Best 17th Birthday Party ideas for Girls

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Here are some cute and creative ideas for your 17th birthday party, from themes to decor ideas, plus cute games and activities and DIY party favors ideas for older teen girls. We hope you enjoy!     

What should I do for my 17th birthday?

1. Wear a birthday sash 

'It's giving birthday girl' birthday sash 👈🏻

Pink pastel birthday girl sash 👈🏻

Baby pink birthday girl sash 👈🏻

Go all out and wear it with pride in your photos!

2. Serve some shimmery cotton candy mocktails 

These cotton candy mocktails look magical! Try creating these amazing candyfloss mocktails that guests of all ages will adore! They even double as pretty and elegant decor.

To make them, just pop a good amount of candyfloss in your glasses or flutes, then a sprinkle of edible shimmer in each one - then pour the liquid on top of the candyfloss to make it dissolve, so beautiful to watch and so much fun for guests of all ages! You could even add some edible wafer toppers to drinks to make them extra pretty! 

Happy Birthday fun edible wafer drinks toppers 👈🏻

Glitzy silver stars cocktail mocktail drinks toppers 👈🏻

3. Tie ribbons to the base of drinks 

For a fancy and elegant look! 

4. Some fun personalised drinks toppers 

These are totally edible and also work so well to decorate party treats and tailor them perfectly to the occasion, plus you can personalise them with a photo design and script of your choice to impress guests no end! 

Personalised photo edible drinks toppers 👈🏻

Personalisable wafer cocktail toppers for drinks 👈🏻

Personalised edible wafer party drinks toppers 👈🏻

5. Try a star sign theme 

Theme it after their star sign! You could set up a big banner saying 'it's [star sign of your recipient] season'. This is a cute and stylish theme and a great way to tailor the party perfectly to your recipient. 

A star sign cake topper 👈🏻

The perfect way to top their cake in style! 

Star sign jumbo birthday cake topper 👈🏻

6. Attach black and white photos of your recipient to balloon trails 

This looks so cool if you have floating/helium balloons! You could print copies of photos of your recipient when they were younger or use your favourite snaps that represent special memories together. 

7. Set up a cardboard cutout of their favourite celebrity

So much fun - whether it's her favourite celeb or fictional character, this is such a fun surprise idea that will be sure to make her laugh!

8. Throw a macarons and rose lemonade tasting occasion 

You could give each guest a scorecard and get them to rate different macaron flavours. This is so much fun for guests of all ages and an elegant activity for your special occasion!

9. Try a jumbo birthday banner  

Just like the stylish kraft paper style banners that are popular on social media at the moment! 

Happy birthday bow design banner template 👈🏻

Pretty bow birthday banner template 👈🏻

Happy birthday floral bow birthday banner template 👈🏻

Birthday sparkles custom age birthday banner template 👈🏻

Editable birthday banner templates 👈🏻

10. A decorate a bento cake activity 

Bento cakes are so cute and super popular on social media! Give each guest an un-iced cake to decorate - you could even make it in to a contest and guests can take photos with their creations! 

11. Try a Dancing Queen party theme   

This would be the perfect theme to try for her 17th birthday 

Dancing Queen birthday party banner 👈🏻

Dancing queen only 17 birthday banner 👈🏻

12. Theme it purely after her favourite food 

This could be so funny and cool! You could create an entire party spread themed around a certain food or drink - for example, chicken nuggets or fries - plus even create some fun themed decor. 

13. Personalised party table confetti 👈🏻

This is such a funny and delightful party touch that your recipient will love! 

14. Set up an elegant afternoon tea party 

This would be so cute! You could serve some mini fancy cakes, such as french fancies and madeleines. 

15. Try a cute bow theme   

Or coquette theme  

Delicate bow birthday party welcome sign 👈🏻

Stylish black bow custom welcome sign 👈🏻

Pink bow illustration welcome birthday sign 👈🏻

Pink bow custom age birthday welcome sign 👈🏻

Pink bow party favors sign 👈🏻

Pink bow themed 'sip and solve' puzzle sheets 👈🏻

Bow themed custom party signs 👈🏻

16. Serve some ice cream floats 

For a cute retro style refreshment for guests! 

17. Some tissue paper pom poms 

A super easy and quick party table decoration idea that looks fabulous! These are so eyecatching and will light up the party table! You could even place them atop waffle cones or cardboard shaped cones to create fun ice cream props for a spring or summer theme. 

Pink pastel tissue pom pom assortment 👈🏻

18. Try a 'the [time of year] I turned seventeen' theme 

Referencing the show, tailor it perfectly to your recipient for their 17th birthday! 

19. Set up a cotton candy stall  

For guests to enjoy - this would suit so many cute themes and guests will love! You could even decorate the candyfloss with mini edible wafer bows and flowers afterwards. 

20. Try a 'it's giving D17neyland' theme 

Or 'let's go D17neyland' - or 'wish we were at D17ney'! Theme it after the happiest place on earth with a popcorn stall, some pastel ombre balloon garlands, some fairground snacks and some cute retro elements! You could even set up a soft pretzel wall, using a doughnut wall or similar peg wall or board to display jumbo soft pretzels that guests can take home as party favours! This will double as cute decor - tie each with a pretty bow to create a beautiful display that guests will love.

