A rave theme is a very unconventional approach at a debut party. However, if you play your cards right, you might just end up having the best debut ever.
Venue. It would be such a delight if you could rent a bar since these venues are already set up for this type of theme and so you don’t need to worry much about decorations. However, if you would not be able to rent a bar, don’t fret. A little pinch of imagination would do the trick. Your plain venue can be transformed into a raving atmosphere. The place should be dark enough to emphasize the lighting effect that you will set up. When you’ve already figured out how to darken the venue, it is time to scout for suppliers of lighting effects. Choose a supplier who can give you the best deal for more lighting effects as possible. Remember that you are creating something out of nothing. Believe me, this will make all the difference.
Throwing a rave party needs four basic things. Lights, sounds, drinks and party people.
Lights. As mentioned, your venue should be dark enough so as to enhance the lighting effects that you will set up. For lighting effects, you will need the following: Strobe lights, glow sticks, mirror balls, LED spotlight, black lights and laser. Fill the venue with glow sticks to add to your lighting effect and string them together in order to create different shapes. Include a glow bracelet into your invitation and ask your guests to bring it to your debut party. Make your party by invitation only and only those wearing the glow bracelets are allowed inside the venue. Position pseudobouncers at the entrance of the bar. It will add to that bar atmosphere that you are aiming for.
Sounds. A good DJ is a must for this theme, and so is good music and an excellent sound system. The combination of techno, trance and progressive music usually works best with rave theme parties. Browse through the net for these types of music. There are so many good DJ mixes to choose from, but check out DJ Tiesto and DJ Sasha’s mixes as an example. If you have a favorite song in mind that you would like to be included, brainstorm with your DJ the list of songs so that he can arrange the list in order to create a playlist that flows well from song to song. Be sure to specify any special music tracks you would like the DJ to play and when it is to be played. After all, it is your party, so it is your choice.
Drinks. There must also be drinking and toasting in order to create a rave theme, but it need not be alcohol. You do not want your crowd to be too rambuncious. Serve plain iced tea instead. You can also serve shandy which has only 0.5% alcohol, just enough to let their guard down.
Food. For a total Rave Theme, it is optional to serve hot viands unless your guests are expecting dinner first before the rave party starts. Lean more toward foods that are served cold to keep your guests cool as they dance the night away. Also foods that are sweet to provide them with the energy for a night of dancing. Examples of these are shakes, ice cones, ice creams, popsicles and smoothies. You can even have a dessert bar of sorts with foods served in little glass containers (panacota, chocolate mouse, fruit cups, coffee jello). You can also serve fruits and marshmallows dipped in chocolate on a chocolate fountain.
Party people. Invite people that you know really knows how to party. They will create that energy in the dance floor that would encourage nonravers to join in.
Other things to consider are the following:
Dress. In a rave theme, you have two choices. You can wear a gown during the program proper and then change to a more comfortable yet elegant cocktail dress later, or wear a dress that you can party on but chic enough to stand out. If don’t plan on having a program, you should opt for the latter.
Shoes. Wear comfortable shoes that goes well with your dress. Bear in mind that you are going to party all night so comfort is your primary consideration.
Some more cool ideas:
Invite and party favor rolled into one. Make your invite your party favor too. Select trance and dance songs and burn it on the CDs. Design the label of the CD (which will serve as your invite) through CD/DVD label design software that can be downloaded on the internet. Print it and stick it on your CDs. I’m sure your guests would love hearing your CDs over and over that they’ll be psyched, excited and ready for a night of pure fun.
Laser light show. For a more out-of-this-world rave theme, have a laser light show. I’m sure your guests will enjoy watching it as well as dancing with it.
Special effects. A fog machine will surely create a dramatic effect for your grand entrance.
Remember all these and your guests will definitely have something to rave about.
Hi! can u help me choose between plain white or “black and white” as a theme..i want a simple debut that my guest don’t need to spend money for their dress..my friend suggested a white party because of my name “angel” but is it ok if my guests wears black and i’m the only one wearing white so that i will standout?? i also need suggestion for an alternative names for my 4 18’s ( 18 roses,18 candles, 18 treasures,18 shots) Is 18 angels a good alternative for 18 candles?? thanks!
hi angel,
18 angels is a good substitute for 18 candles. 18 wings can also be a substitute for 18 treasures. i can’t think of a substitute yet for 18 roses… i don’t recommend that your guests ALL wear black because it will look like they’re going to a funeral. i guess you can tell them to wear any color other than white. or to stand out, perhaps you can just wear angel’s wings 🙂 if you’re wearing angel’s wings, perhaps you can substitute your 18 roses with 18 feathers where the guys will stick one feather on your wing before they dance with you — just an idea 🙂
hope this helps! 🙂
thank u so much! 🙂 http://debutideas.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
Hi!
A rave party sounds really cool but do you have an idea of how much all of that is gonna cost? Also, I noticed that the program that you suggested didn’t include the guests eating. Why is that? At what point should the guests eat? 🙂
Thank you!
Oh, I forgot! I was also considering an 80s theme party. Do you have any suggestions about the decorations, clothes, hair, etc? Thank you
Hi Tine,
For Rave parties, it is usually optional to serve food but if it is just as fine if you serve dinner first before your rave party starts in which case, you may do your program first with your 18s and all and then have dinner and then resume your program (so that your guests will have time to rest before rave starts) and then start your rave party. With rave parties, the usual food are pica picas of sweets for energy and cold foods like ice cream or popsicles to let them cool off after dancing. Hope this helps Tine.
Hi Tine,
When I think of the 80s, i think about Madonna and Cyndi Lauper who both were very famous for their pop music back in the 80s although Madonna is still famous now. The era of the 80s has a different style to it as shown in the picture below.
