredible range of museums and cultural attractions in Washington makes it a great place to visit for any reason.
Disadvantages
Traffic can often be an issue in DC. Not only is it a busy city anyway, but given the frequency of VIP motorcades for the politicians in the area, it's easy to find yourself in a bottleneck. Consider booking a venue that you can easily walk to so you don't get stuck in traffic.
DC is lots of things, but cheap isn't one of them. The cost of food, drinks, parking, and just about anything else here is as high as it is in any major city. Giggster can help you find an affordable venue for your sweet 16, but unfortunately, there's not much we can do about the other costs of the city.
Venues book up fast, so you have to act quickly to make sure you get the exact spot you want.
Everyone knows that Washington has some great bars, but these aren't always the ideal places to host a family-friendly event. Luckily, with 237 available venues on Giggster, you can find exactly what you need to make your party perfect.
Houses – Feel Right At Home. There are some beautiful houses in Washington DC, from traditional brownstones to more modern villas in the suburbs. Hosting your party at a house gives you privacy and an intimate environment that you can have a lot of control over. Some houses have decks and gardens so you can spend some time outdoors, and you'll also have access to a full kitchen where you can keep costs down by handling the food yourself.
Banquet Halls – The Answer For Large Groups. If you have a big family or your kid has lots of friends, a traditional banquet hall can be the best choice to accommodate everyone. Washington is absolutely packed with great party spaces because of all the dignitaries hosting fundraisers and banquets here, so you'll have your pick of big spaces.
Hotels – Let The Experts Handle Everything. Many hotels in Washington have their own party spaces and can provide dedicated staff to handle everything from food to clean up. You may pay more for these services, but it can be worth it.
Historic Mansions – Soak Up The DC Atmosphere. If you want an authentic Washington DC experience, consider renting one of the historic mansions you can find on the Giggster app. This historic city is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the story of the United States.
Don't Forget the Food – In many ways, the food you serve can make or break a party, especially for kids. We all know kids can be picky eaters, so you may want to offer a range of different things to eat to please everyone. If that sounds like too much hassle, Washington DC has tons of catering companies who can look after the menu for you.
Think About the Guest List – The more people you invite, the more expensive your party is likely to be. At the same time, your child has their favorite friends, and we all know that there are politics involved in who you invite to kids' parties. You may need to sit down with your child to discover who the really essential guests are and be warned that that can change quickly.
Consider a Theme – Your kid has unique interests and preferences, and you may want to incorporate those into the party to make it a truly special occasion. You can surprise your kid with special guests or insist on a dress code, but if you do, make sure all your guests are aware of it.
Leave it to a Professional – If all of this sounds overwhelming, you can make things easier on yourself by engaging a professional party planner. They can handle everything from themed decorations to music to food, so it may be worth considering.
With Sweet 16, spoiling is often the name of the game, but these tips can keep your budget in line.
Community venues can be cheaper.
Does your kid really want their party to be in an upscale restaurant? Maybe you'll find more affordable options at community spaces like gyms and pools.
Bundle services.
Some venues will give you better rates if you buy multiple services from them at the same time. That means you can not only rent the party space, but also furniture, decorations, music equipment, and everything else you need.
DIY foods.
Kids love having control over what they eat, and lucky for you, buffet-style dining can often be cheaper than a set menu. DIY food stations like taco bars and self-serve ice cream stations are a hit with just about everyone, but can also be surprisingly affordable.
Be firm.
The whole point of the party is to make your kid happy, but sometimes, you need to be the adult in the room. Kids don't have a great sense of the cost of things, so you'll need to use your skills for compromise and negotiation to give them the party they deserve while also keeping things affordable.
You only turn 16 once. It's an occasion worth celebrating, and finding the perfect venue can help you do exactly that. Giggster can find you an unforgettable place to host your kid's birthday party, whether it's a historic mansion, a beautiful house with a pool, or a fun houseboat on the waterways of the city. Let Giggster cross something off your to-do list and book the perfect venue for your party today.