21. Tie matching ribbons around candlesticks 

To create a dreamy party table birthday centerpiece - match them in colour for a gorgeous effect! 

22. A dreamy backdrop 

Happy birthday personalised name ribbon backdrop 👈🏻

Custom birthday party minimalist stylish backdrop 👈🏻

23. Set up a pretty donut wall 

So much fun for guests of all ages! This will also serve as cute party decor - try icing each with a cute design or pattern to fit the theme. 

24. Set up a retro 50's dance theme 

Just like the dances held in an bygone era, why not throw your own 50's style dance occasion, with a cute dress code or dressing up items, cute and funny props for guests to pose for photos with and a jukebox style party backdrop! 

25. Throw a pilates birthday 

Why not plan a pilates class birthday - you could arrange it at a studio or set up a workshop if you have an outdoor space! After the class, you could serve snacks and drinks or set up a birthday feast. Just make sure to let guests know the occasion beforehand and what to wear/bring.

Pilates with the birthday girl party sign 👈🏻

26. Try a picnic basket party table centerpiece 

Try checking thrift stores to see if they have one in your area - or you might even be able to rent one. Tie some pretty pale green, pink or cream coloured ribbons to the handles to make a super cute party table centerpiece! You could fill it with some fancy looking bottles of pink lemonade or party treats or create a magical display. 

27. Try a cute medieval fayre party theme   

This is so fun and unique - set up a medieval fayre occasion! You could give everyone fun medieval princess hats to wear   Think flower infused balloon displays, paper flower garlands, DIY some fun party hats with ribbons and streamers flowing from the top - play some fun games and even try an archery activity - and use edible petals for party treats and drinks!

Edible flower petals for drinks, treats or bakes 👈🏻

28. Throw a fancy garden party  

You could try a Love Shack style themed garden party, with all the trimmings! 

29. DIY some beautiful pennant flags for a table centerpiece 

As a cute and low cost party table centerpiece idea, why not craft some cute pretty pennant style flags from thick paper or cardstock, decorate them with birthday messages or cute phrases or quotes to match the theme, then attach them to skewers and arrange in a pretty vase with some candy. Deck them out with cute motifs and sequins to make them look extra pretty! 

30. Make some low cost party bunting 

And even paper chains! You could make this super cheap by gathering some of those free wallpaper samples you can find at DIY stores or similar and using them to make cute party decorations - a mismatched effect will even add to the theme and look intentional, cute and shabby chic! 

31. Try a themed paint and sip activity 

You could create a pretty themed still life display for guests to paint! You could even serve some charcuterie style boards and platters for guests to graze on.

32. Arrange some pretty macarons or mini pastry puffs in tower formation 

Try using mini creme puffs or eclairs, ice them in pastel hues and arrange them in tower formation. You could even decorate your creation in mini bows or edible wafer snowflakes and stars to make a beautiful statement display! 

Edible silver star glitter 👈🏻

To make them look extremely magical!

Mini pearlescent silver star glitter 👈🏻

33. Set up a '17 things we love about you' board 👈🏻

 

34. DIY some pretty ice cubes for drinks  

Spring themed flower ice cube tray 👈🏻

You could fill the moulds with juice, lemonade or even coloured water with a few drops of food colouring - or even with edible flower petals to make them extra pretty.

 

35. Serve some girly popcorn mix 

Make some white chocolate popcorn and include some mini marshmallows, golden oreo pieces, white chocolate dipped pretzels and frosted cereal pieces. You could even package in to mini parcels to give as party favours, so cute and low cost too!  

36. Put party treats in personalised paper bags for guests 

Personalised name and age party treats bags 👈🏻

Custom sweet seventeen birthday party treat bags 👈🏻

37. Set up a mocktail making station 

This is an elegant activity for your party - why not set up a mocktail bar with all the cute toppings and garnishes - you could set up a party sign saying 'Sweet 17 specials' 

38. Set up a waffles or pancakes bar 

Where guests can load up on all the toppings and create some unique waffle based creations! 

39. Try some fun birthday themed printable games

These are so cute and are so much fun - plus are super low cost! You only purchase them once but can print as many copies as you need, they are so handy! 

Teen girl birthday games bundle 👈🏻

Who knows the birthday girl best party game 👈🏻

'Birthday scattergories' pink party game 👈🏻

Girls selfie scavenger hunt party game 👈🏻

40. Try an elegant brunch theme  

Just right for a 17th birthday party 

41. Serve some mini parfaits 

Guests can pick up and eat as they go!

42. Try a fun fairground or carnival theme 

A cute and fun theme that would be great for an outdoors birthday party! You could set up a donut stall, a cotton candy stall and play fun fairground inspired games, such as hoop toss and can knockdown, plus set up some fun giant photo props! 

43. Arrange cupcakes to spell their age

This will make a wonderful table centrepiece for the party! You could even make a number cupcake pullapart, where the cupcakes are arranged in a number formation, spelling their age, but are all iced together as one.