Source: http://www.prettyboring.com
Source: http://www.thegreat80s.com
Look for big hooped earings, the colorful, the better, long beaded neclaces, laced gloves, laced skirts, minis, big and colored hair, colorful headbands, stockings, just to name a few. Make your venue colorful by putting in colorful balloons and confetti. Hope this helps.
Hi, i’ll be having my debut this september. im planning to have a “glam and rave” party. is it okay? because i’m not into rock so i dont like the glamour rock. anyways, i also want it to have some fashion touches. so im thinking to have 18 glams for 18 treasures. 18 fierce poses for 18 roses, where they have to pose first before the dance, but i dont like the name “fierce poses” though. i think it’s too long, can you think of other name to call it? and lastly, 18 shots, but they have to tell a memorable event of us, so i what will i call it? hm, 18 shots to the past? wahaha. please help. thanks!
Hi Ana,
Yes, glam at a Rave party is a must. Ask your guests to wear their cocktail best. Have a runway fashion show to emphasize your love of fashion. Fierce pose is a fashion statement coined by Tyra Banks, a fashion icon, so I think it is an appropriate term even if it is long. For the 18 shots, how about 18 memories, 18 events, 18 stories, 18 raves. Hope this helps.
Hi Didi,
The Rave theme can easily be combined with a runway inspired theme. These two themes are both right for you as these are casual and informal. Ask your guests to dress in their cocktail finest. Create a mini-fashion show with you and your girl friends posing your fiercest poses. You can make this your grand entrance with you being the last model to appear on stage. Make your invites a fashion show invite. Hire a photobooth and station it at the entrance of the venue and have a Project Runway backdrop. The pictures will serve as your party favors. Hope this helps.
Hello! Rave Party is so cool! please help me for my giveaways! :(my debut party will be on september 25!
Hi Mitch,
For rave parties, the coolest thing to give away would be the glow sticks or glow bracelets that you can give away at the entrance for them to wear. This will even add to your venue’s ambiance and lighting. You can also give away CDs of your favorite danceable songs. Hope this helps.
hi!
can you help me? i’m having a debut this october 1, 2010.. and i dont have a theme yet.. im running out of time. thank you so much!!
Hi Joanna,
We have a collection of themes in our site http://debutideas.com/?cat=5
You can check them out. Hope this can give you an idea of what theme to choose 🙂
hi i’ll be having my debut this november.. i’m thinking of having a rave debut party, but i really don’t know what to do… can you send me what would be the flow of the program.. i was also wondering what can be substituted with the 18’s, i want it to be unique, i don’t want it the traditional way… thanks.. 🙂
hi.. can i combine a futuristic theme with rave party? what can i do to add more effects on my dress? invites? and what is the best substitue for the 18 roses and candles? thanks..
hi. i am having my debut party this december or early january. i’m planning to have a rave debut party in a bar. for now, i’m scouting for bars in manila and makati area but haven’t found a good one yet. i’m stuck thinking how can i pull off a cool invites for my guests.. i’m thinking of including glowsticks and it serves as the entrance but what else? what about my dress? and my give aways? please help me.:(
Hi monik,
For your invites, you can have a sort of like a concert ticket or disco night type invite. click here for pics. Have a muscular guy that will act as bouncer at your entrance. For your dress, go for cocktail dresses because you need to be comfortable for a night of rave partying. picture of cocktail dress. Your glowsticks can double as a keepsake as well. or you can have a photobooth so that you and your friends will have a photo souvenir of your debut party. Chocolates and candy in boxes is also not a bad idea for a souvenir. They will need all the sugar they can get for a night of rave partying. hope this helps.
waaa. i have so many questions to ask. what can be substituted with the traditional 18’s? what would be the flow of the program? and i still can’t find a bar nor a venue for my party. errr.
Hi debut ideas!
I’m just glad i found this site! I am still choosing and reading through different ideas as i am planning for my debut on January. This rave theme is probably the one that I’ll be choosing except that I plan to infuse a program and the dinner. Can you suggest a program flow that isn’t too long and that the 18 roses, candles, treasures, shots, balloons and a game or two will be infused. And what should I eliminate? I know it’s too much and so I need your suggestion as this is your expertise. 🙂 Also, what motif would be best knowing that I love orange and I wouldn’t want my party to look like it’s a 21st birthday celebration. Haha. Your reply would be of great help especially that I’m planning this event on my own. I’ll be waiting for your response and thanks a lot! 🙂
Hi Angelica, since you are having a rave party, you can do away with the balloons and treasures — I think they’re just too mushy for a rave theme. 🙂 I think you should just go with 18 candles (replace this with 18 Glowsticks) and 18 shots if you really want your program to be short. You can include the 18 dances/roses as long as each dance is not too long. you can choose some games we have provided here: http://debutideas.com/?page_id=851 Orange is actually a cute color! If you want a younger / fresher color scheme, go for the yellow-orange hue plus dark gray. I think this will be a very elegant combination! Hope this helps!
Hi. I saw your comment about replacing th 18 candles with 18 lighters, how will that be?
Hey I’m glad you’ve replied na! Hihi. After going through different places, I’ve finally decided to have this rave theme. I will be celebrating my 18th in a bar. I think your motif suggestion is awesome! Thanks for answering all my queries. 🙂
Hi Misty,
You can replace 18 candles with 18 Glowsticks too. For the lighters, your friends can make a wish for you while holding a lighter with the flame on. The small thin lucis can also serve as your lighters, if the venue allows it.
Hi misty,
You know how in a concert or a bar when the audience sings along with the performer, they light their lighters and sway side to side to the beat of the music, well that was what we were aiming for. If you have a concert type theme that would be perfect. You could ask your 18s to line up in the stage after or before everyone has made their speech, and then do that.