The MTV show "My Super Sweet 16" shows teens having the party of their dreams when they turn 16. More and more teens are demanding similar parties for their birthdays and the amazing thing is that parents are actually willing to pay for this.

Following the popularity of the show, parents have been reported to have taken out second mortgages to pay for their daughters' parties. In addition to this, teens have come to expect cars in the style of those given on the show as birthday presents - nothing less than a BMW will do. Andrea Correale, president of Elegant Affairs in New York, says that it is not unusual for them to handle sweet sixteen parties with budgets up to half a million dollars and that they have in fact had clients who took out mortgages to pay for their children's extravagant party.

Parents of invited guests also have to deal with demands such as new party clothes, all of which must of course be in accordance to the latest fashion. Teens are becoming more and more demanding for these big occasions and questions are being asked about the role of shows such as "My Super Sweet 16" in fuelling this. Sweet sixteen parties are being described as "weddings without the grooms". I wouldn't pay this much for a party - how about you?