44. Try mini cosmic brownie message hearts for party favours 

Bake some mini brownie hearts, then ice each one with 'ty' or a cute design to say thank you! Pop in some pretty boxes or packaging and tie with a pretty ribbon and voila!

45. Frame some stylish signs with flowers 

This will look so stylish and elegant, for an indoor 17th birthday party or an outdoor party space! 

Stylish ready made gold letter printable signs 👈🏻

Stylish ready made printable signs 👈🏻

46. Entwine balloons with flowers and bows 

For a luxe and dreamy look!     

47. A giant blackboard setup/photo memory wall 

So all guests can write, draw and scribble their own messages on it! You could set up a giant chalkboard canvas that guests can decorate, with photos, drawings and messages! This would make an amazing photo backdrop for the party, for guests to take photos in front of. 

To create the canvas backdrop for guests to decorate, grab some black paper or cardstock and staple it to a base, such as a wall, fence or giant board made from cardboard. Provide guests with some chalks and liquid chalk markers and let them decorate to their hearts content, with neon and pastel markers or even glow in the dark paint! 

48. Try a disco ball pinata 👈🏻

No party is complete without an amazing shiny glitterball pinata! These are brilliant as they provide an amazing party game or activity for guests to try, as well as being pretty party decor! 

49. Make some popping candy bark for party favours 

Make some super pretty candy bark/chocolate slab and add some edible glitter! This is super easy to make and requires no baking and all you will need is some cooking chocolate or melting chocolate (milk chocolate or white chocolate is fine) and some sweets or candy pieces.

You could even change the colour of your candy bark and make it pink or purple by melting down some white cooking chocolate and stirring in a few very small drops of food colouring. All you need to then is pour in to a mold and decorate with all the cutest sweets and candy of choice, with a sprinkle of edible shimmer or glitter! Then pop in the fridge to set and voila, your own fabulous disco inspired chocolate!

There's so many ways to get creative with this and you could add a sprinkle of freeze dried raspberries or incorporate a swirl of melted milk chocolate to create a pretty pattern. Sprinkle in some jelly sweets and add some popping candy, a must have ingredient, to finish, before setting it to cool!

Glitzy silver stars edible glitter confetti 👈🏻

50. Set up a fun milkshakes or freakshakes stall

With all the toppings available! You could even make a freakshakes stall with oreos, donuts, cakes and squirty cream that guests can add to their creation - freakshakes being the perfect combination of milkshake and cake! 

51. Throw a gaming tournament

For the gamers! 

52. Try a Friends party theme, 'the one where I turn seventeen'

53. A birthday pinata activity 

The most fun for your recipient's birthday! You could fill it with their favourite sweets or candy or even dad jokes or love notes for your recipient! Try a fun and funky pinata design they will love - or even DIY your own to perfectly match their tastes. 

They are so much fun and sure to result in a lot of hilarity, especially when played properly with a blindfold!

Cherry topped birthday cake pinata 👈🏻

Gold custom personalised number pinata 👈🏻 

Personalised lookalike pinata (amazing!)👈🏻

54. Bake them some cupcakes with edible photo toppers 👈🏻

The best ever gift idea that fuses cake with special memories! Your recipients will be able to treasure the special photos and eat them afterwards - the perfect gift that means you can bond over special memories with your recipients and treat them at the same time. This is also super low cost to put together! 

55. Share your birthday with your pet

There is nothing better than getting your pet involved with your birthday party, especially if they are an attention seeker! Why not dress them up in a cute costume pertaining to your theme and set them a special place at the table, with pup friendly cake and treats!  

56. Set up a fun girly picnic occasion 

There is nothing cuter - you could set it in your backyard, the park, the beach - you could even deck the area out with some cute bunting!  

57. Make a custom cupcake pullapart shaped like them! 

A fun cupcake pullapart makes the best birthday surprise - or party table centerpiece - as it looks super impressive and creates the most standout display. You could opt to spell out their age using cupcakes and frosting, or even shape it to look exactly like your recipient - so much fun! Even if it goes wrong, it will sure to elicit a lot of laughs! 

Simply arrange your plain cupcakes in a desired shape or formation - then ice them all together as one, creating one whole shape, like joining the dots. Then use colourful frosting to decorate and add the finer details, to bring your creation to life! 

58. Set up a birthday baking contest

The most fun ever, why not throw an amazing birthday bakeoff to create some hilarious memories! You could split in to two teams to see who can bake the best birthday cake - where the recipient can decide who wins! 

59. Create a custom birthday news page for your recipient 👈🏻

This also makes for a standout party table display and is perfectly tailored to your recipient! You could DIY this yourself or order ready made if short on time. 

60. Play a game of 'guess her age'  

One of the cutest birthday party ideas to celebrate your recipient! To set this up, print off some copies of photos of your recipient at different ages and arrange on a big piece of cardstock, in grid formation. Then guests can write their guesses around each picture (including their initials to show who's is who's) - the guest who guesses closest wins! 

61. Create an ombre statement macaron tower 

Try making a pretty pastel macaron tower, with macarons decked out in pretty gradating hues!